Abstract
In the conversion of starch to fermentable glucose for bioethanol production, hydrolysis of amylopectin by α-amylases and glucoamylases is the slowest step. In this process, α-1,6-branched gluco-oligosaccharides accumulate and are slowly degraded. Glucoamylases that are able to degrade such branched oligosaccharides faster are economically beneficial. This research aimed at the isolation and characterisation of branched gluco-oligosaccharides produced from amylopectin digestion by α-amylase, to be used as substrates for comparing their degradation by glucoamylases. Branched gluco-oligosaccharides with a DP between five and twelve were purified using size exclusion chromatography. These structures were characterised after labelling with 2-aminobenzamide using UHPLC-MSn analysis. Further, the purified oligosaccharides were used to evaluate the mode-of-action of a glucoamylase from Hypocrea jecorina. The enzyme cleaves the α-1,4-linkage adjacent to the α-1,6-linkage at a lower rate than that of α-1,4-linkages in linear oligosaccharides. Hence, the branched gluco-oligosaccharides are a suitable substrate to evaluate glucoamylase activity on branched structures.
Sign-in/Register to access full text options 
Talk to us
Join us for a 30 min session where you can share your feedback and ask us any queries you have
Schedule a callDisclaimer: All third-party content on this website/platform is and will remain the property of their respective owners and is provided on "as is" basis without any warranties, express or implied. Use of third-party content does not indicate any affiliation, sponsorship with or endorsement by them. Any references to third-party content is to identify the corresponding services and shall be considered fair use under The CopyrightLaw.
