Methodologies for conformational studies of oligo- and poly-glucans: crystallography and molecular mechanics

After some considerations on the conformational analysis of polysaccharides, this research thesis outlines the interest of molecular mechanics as a method to study these components. Technical aspects are presented. The author reports the prediction of the conformations of some specific cyclic oligomers (glucans, glucore), the use of X-ray diffraction to study glucides (and the limitations of this method). He reports the search for another investigation method: relationships between X rays and molecular mechanics, situation with respect to other crystallographic methods, presentation of principle of the 'Packing' method, and applications. He reports the study of regular conformations of polysaccharides, the study of the statistic configuration of polymer chains and the application to alpha-glucans