The Chromatographic Observation of Oligosaccharides Formed during the Lactase Hydrolysis of Lactose

Abstract

Ten oligosaccharides in addition to lactose, galactose, and glucose have been detected in Saccharomyces fragilis lactase hydrolyzed lactose prepn. A similar chromatographic pattern has been obtained when examining the cecal contents of rats fed a high lactose diet and also in SO2 hydrolyzed lactose prepn. A flow sheet lists the separation (in substantially pure form) of seven of the ten oligosaccharides using an activated charcoal-celite column. The other 3 oligosaccharides have not been obtained in sufficient purity or quantity to permit further identification. Acid hydrolysis revealed that 3 of the 7 separated oligosaccharides are composed only of galactose molecules and the other four are composed of galactose and glucose molecules in varying ratios.