Alternansucrase acceptor reactions with methyl hexopyranosides

Alternansucrase (EC 2.4.1.140, sucrose: (1-->6), (1-->3)-alpha-D-glucan 6(3)-alpha-D-glucosyltransferase) is a D-glucansucrase that synthesizes an alternating alpha-(1-->3), (1-->6)-linked D-glucan from sucrose. It also synthesizes oligosaccharides via D-glucopyranosyl transfer to various acceptor sugars. We have studied the acceptor products arising from methyl glycosides as model compounds in order to better understand the specificity of alternansucrase acceptor reactions. The initial product arising from methyl beta-D-glucopyranoside was methyl beta-isomaltoside, which was subsequently glucosylated to yield methyl beta-isomaltotrioside and methyl alpha-D-glucopyranosyl-(1-->3)-alpha-D-glucopyranosyl-(1-->6)-beta-D-glucopyranoside. These products are analogous to those previously described from methyl alpha-D-glucopyranoside. The major initial acceptor product from methyl alpha-D-mannopyranoside was methyl alpha-D-glucopyranosyl-(1-->6)-alpha-D-mannopyranoside, but several minor products were also isolated and characterized, including a 3,6-di-O-substituted mannopyranoside. Methyl alpha-D-galactopyranoside yielded two initial products, methyl alpha-D-glucopyranosyl-(1-->3)-alpha-D-galactopyranoside and methyl alpha-D-glucopyranosyl-(1-->4)-alpha-D-galactopyranoside, in a 2.5:1 molar ratio. Methyl D-allopyranosides were glucosylated primarily at position 6, yielding methyl alpha-D-glucopyranosyl-(1-->6)-D-allopyranosides. The latter subsequently gave rise to methyl alpha-D-glucopyranosyl-(1-->6)-alpha-D-glucopyranosyl-(1-->6)-D-allopyranosides. In general, the methyl alpha-D-hexopyranosides were better acceptors than the corresponding beta-glycosides.