Generation of short-chained granular corn starch by maltogenic α-amylase and transglucosidase treatment.

We describe a method for permitting efficient modification by transglucosidase (TGA), from glycoside hydrolase family 31 (GH31), sequentially after the pre-treatment by maltogenic α-amylases (MA) from GH13. TGA treatment without MA pre-treatment had negligible effects on native starch, while TGA treatment with MA pre-treatment resulted in porous granules and increased permeability to enzymes. MA→TGA treatments lead to decreased molecular size of amylopectin molecules, increased α-1,6 branching, and increased amounts of amylopectin chains with the degree of polymerization (DP)<10 and decreased amounts of DP 10-28 after debranching. Wide-angle X-ray scattering (WAXS) data showed a general decrease in crystallinity except for a long term (20 h) TGA post-treatment which increased the relative crystallinity back to normal. MA→TGA treatment significantly lowered the starch retrogradation of starch and retarded the increase of storage- and loss moduli during storage. This work demonstrates the potential of sequential addition of starch active enzymes to obtain granular starch with improved functionality.

Short-time microwave treatment affects the multi-scale structure and digestive properties of high-amylose maize starch.

Microwave processing is a suitable technology for starch-based food processing. This work investigated the changes of structures and properties of high-amylose maize starch (HAMS) during short-time microwave irradiation (1-4 min). After 1 min of treatment, short amylopectin chains (DP 6-36) and intermediate amylose chains (DP 150-2000) of HAMS were partially broken down. Compared with native HAMS, treated HAMS (1 min) had the higher relative crystallinity, the intensity of the 9 nm lamellar peak, and fluorescence intensity under CLSM. Moreover, 1-min microwaving caused the lower viscosity and higher resistant starch content of HAMS. In the 2-4 min of treatment, the crystallinity, intensity of the lamellar peak and fluorescence intensity of HAMS granules decreased significantly, but no breakdown of starch molecule chains was observed, suggesting the realignment of the crystalline region during the process. Correspondingly, the viscosity increased and resistant starch content decreased. Our study provides a deeper understanding of the mechanistic effects of short-time microwave irradiation on high-amylose starch, which is of value for the processing of HAMS to produce novel functionality and nutritional values.