Single crystals of amylose V complexes. III. Crystals with 81 helical configuration

Single crystals of amylose V complexes with the 8₁ helical configuration can be obtained from aqueous solutions of amylose by using α-naphthol as a complexing agent. Morphological observations suggest that the differences in crystallization behavior among the α-naphthol complex and other complexes with alcohols are due to differences in solubility of the complexes in water. Electron diffraction studies indicate a two-dimensional tetragonal unit cell with a = b = 22.9 Å. It is deduced that the space group providing a satisfactory arrangement of two helices is one of the enantiomorphs P4₁2₁2 and P4₃2₁2. From x-ray diffraction it was found that the c axis spacing of the α-naphthol complex is equivalent to that in 6₁ and 7₁ helical amylose crystals. Consequently, the geometry of the helical configuration requires an integral number of glucose residues per turn. The true helical diameters of the n-butanol, isopropanol, and α-naphthol complexes were calculated from experimental data. The ratio was 6:7:8 and indicated that the helix of the α-naphthol complex has eight glucose residues per turn. The diversity of helical configurations in V amylose crystals is discussed.