STUDIES ON REACTIONS RELATING TO CARBOHYDRATES AND POLYSACCHARIDES: XXXIII. THE SYNTHESIS OF POLYSACCHARIDES BY BACTERIA AND ENZYMES

Abstract

The synthesis of a polysaccharide from simpler carbohydrates both by the agency of Bacillus mesentericus Trevisan and Bacillus subtilis Cohn has been studied. The action of both is apparently specific in that they only bring about polysaccharide formation from carbohydrates containing a terminal fructo-furanose residue in their molecule. A similar synthesis can be carried out by using the corresponding enzyme preparation from Bacillus mesentericus.