ENZYMATICALLY PRODUCED CYCLIC ALPHA-1,3-LINKED AND ALPHA-1,6-LINKED OLIGOSACCHARIDES OF D-GLUCOSE

A new type of bacterial enzyme hydrolyzed alternan (Leuconostoc mesent eroides NRRL B-1355 fraction S dextran, an alternating alpha-1,3-alpha -1,6-D-glucan) to give rise to a series of oligosaccharides. The oligo saccharide formed in the greatest proportion was a cyclic tetrasacchar ide of D-glucosyl residues linked in an alternating alpha-1,3-alpha-1, 6 fashion. Other saccharide products included isomaltose and yranosyl- 1,3-alpha-D-glucopyranosyl-1,6-D-glucose. Oligosaccharides of higher d egrees of polymerization were also formed, and included alpha-D-glucos ylated derivatives of the cyclic tetrasaccharide. This is the first re port of a naturally produced cyclic tetrasaccharide.