Polysaccharides 2D coil conformations design

 

 

Polysaccharides are complex structures with unique functionality. Most polysaccharides representations are optimized, constrained ones that do not allow for physical representation of their inherent mobility or clear understanding of their conformations potential. To understand and reveal potential effects due to such conformations, one should first draw those geometrically modified structures.

 

 

A known educational institute asked us to develop 2D representations of coil-like polysaccharides structures to help their students grasp the above mentioned phenomena. Such drawings must clearly show:

-        The real connectivity between rings

-        The type of bonding between rings [alpha or beta]

-        The distortion of the structures on the 2D surface

-        The size of the system designed

-        The identification of each functional group in every ring

 

 

carboxymaltosepart2

 

 

To design those requested structures that included chair and Haworth projections, we used ChemDraw software. ChemDraw, besides other capabilities, offers an excellent GUI to design 2D chemical structures and their projections. We now undertake similar tasks for various educational institutes, research organizations and chemical research facilities.