amylopectin

[ am-uh-loh-pek-tin ]

Phonetic (Standard)IPA

noun

the insoluble or gel component of starch that forms a paste with water, but does not solidify, and that turns red in iodine.

amylopectin

/ ˌæmɪləʊˈpɛktɪn /

noun

the major component of starch (about 80 per cent), consisting of branched chains of glucose units. It is insoluble and gives a red-brown colour with iodine Compare amylose

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Word History and Origins

Origin of amylopectin¹

First recorded in 1900–05; amylo- + pectin

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Compare Meanings

How does amylopectin compare to similar and commonly confused words? Explore the most common comparisons:

amylose vs. amylopectin

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Example Sentences

Amylose is a long, straight chain of glucose molecules, while amylopectin has lots of branches, and it’s the ratio between the two that informs how a starch behaves, Steffens says.

From Popular-Science

The two main molecules of that starch, a type of carbohydrate, are amylose and amylopectin, deposited in solid granules throughout the plant.

From Washington Post

amylolysis amyloplast

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