Structures of multi-branched dextrins produced by saccharifyiing alpha-amylase from starch

From the digest of beta-limit dextrin (prepared from glutinous rice starch) with saccharifying alpha-amylase of Bacillus subtilis [EC 3.2.1.1] (BSA), two extensibely branched dextrins consisting of nine (No. 6, Fig. 1) and ten (No 7, Fig.1) glucose units were isolated by paper chromatography. Structural analysis using various enzymes revealed that No. 6 and No. 7 were both mixtures of four triply branched dextrins. They had structures which were built up with 63-alpha-glucosylmaltotriose and/or 62-alpha-glucosylmaltose as a linking unit. However, the branching configuration and the minimum alpha-1, 4-glucosidic linkages existing between two branches followed one of the three structures shown below: (see article).