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ARS Home » Midwest Area » Madison, Wisconsin » Cereal Crops Research » Research » Publications at this Location » Publication #62959
Title: BARLEY SEED ALPHA-GLUCOSIDASES: THEIR CHARACTERISTICS AND ROLES IN STARCH DEGRADATION

Author
item Henson, Cynthia
item IM, HANA - UNIV OF WI

Submitted to: Book Chapter
Publication Type: Book / Chapter
Publication Acceptance Date: 8/12/1996
Publication Date: N/A
Citation: N/A

Interpretive Summary:

Technical Abstract: Starch in germinating cereals seeds is degraded by alpha-amylase, beta-amylase, debranching enzyme and alpha-glucosidase . It has long been accepted that alpha-amylase is the most important enzyme in starch degradation. Recent studies identified alpha-glucosidase as the second most important enzyme. They also showed that it can initiate native starch hydrolysis and established that it is critical for subsequent metabolism of starch breakdown products. A reconstituted system was used to establish the ratio of alpha-glucosidase/alpha-amylase that results in maximal synergy in the degradation of native starch. 3H-conduritol B epoxide (CBE), a specific alpha-glucosidase inhibitor was used to label the active site of barley alpha-glucosidases. Two isoforms were identified by CBE labelling and by size exclusion chromatography.