Action pattern of porcine pancreatic alpha-amylase on three different series of β-maltooligosaccharide glycosides

A technique for the investigation of the action pattern of porcine pancreatic amylase (PPA) has been developed by utilising as model substrates 2-chloro-4-nitrophenyl (CNP) and 4-nitrophenyl (NP) β-glycosides of maltooligosaccharides of dp 4–8 and some NP derivatives modified at the nonreducing end with a 4,6-O-benzylidene (Bnl) group. The action pattern was investigated by the method of product analysis, using an HPLC method. The product pattern and cleavage frequency was very similar in the CNP- and NP-oligomers and showed that the glucopyranose residue could be replaced by the aglycon group. Modification of the nonreducing end of NP glycosides to give a 4,6-O-benzylidene-d-glucopyranosyl group indicated a favourable interaction between the Bnl group and the subsites (− 3) and (− 5) but an unfavourable one with subsite (− 4), which resulted in a clear shift in the product pattern. The results obtained with the digestion of the benzylidene-protected substrates confirm a multiple attack mechanism for PPA.