Triple-Helix Conformation of a Polysaccharide Determined with Light Scattering, AFM, and Molecular Dynamics Simulation

The chain conformation of a β-glucan extracted from black fungus (BFP) was studied by static/dynamic light scattering, viscometry, atomic force microscopy (AFM), and molecular dynamics (MD) simulation. The Mark–Houwink equation and the relationship between Mw and Rg of BFP in water at 25 °C were determined to be [η] = 1.78 × 10–7Mw1.6 and Rg = 5 × 10–4Mw0.9, and the molar mass per unit contour length (ML) and the persistence length (q) were 2724...