Abstract: The invention involves the development of a substrate and assay procedure for the scientific measurement of cellulase in admixture with other enzymes active on cellulose or 1,4-?-D-cello-oligosaccharides, or in various levels of purity of the cellulase. This substrate being characterised by the fact that it contains at least 2 glucose units linked ?-1,4-, with the reducing end glucose unit linked ?- or ?- to a compound which exhibits an optically measurable change on cleavage of the bond between it and the adjacent D-glucosyl residue and the non-reducing terminal D-glucosyl unit is covalently linked to a blocking substituent which inhibits cleavage by exo-acting enzymes of the bond between the terminal and non-reducing end, penultimate D-glucose unit.

Abstract: The invention involves the development of a substrate and assay procedure for the scientific measurement of cellulase in admixture with other enzymes active on cellulose or 1,4-?-D-gluco-oligosaccharides, or in various levels of purity of the cellulase. This substrate being characterised by the fact that it contains at least 2 glucose units linked ?-1,4-, with the reducing end glucose unit linked ?- or ?- to a compound which exhibits an optically measurable change on cleavage of the bond between it and the adjacent D-glucosyl residue and the non-reducing terminal D-glucosyl unit is covalently linked to a blocking substituent which inhibits cleavage by exo-acting enzymes of the bond between the terminal and non-reducing end, penultimate D-glucose unit.

Abstract: The invention provides an assay kit for the measurement of free D-galactose and/or L-arabinose in a sample, the kit comprising galactose mutarotase and (3-galactose dehydrogenase. The kit may further comprise a reagent capable of hydrolysing molecules containing D-galactose and/or L-arabinose, to yield the free mono- or disaccharide so that the kit finds use for determination of not just of free D-galactose and/or L-arabinose but also those molecules as released (or synthesized) from other molecules, including lactose, D-galactose-1-phosphate, galactosyl-sucrose oligosaccharides (such as raffinose), galactan, galactomannan, arabinan and arabinogalactan.

Abstract: The invention provides an assay kit for the measurement of free D-galactose and/or Larabinose in a sample, the kit comprising galactose mutarotase and (3-galactose dehydrogenase. The kit may further comprise a reagent capable of hydrolysing molecules containing D-galactose and/or L-arabinose, to yield the free mono- or disaccharide so that the kit finds use for determination of not just of free D-galactose and/or L-arabinosebut also those molecules as released (or synthesized) from other molecules, including lactose, D-galacose-1-phosphate, galactosyl-sucrose oligosaccharides (such as raffinose), galactan, galactomannan, arabinan and arabinogalactan.

Abstract: The polysaccharide araban is extracted from sugar beet by a novel modification of the known alkaline extraction process in which, after neutralization of the alkaline liquor, the liquor is ultrafiltered and the retentate is dried to obtain dry araban. Araban, obtained by the above process or otherwise, is incubated with .alpha.-L-arabinofuranosidase to cleave most or all of the branches from the araban. The debranched araban forms an aqueous gel which has the properties of a fat mimetic and may be used as a fat substitute in foods. Isolated debranched araban derived from crude sugar beet araban is a novel substance. Araban itself may be used in the novel applications of emulsification and encapsulation of oils, for example flavor oils.

Abstract: The invention provides a process for reducing the galactose content of galactomannan by means of a substantially specific galactosidase enzyme preparation in which the galactomannan is incubated in the form of a hydrated preparation containing 2-70 percent by weight of galactomannan. Preferable this preparation contains 8-50 percent by weight of galactommanan. The process yields galactomannans with a reduced content of galactose of which those containing 15 to 19 percent of galactose are novel compound. These latter products are used with advantage in foodstuffs and cosmetic preparations.

Abstract: A chromogenic substrate for the assay of polysaccharide endo-hydrolases is the reaction product of a polysaccharide susceptible to endo-hydrolase degradation, a chemical reagent for increasing the solubility of the polysaccharide so as to increase its susceptibility to enzyme degradation, and a dye substance for coloring the polysaccharide and rendering it capable of estimation by absorption spectrometry. The amount of chemical reagent should be such as to produce a degree of chemical substitution in the range 0.06 to 0.6 DS.