Analysis of the xanthans, produced by Xanthomonas albilineans, by capillary electrophoresis: Identification of the product of reaction of an UDP-glucose dehydrogenase

Abstract

Leaf scald, a bacterial-vascular disease of sugar cane, has Xanthomonas albilineans as casual organism. The organism may invade the parenchyma between the bundles and produces reddened pockets of gum, identified as a xanthan. This xanthan consists of a basal tetramer composed by two molecules of glucose, one mannose rest and a final glucuronic acid that is highly repeated to form the macromolecule. The occurrence of glucuronate rest in the polysaccharide requires the action of bacterial UDP-glucose dehydrogenase. In order to verify that the obtained protein is a true UDP-glucose dehydrogenase, the identification of the UDP-glucuronic acid like only product of reaction was necessary. The detection of the UDP-glucuronic acid has been carried out by Capillary Electrophoresis.