Conformation of galactomannan: experimental and modelling approaches

This note reports the determination of the persistence length for a galacto mannan ratio (M/G approximate to 1) polysaccharide molecule. The experiment al value L-p = 93 Angstrom is determined using size exclusion chromatograph y (SEC) combined with a multiangle light scattering detector. This value is compared with the one predicted by molecular modelling L-p = 96 Angstrom. Both methods (SEC and molecular modelling) an found to yield comparable res ults for the variation of the radius of gyration with the molecular weight of the polymer. (C) 1999 Elsevier Science Ltd. All rights reserved.