STEREOCHEMICAL STUDIES OF ENZYMATIC TRANSGLYCOSYLATION USING SULFOLOBUS-SOLFATARICUS

Stereochemistry of beta-glycosyl transfer from phenyl beta-D-galactoside, lactose, and phenyl beta-D-glucoside to various 1,2-, 1,3-, and 1,4-diols, a secondary-tertiary diol, a cyclic diol, and a racemic alcohol has been studied using beta-glycosidase activity in a crude preparation from the thermophilic archaebacterium Sulfolobus solfataricus. Good enantioselection for the galactosyl transfer to the secondary hydroxy group of different 1,2-diols has been observed. Good yields in comparison with enzymes from other sources, and results concerning the reaction's regioselectivity, have also been reported.