Molecular characterization of cereal β-D-glucans. Structural analysis of oat β-D-glucan and rapid structural evaluation of β-D-glucans from different sources by high-performance liquid chromatography of oligosaccharides released by lichenase

Abstract

Oligosaccharides obtained by the action of (1→3), (1→4)-β-D-glucan-4-glucanohydrolase (lichenase) on the (1→3), (1→4)-β-D-glucan of oats (oat β-glucan) were characterized by methylation analysis. The polysaccharide was confirmed as composed mainly of β-(1→3)-linked cellotriosyl and cellotetraosyl units with a small amount of regions containing 4-8 consecutive (1→4)-linked units. 13 C-Nuclear magnetic resonance data confirmed these structural features