Selective alpha-glucosylation of eugenol by alpha-glucosyl transfer enzyme of Xanthomonas campestris WU-9701

J Biosci Bioeng. 2003;96(2):199-202. doi: 10.1016/s1389-1723(03)90127-7.

Abstract

For one-step enzymatic synthesis of eugenyl alpha-glucoside as a promising pro-drug for a hair restorer and a derivative of spices, selective alpha-glucosylation of eugenol was carried out using the alpha-glucosyl transfer enzyme of Xanthomonas campestris WU-9701. When 130 micromol eugenol and crude enzyme showing 1.0 unit of alpha-glucosyl transfer activity were shaken in 2 ml of 10 mM H3BO3-NaOH-KCl buffer (pH 8.0) containing 1.2 M maltose as a glucosyl donor at 40 degrees C, only one form of eugenyl glucoside was selectively obtained as a product and identified as eugenyl alpha-D-glucopyranoside (alpha-EG) by 13C-NMR, 1H-NMR, and two-dimensional heteronuclear multiple-bond coherence analyses. In the reaction, no other glucosylated products such as maltotriose or eugenyl maltoside were detected in the reaction mixture. The reaction at 40 degrees C for 48 h under the above conditions yielded 68 mumol alpha-EG in 2 ml suspension, and the maximum molar conversion yield based on the amount of eugenol supplied reached 52%.