Studies on dextrans and dextranases. Part VIII. Size and distribution of branches in some dextrans

Abstract

Catalytic oxidation of the dextrans of Leuconostoc mesenteroides NRRL B-1375 (Birmingham) and NRRL B-1415, followed by hydrolysis, furnished 3- and 4-O-(α-D-glucopyranosyluronic acid)-D-glucose, respectively. Glucamylase liberates D-glucose from the dextrans of L.mesenteroides NRRL B-1415 and NRRL B-1416. Quantitative evaluation of the results, and the effect of a dextranase on dextrans pretreated with glucamylase, show that the branches in the above dextrans consist mainly, if not exclusively, if not exclusively, of single glucose units. More than 17% of all branches in the dextran of L. mesenteroides NRRL B-1375 (Birmingham) are joined to two adjacent α-1 → 6-linked glucose units.