Formation of transfer products from soybean arabinogalactan and glycerol by galactanase from Penicillium citrinum.

Abstract

Formation of transfer products from soybean arabinogalactan and glycerol by endo-1, 4-β-Dgalactanase from Penicillium citrinum was described. The amount of transfer products depended on the glycerol concentration. About 50% of the galactose residues which could be liberated from the polysaccharide by the enzyme were transferred to glycerol at an acceptor concentration of 2.5% (w/v). Transfer products with various polymerization degrees were accumulated at the beginning of the reaction and then those with higher polymerization degrees were degraded gradually. At a final stage of the reaction, two transfer products in addition to two hydrolysis products (galactose and galactobiose) were mainly accumulated. The two transfer products were isolated and their structures were examined. They were 2-O-β-D-galactosyl glycerol and 0-β-D-galactosyl-(1 → 4)-O-β-D-galactosyl-(1 → 2)glycerol.