Screening of various glycosidases for the synthesis of octyl glucoside

Thirteen glycosidases of microbial origin and almond &bgr;-glycosidase were assayed in octanol/DMF (80:20, v/v), using a combination of hydrolysis, transglycosylation, and condensation reactions, in order to assess their potential for the production of alkyl glucosides. The two mesophile enzymes were highly impaired by the organic media. Three of the 11 thermophile enzymes gave interesting results in the hydrolysis and transglycosylation reactions, but they were highly inhibited by glucose. This made their use in a condensation reaction less interesting than the use of almond &bgr;-glucosidase, which has a lower activity but shows less inhibition by the glucose. \ufffd 2002 Government of Canada. Exclusive worldwide publication rights in this article have been transferred to John Wiley & Sons, Inc. Biotechol Bioeng 77: 752-757, 2002; DOI 10.1002/bit.10156NRC publication: Ye