β-Glucoside Activators of Mung Bean UDP-Glucose: β-Glucan Synthase

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Abstract
n-Alkyl (C6-C12) β-d-monoglucopyranosides have been found to be highly potent activators of mung bean β-glucan synthase in vitro, increasing the Vmax of the enzyme as much as 60-fold and with Ka values as low as 10 micromolar. Activation is highly specific for the β-linked terminal glucose residue; other alkyl glycosides such as, octyl-α-glucoside, dodecyl β-maltoside, 6-lauryl sucrose, 6-lauryl glucose, which lack this structure, are ineffective as activators. Based on the similarities in their structure and effects on β-glucan synthesis under a variety of conditions, it is proposed that the alkyl β-glucosides are structural analogs of the native glucolipid activator of β-glucan synthase isolated from mung bean extracts.