Most‐probable distribution at enzyme depolymerization of polysaccharides

Abstract

SynopsisSeveral research groups have studied depolymerizing processes by enzyme cleavage using product distribution. Although only the shortest chain products can be measured experimentally, interpretation of much evidence requires an assumption of the nature of high polymer distribution. The present work analyzes the high polymer distribution of products on the basis of mathematical models suggested for the two most widespread a-amylase action-mechanisms. The most-probable distribution was found to be distorted by hydrolysis only for the shortest chain products. The size of the distorted region is directly dependent on the characteristics of a specific enzyme. We studied the distribution of products for substrates of varying composition to show that it approaches the most-probable distribution at depolymerization.

Investigating the Kinetics of the Enzymatic Depolymerization of Polygalacturonic Acid in Continuous UF-Membrane Reactors

“…This kinetic pathway is relatively simple (a sole enzyme acting on an homopolymer) if compared to other biological depolymerizations, where several enzymatic components attack synergistically a heteropolymer. Mathematical models describing biodepolymerizations similar to that of polygalacturonic acid have been developed early, both in discrete and continuous form (6,7). However, constitutive equations, sufficiently simple and practical to be used in industrial bioreactor design and development, are not yet available.…”

Porcine pancreatic α-amylase hydrolysis of modified substrates and the specificity of subsite binding

“…This mechanism was further supported by later studies by Thoma (74) and Hutny and Ugorski (75). The mathematical models employed in several of these studies have recently been reexamined and slightly refined (76,77). A theoretical ap proach for distinguishing single and dual active site models for PPA which relates these models to the multiple-attack mechanism has also been been described (78).…”