Synthesis of Branched Polyglucans by the Tandem Action of Potato Phosphorylase and Deinococcus geothermalis Glycogen Branching Enzyme

An enzymatic tandem reaction is described in which the enzymes phosphorylase and Deinococcus geothermalis glycogen branching enzyme (Dg GBE) catalyze the synthesis of branched polyglucans from glucose-1-phosphate (G-1-P). Phosphorylase consumes G-1-P and polymerizes linear amylose while DR GBE introduces branching points on the alpha-(1 -> 6) positions by reshuffling short oligosaccharides. The resulting branched polyglucans have an unusually high degree of branching of 11%.