| Summary: | The β-D-galactosidase of Escherichia coli catalysed galactosyl transfer to a variety of acceptor substrates. Transfers to simple alcohols were followed by transfers to chiral alcohols, chiral diols (bearing primary and secondary hydroxyl groups) and to a me so- diol. In particular, the regio- and stereoselective aspects of the reactions were investigated. In general, transfer to primary hydroxyl groups was favoured over transfer to secondary hydroxyl groups, but little or no preference for the transfer to specific enantiomers in a racemic mixture was observed. The results for propane-1,2-diol and butane- 1,3-diol are interpreted in terms of the possible conformations which might be adopted at the active site of the enzyme. Transfer to cii-cyclohexa-3,5-diene- 1,2-diol gave rise to two diastereoisomers. During the early stages of the reaction, a diastereoisomeric excess of ca. 80% was observed; this was reduced to ca. 20% as the yields of product reached their maximum values. Assignment of the structures of the products was based on a combination of the techniques of nuclear Overhauser enhancement and molecular modelling. α-Galactosyl transfers to lactose and cellobiose using Mortierella vinacea a-D-galactosidase were also studied. In both cases, a single trisaccharide was isolated. Spectroscopic evidence indicated that a (1-6) linkages had been formed in both cases. An acrylamide/acrylic acid polymer intended for use in enzymatic oligosaccharide synthesis was developed. The polymer was high swelling so as to allow permeation by the enzyme and could be easily stored. An attempt to introduce chiral cavities specific for certain monosaccharides was made by substituting part of the acrylamide for a boronate-containing acrylamide and carrying out the polymerisation in the presence of the monosaccharide. The success of the imprinting procedure was measured by the ability of the polymer to separate the components of a racemic mixture of the monosaccharide. The application of such "molecular imprinting" as an aid to oligosaccharide synthesis is discussed.
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