FUNGAL ENZYMIC ACTIVITY DEGRADING 1,4-α-D-GLUCANS TO 1,5-D-ANHYDROFRUCTOSE

Article abstract of DOI:10.1016/0031-9422(88)80738-6

1,5-D-Anhydrofructose, the precursor of the antibiotic pyrone microthecin in morels and other fungi, is produced in Morchella vulgaris by a novel enzymic activity, presumably a lyasic one, which acts specifically on openchain 1,4-α-D-glucans; it can be prepared enzymatically in vitro from starch in 40 to 50percent yield.Key Word Index - Morchella vulgaris; M. costata; fungi; morels; cortacerone; mircothecin; carbohydrates; pyrones; glucosone; 1,5-D-anhydrofructose; bioconversion; 1,4-α-D-glucan; starch; glycogen.