Abstract
Fluorogenic derivatives of maltotriose, maltotetraose, maltopentaose, and maltohexaose were prepared using dextrin as a starting material. The derivatives are not hydrolyzed by α-glucosidase or glucoamylase owing to 2-pyridylamino group at the C6 position of the non-reducing end glucose residue. Fluorogenic maltopentaose (O-6-deoxy-6-[(2-pyridyl) amino]-α-D-glucopyranosyl-(1→4)-O-α-D-glucopyranosyl-(1→4)-O-α-D-glucopyranosyl-(1→4)-O-α-D-glucopyranosyl-(1→4)-D-glucopyranose) was used as a substrate for the α-amylase assay which included separation and detection of the product and the substrate by HPLC. This method for α-amylase assay was also modified in order to differentiate the activities of human pancreatic and salivary α-amylases, by taking advantage of transglycosylation using O-α-D-glucopyranosyl-(1→4)-O-α-Dglucopyranosyl-(1→4)-1-deoxy-1-[(2-pyridyl) amino]-D-glucitol as an acceptor.
