Elsinan enzymatic degradation

Structure and Enzymatic Degradation of Elsinan, a New a-D-Glucan Produced by Elsinoe leucospila... 

In this paper, we describe the production, detailed structure, enzymatic degradation and isolation of novel oligosaccharides, and also derivatization, such as 3,6-anhydro-elsinan. Some of rheological properties and potential utilization of this glucan will also be discussed. 

Since elsinan has a unique structural feature, its digesta-bility and also methanism of the enzymatic degradation have attracted our attention. In the searches of enzymes capable of degrading this glucan, we became aware of susceptibility of elsinan to particular type of a-amylase, such as salivary and pancreas amylase. This prompted us to examine various amylolytic enzymes, and isolation of the degradation products. 

As regards the enzymatic degradation of elsinan, it may be interesting to examine the susceptibility of this glucan to myco-dextranase, which has been known to be specific to nigeran. 

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