Institution: | 1. School of Nano Sciences, Central University of Gujarat, Gandhinagar 382030, Gujarat, India;2. Applied Biology Division, CSIR-Indian Institute of Chemical Technology, Hyderabad 500007, Telangana, India;1. Facultad de Ciencias Químicas, Universidad Autónoma de San Luis Potosí, Av. Dr. Manuel Nava # 6, Zona Universitaria, C.P. 78210 San Luis Potosí, S.L.P., Mexico;2. Instituto de Investigación de Zonas Desérticas, Universidad Autónoma de San Luis Potosí, Altair # 200, Col. del Llano, C.P. 78377 San Luis Potosí, S.L.P., Mexico;3. Facultad de Medicina, Universidad Autónoma de San Luis Potosí, Av. Dr. Manuel Nava # 6, Zona Universitaria, C.P. 78210 San Luis Potosí, S.L.P., Mexico |
Abstract: | This is the first study describing the fine structure of the main, individual fructan oligosaccharides present in wheat grains. Wheat grain fructan structure was investigated in developing wheat grains and in different tissues of mature grains with liquid chromatography-mass spectrometry. Fructan oligosaccharides with a low degree of polymerization (<5) were mainly of the graminan- and inulin-type in developing wheat grains during the first week after anthesis. Starting from 14 days after anthesis, neo-type fructans, fructans with an internal glucose, were observed for the first time. Several neo-type fructan structures were identified and their portion in the total fructan pool gradually increased during grain development. In the mature kernel, almost no differences were noted between the fructan distributions of wheat flour and two wheat bran fractions enriched in either pericarp or aleurone tissue. Results are related to wheat fructan metabolizing enzymes and the nutritional implications are discussed. |