ABSTRACT
The enzyme amylosucrase was discovered by Hehre and Hamilton (1). The reaction demonstrated an in vitro glycogen synthesis without any activated nucleotide sugars for the first time. The reaction of amylosucrase can be described as follows:
Sucrose! Amyloseþ Fructose The amylosucrase splits off the glucosyl part from the substrate and links it covalently to an acceptor molecule. During this reaction fructose is released. The reaction mechanism is still not proven, but it is assumed that the glycosyl residue is transferred to the nonreducing end of an alpha-1,4-glucan. For the enzyme reaction no additional energy is needed but a primer seems to be necessary to trigger the reaction. The best primer is glycogen which shows enormous stimulation of the amylosucrase reaction (2).
