Neisseria perflava

The Structure of the Starch-like Polysaccharide Synthesised from Sucrose by Neisseria perflava" S. A. Barker, E. J. Bourne, and M. Stacey,/. Chem. Soc., (1950) 2884- 2887. 

F) amylose (100% a-1- 4 linkages) synthesized by Neisseria perflava species amylosucrase ... 

Starch-like substances are produced in several species of bacteria.18,21 For example, Escherichia coli produces a linear glucan.21,29 Corynebacterium diphtheriae produces a starch-like material and Clostridium butyricum produces a glucan with some branching.21 Neisseria perflava produces a glucan, intermediate in structure between amylopectin and glycogen 29 however, more recent work shows that the structure more closely approaches that of glycogen.30... 

Although this Section is primarily concerned with the synthesis of amylose by plant enzymes, it is appropriate to consider briefly certain bacterial enzymes which also synthesize a-D-(1 4)-gIucosidic linkages. These enzymes are transglucosylases which use maltose or sucrose as the donor substrates, and have been found in Escherichia coli, Streptococcus pyogenes,and Neisseria perflava. ... 

Extracts of Neisseria perflava contain phosphorylase also, but this could be differentiated from amylosucrase, which is specific for sucrose and has no action on a-D-glucosyl phosphate. The polysaccharide has been investigated by methylation and enzymic analysis, and the presence of branched chains of (1— 4)-linked a-D-glucose residues rigidly established. The acceptor specificity of amylosucrase has not been studied in detail, but maltosaccharides and small amylose-type molecules are logical acceptors, especially as amylosucrase action on sucrose is inhibited by a-amylase. 

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