Reaction of phosphorylase-a with α-d-glucose 1-phosphate and maltodextrin acceptors to give products with degree of polymerization 6–89

•Linear glucan saccharides were synthesized from glucose 1-P by phosphorylase-a.•Reaction yield for the 24 h synthesis of the GS product was 25.3%–29.1%.•HPSEC-ELSD enabled approximately monitoring for glucan saccharides degree of polymerization (DP).•HPAEC-PAD enabled precise monitoring for glucan saccharides DP ≤ 89.•HPSEC-ELSD and HPAEC-PAD systems were successfully used for phosphorylase-a kinetics.

A series of linear glucan saccharides (GS) with defined quantity and degree of polymerization (DP) were synthesized from α-d-glucose 1-phosphate (α-d-Glc 1-P) by phosphorylase-a. The GS product fractions with average DP 11, 22, 38, 52, 60, 70, and 79 were measured by HPSEC-ELSD system. Then the same seven fractions were resolved into individual peaks with DP: 6–14, 10–32, 27–55, 37–67, 44–75, 49–83 and 53–89 by HPAEC-PAD system. Results showed that measurement of α-d-Glc 1-P amount consuming during GS synthesis by both systems enable calculation of reaction yield. The reaction yield for the 24 h biosynthesis of the GS product was 25.3% (measured by HPSEC-ELSD) or 29.1% (measured by HPAEC-PAD). The HPSEC-ELSD and HPAEC-PAD systems were also successfully used for phosphorylase-a activity measurement in order to perform its kinetic characterization. This study established feasible systems for preparation of various sizes of the GS with defined DP and quantity as well as characterization of phosphorylase-a kinetics.