Enzymic formation of .BETA.-alkyl glycosides by .BETA.-galactosidase from Aspergillus oryzae and its application to the synthesis of chemically unstable cardiac glycosides.

Abstract

β-Galactosidase obtained from Aspergillus oryzae was found to have strong transglycosylation activity. The glycosylation of water-soluble and insoluble alcohols was successfully performed under mild conditions (pH 5 at 4-37°C) with this enzyme. The enzyme was also applied to the onestep synthesis of several cardiac glycosides that are diffcult to obtain by ordinary chemical methods.