Glucan composition and process for preparation thereof
AssigneeMassachusetts Institute of Technology
InventorsSpiros Jamas, ChoKyun Rha, Anthony J. Sinskey
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Abstract
Three dimensional glucan matrix compositions are prepared by separating growing yeast from its growth medium, subjecting the yeast with cell walls intact to an alkali material, thereby extracting whole glucan particles having an intact cell wall structure. The whole glucans can then, optionally, be treated with acetic acid to alter the .beta.(1-6) linkages, or with glucanase to alter the .beta.(1-3) linkages. The glucans have viscosity characteristics dependent upon the strain of yeast utilized and are useful as stabilizers or thickeners.
Claims25
Whole glucan particles isolated from glucan-containing cell walls and substantially retaining the in vivo glucan morphology.
Whole glucan particles derived from yeast cells and having substantially the in vivo glucan morphology, said glucan particles containing less than about one percent, by weight, protein and being spherical in shape with an average particle size of from about 2 to about 10 microns.
Whole glucan particles derived from yeast cells, said particles being alkali-insoluble and having substantially the in vivo glucan morphology, said particles also having a spherical morphology with an average particle diameter of from about 2 to about 10 microns and containing greater than 85%, by weight, hexose sugars and less than about one percent, by weight, protein.
A process for preparing whole glucan particles having substantially the in vivo glucan morphology, comprising extracting alkali-soluble components from glucan-containing cells walls without a prior disruption step for said cell walls to thereby produce whole glucan particles retaining the in vivo glucan morphology.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.