Acceptor specificities of alpha-mannosidases from jack bean and almond, and transmannosylation of branched cyclodextrins.

Jack bean alpha-mannosidase had a wide acceptor specificity and could transfer mannosyl residues to various acceptors such as D-fructose, L-arabinose, maltose, lactose, and sucrose. The structures of the transferred products of branched cyclodextrins (CDs) (glucosyl-beta CD, maltosyl-alpha CD, and maltosyl-beta CD) were found to be alpha-D-mannosyl-(1-->6)-alpha-D-glucosyl-(1-->6)-beta CD, alpha-D-mannosyl- (1-->6)-alpha-D-glucosyl-(1-->4)-alpha-D-glucosyl-(1-->6)-alpha CD and alpha-D-mannosyl-(1-->6)-alpha-D-glucosyl-(1-->4)-alpha-D-glucosyl-(1--> 6)- beta CD, respectively. Almond alpha-mannosidase also produced the same transmannosylated products of branched CDs.