β-Glucoside Activators of Mung Bean UDP-Glucose: β-Glucan Synthase

n-Alkyl (C(6)-C(12)) beta-d-monoglucopyranosides have been found to be highly potent activators of mung bean beta-glucan synthase in vitro, increasing the V(max) of the enzyme as much as 60-fold and with K(a) values as low as 10 micromolar. Activation is highly specific for the beta-linked terminal glucose residue; other alkyl glycosides such as, octyl-alpha-glucoside, dodecyl beta-maltoside, 6-lauryl sucrose, 6-lauryl glucose, which lack this structure, are ineffective as activators. Based on the similarities in their structure and effects on beta-glucan synthesis under a variety of conditions, it is proposed that the alkyl beta-glucosides are structural analogs of the native glucolipid activator of beta-glucan synthase isolated from mung bean extracts.