3D Modelling Overview

We built these models to see how changing the parameters such as branching degree and the number of tiers affect the overall structure of the molecule in a more chemically accurate way.

Glycogen

Glycogen is a polysaccharide composed of glucose units linked by alpha 1-4 glycosidic bonds. Each linear chain contains approximately 13 glucose residues and, except of course for the outermost tier of the molecule, a number of alpha 1-6 glycosidic bonds, which allow branching, that are 3–4 residues apart.

This simple model - created for our wiki by the SWEET software - shows a small section of a glycogen molecule consisting of 91 glucose units which are contained within 7 branches and 3 tiers. The 1-4 linked sections can be seen to coil into a helical shape, and the 1-6 linkages form helical branches away from the centre of the molecule.

You can interact with the model using your mouse.

Amylose

Colon cancer is the second most common cause of cancer death with 30,000 new cases diagnosed every year in England and Wales and a registered cause of death in half that number.

Recent studies have suggested that high dietary intake of resistant starch may reduce colon cancer and inflammatory bowel disease. Resistant starches escape digestion in the small intestine and are fermented by microbiota in the colon. A small proportion of these colonic bacteria produce short chain fatty acids including butyrate, which can activate apoptosis in colon cancer cells.

Our project is focused on increasing the amount of butyrate in the colon.

Amylopectin

Colon cancer is the second most common cause of cancer death with 30,000 new cases diagnosed every year in England and Wales and a registered cause of death in half that number.

Recent studies have suggested that high dietary intake of resistant starch may reduce colon cancer and inflammatory bowel disease. Resistant starches escape digestion in the small intestine and are fermented by microbiota in the colon. A small proportion of these colonic bacteria produce short chain fatty acids including butyrate, which can activate apoptosis in colon cancer cells.

Our project is focused on increasing the amount of butyrate in the colon.