The Chromatographic Observation of Oligosaccharides Formed during the Lactase Hydrolysis of Lactose

Abstract

Summary A total of ten oligosaccharides in addition to lactose, galactose, and glucose have been detected in Saccharomyces fragilis lactase 3 hydrolyzed lactose preparations. A similar chromatographic pattern has been obtained when examining the cecal contents of rats fed a high-lactose diet and also in SO 2 -hydrolyzed lactose preparations. Seven of these oligosaccharides have been separated in substantially pure form, using an activated charcoal-celite column. The other three oligosaccharides have not been obtained in sufficient purity or quantity to permit further identification. Acid hydrolysis of the individually separated oligosaccharides reveals that three of them are composed only of galactose molecules and that the other four are composed of galactose and glucose molecules in varying ratios.