The α-(1→6) glycosidic linkage as a novel conformational entropic regulator in osmoregulated periplasmic α-cyclosophorohexadecaose Original Research Article

Molecular dynamics simulations were performed to explain the conformational effect of an α-(1→6)-glycosidic linkage upon the cyclic osmoregulated periplasmic glucan (OPG) produced by Xanthomonas campestris pv. citri. We suggest that a single α-(1→6)-glycosidic linkage in cyclic OPG functions as a novel entropic regulator, which reduces the conformational entropy of cyclic OPG and increases the motional entropy of solvent water molecules.