Synthesis of Amylose-Grafted Polysaccharide Materials by Phosphorylase-Catalyzed Enzymatic Polymerization

Abstract

This chapter reviews the synthesis of polysaccharide materials having amylose graft-chains by means of phosphorylase-catalyzed enzymatic polymerization. The synthesis of amylose-grafted heteropolysaccharides composed of abundant polysaccharide main-chains, such as chitin/chitosan, cellulose, alginate, and xanthan gum, was performed by combining the phosphorylase-catalyzed enzymatic polymerization forming amylose with the appropriate chemical reaction (chemoenzymatic method). In addition, glycogen-based polysaccharide materials having the elongated amylose graft-chains were prepared by the phosphorylase-catalyzed polymerization from glycogen.