Structure of fructo-oligosaccharides from leaves and stem of Agave tequilana Weber, var. azul

• Characterization of FOS-structures from leaves and stem of A. tequilana.
• Single peak separation of FOSs with 2D liquid chromatography (SEC and rpHPLC).
• NMR-analysis with 2D-HMBC spectrum (13C, 1H) of FOSs from leaf of A. tequilana.
• Arrangement of FOS-structures in leaf and stem of A. tequil depending on location.

Fructo-oligosaccharides (FOSs) of a six year old agave plant variety, Agave tequilana, were isolated and fractionated by 2D preparative chromatography (SEC and rpHPLC). Structural analyses of different FOS-fractions were performed by reductive methylation analysis connected to GC/FID identification and NMR-analysis. FOSs from leaves (d.p. 3–8) contain single α-d-Glcp residues as well in terminal as internal position, however (2 → 1)-linked β-d-Fruf residues only. FOSs from stem, however, contain as well (2 → 1)- and (2 → 6)-linked β-d-Fruf residues with branched oligomeric repeating units. These characteristics indicate an enzymatically catalyzed metabolic regulation for the biosynthesis and transformation of fructans in A. tequilana which strongly depends on location and transport activities.

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