pectins and 2-cyanoacetamide

A rapid, facile, and sensitive uv-spectrophotometric assay has been developed for the determination of the enzymatic degradation of polysaccharides that generates reducing sugars. The assay was carried out with 2-cyanoacetamide in a single test tube. The solution was left at pH 9 by the addition of borate buffer within 5 min. Measurement of the reaction mixture at 274 nm allows a simple determination up to 600 mumol/liter of reducing sugars. The coefficient of variation was less than 2% on all measurements. The assay was developed with pectin and polygalacturonic acid from apples and has been compared with the Somogyi-Nelson method. The new assay was then exemplarily used for the determination of the enzymatic hydrolysis products of pectin from cotton.

Topics: Calibration; Catalysis; Cellulase; Glycoside Hydrolases; Hexuronic Acids; Hydrogen-Ion Concentration; Nitriles; Oxidation-Reduction; Pectins; Polygalacturonase; Polysaccharides; Spectrophotometry, Ultraviolet