Tubular Amylose molecule in 3-D

The Amylose molecule - rotatable in 3 dimensions

Amylose is the name given to linear sections of the starch molecule consisting of alpha 1,4 linked glucose units.

This model shows 36 glucose units, forming a (strangely double) helical structure - effectively a tube. This shows 6 glucose units per turn, as can be seen when looking into the end of the molecular tube. This structure is stabilised by Hydrogen bonds, between -oH of C3 and -Oh of C2 in the next glucose unit, -oH of C2 and -Oh of C6 in another turn of the chain.


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Incidentally, iodine migrates into the space within the molecule and gives the characteristic blue-black colour used in the starch test.

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