Enzymically Produced Cyclic α‐1,3‐Linked and α‐1,6‐Linked Oligosaccharides of d‐Glucose

Abstract

A new type of bacterial enzyme hydrolyzed alternan (Leuconostoc mesenteroides NRRL B‐1355 fraction S dextran, an alternating α‐1,3–α‐1,6‐d‐glucan) to give rise to a series of oligosaccharides. The oligosaccharide formed in the greatest proportion was a cyclic tetrasaccharide of d‐glucosyl residues linked in an alternating α‐1,3–α‐1,6 fashion. Other saccharide products included isomaltose and α‐d‐glucopyranosyl‐1,3–α‐d‐glucopyranosyl‐1,6‐d‐glucose. Oligosaccharides of higher degrees of polymerization were also formed, and included α‐d‐glucosylated derivatives of the cyclic tetrasaccharide. This is the first report of a naturally produced cyclic tetrasaccharide. Copyright © 1994, Wiley Blackwell. All rights reserved