SOLUBILIZATION OF NONSTARCH POLYSACCHARIDES FROM OILSEED MEALS BY POLYSACCHARIDE-DEGRADING ENZYMES

The solubilisation of non-starch polysaccharides from cell wall materi als (CWM) of palm-kernel and sunflower meals was studied using multi-c omponent polysaccharidase preparations or fractions thereof. In sunflo wer CWM, the degradability of pectic compounds and mannose-containing polysaccharides was highest, as estimated from 40 to 70% solubilisatio n of their constituent monosaccharides arabinose, galactose, galacturo nic acid, rhamnose and mannose. Dimers and monomers were produced as m ajor neutral and acidic end-products. Mannans in palm-kernel CWM were hydrolysed to about 20-50%, depending on enzyme composition, with the monomer and dimer of mannose as major end-products. In both materials, xylans, or other xylose-containing polymers, were most resistant to e nzymic hydrolysis. The results indicate the preferential solubilisatio n of parenchyma tissues from the seed in sunflower meal and the endosp erm in palm-kernel meal, and the resistance of sunflower hull and palm -kernel endocarp to enzymic attack. The concentrations of notably cell ulolytic, mannanolytic and arabinolytic activities clearly determined the extent to which the corresponding constituents were solubilised.