Interaction between cellulose and storage xyloglucans: the influence of the degree of galactosylation

Xyloglucan (Xg) is a polymer found in the primary cell walls of growing tis sues and also in the seeds of many dicotyledons as a storage polysaccharide . In this study the interaction with cellulose and Xgs with different fine structures was studied. pH and temperature did not have a marked effect on the interaction, except for a slightly higher interaction at pH 6.0. Ultras tructural analysis showed that the binding capacity depends on the surface area of the cellulose. Among different sources of Xg, the binding capacity varied significantly. HPAEC-PAD analysis of the Xg cellulase-limit digest o ligosaccharides of bound Xg suggested that there might be a certain pattern of galactosyl substitution which is related to a higher Xg binding capacit y. (C) 2001 Elsevier Science Ltd. All rights reserved.