Single-Molecule Imaging of Wood Xylans on Surfaces and Their Interaction with GH11 Xylanase
Journal article, 2025

The knowledge of the molecular properties and arrangements of biopolymers in both solid and solution state are essential in the design of sustainable materials and biomedicine as they are decisive for mechanical strength, flexibility, and biodegradability. However, the structure of most biopolymers at charged interfaces can vary considerably, and their time-dependent visualization in liquid-state still remains challenging. In this work, we employed high-speed atomic force microscopy (HS-AFM) to visualize single xylan macromolecules from alkali-extracted birch and beechwood. On negatively charged mica surfaces, they appeared as individual macromolecules but assembled into aggregates on 3-aminopropyltriethoxysilane (APTES) surfaces (AP-mica). Hence, we further investigated the susceptibility to enzymatic degradation using an endoxylanase, which showed that the individual xylan macromolecules remained intact, while larger assemblies on AP-mica degraded over time. We demonstrate that HS-AFM is a powerful tool for understanding the molecular properties and degradation mechanisms of biopolymers. Moreover, by identifying alignment-dependent binding sites, strategies can be developed to ensure the biodegradability of composite materials by intelligent interface design.

Polymers

Screening assays

Adsorption

Macromolecules

Degradation

Author

Jana B. Schaubeder

Technische Universität Graz

Christian Ganser

National Institutes of Natural Sciences

Chonnipa Palasingh

Aalto University

Manuel Eibinger

Technische Universität Graz

Tiina Nypelö

Chalmers, Chemistry and Chemical Engineering

Aalto University

Takayuki Uchihashi

Nagoya University

National Institutes of Natural Sciences

Stefan Spirk

Technische Universität Graz

Biomacromolecules

1525-7797 (ISSN) 1526-4602 (eISSN)

Vol. 26 3 1639-1646

Upgrading of cellulose fibers into porous materials (BreadCell)

European Commission (EC) (EC/H2020/964430), 2021-04-01 -- 2025-03-31.

Subject Categories (SSIF 2025)

Materials Chemistry

Theoretical Chemistry

Biophysics

DOI

10.1021/acs.biomac.4c01446

PubMed

40014065

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More information

Latest update

3/25/2025