A new method to obtain β-glucan from Saccharomyces cerevisiaecells

Abstract

In this work, a simple method was developed to increase cell wall porosity and to achieve partial hydrolysis of β-glucan. First, the cells were permeabilized using ethanol under agitation. Then the cells were treated with glass beads to increase cell wall porosity and subjected to an enzymatic treatment to degrade glycogen at 65 °C for 30 minutes. Finally, the cells were incubated at 57 °C for 2 hours to partially degrade β-glucan. Whole cells, permeabilized cells and permeabilized cells with partially hydrolyzed β-glucan were evaluated by optical microscopy and transmission electron microscopy. From the images of permeabilized cells with partially hydrolyzed β-glucan it was possible to visualize structures named “ghosts”, which are alike along microcapsules containing β-glucan. These structures can be used to aggregate β-glucan in food industrialized products.