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

The solubilisation of non-starch polysaccharides from cell wall materials (CWM) of palm-kernel and sunflower meals was studied using multi-component polysaccharidase preparations or fractions thereof. In sunflower CWM, the degradability of pectic compounds and mannose-containing polysaccharides was highest, as estimated from 40 to 70% solubilisation of their constituent monosaccharides arabinose, galactose, galacturonic acid, rhamnose and mannose. Dimers and monomers were produced as major 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 enzymic hydrolysis. The results indicate the preferential solubilisation of parenchyma tissues from the seed in sunflower meal and the endosperm in palm-kernel meal, and the resistance of sunflower hull and palm-kernel endocarp to enzymic attack. The concentrations of notably cellulolytic, mannanolytic and arabinolytic activities clearly determined the extent to which the corresponding constituents were solubilised.