• Microbiology and Biotechnology Letters
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• v.20 no.3
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• pp.316-323
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• 1992

Studies on the changes in rheological properties, molecular weight distribution and dextran yield after being reacted in lO%(w/w) sucrose concentration were performed with crude dextransucrase produced from Leuconostoc mesenteroides isolated from Sikhae. The reaction rate of dextran formation was monitored by sugar analysis with HPLC and by the changes in apparent viscosity. According to the periodate oxidation test, the dextran produced in this experiment was estimated to have 89% $\alpha$-(1->6) main linkages and 11% $\alpha$-(1->) side linkages. The rheological properties of the dextran solution formed changed with reaction time, and it was related to the changes in molecular weight distribution of dextran as determined by GPC analysis. As the reaction proceeded, the rheological behavior changed from Newtonian to non-Newtonian, showing Binghampseudoplastic and thixothropic flow behavior. The apparent viscosity of dextran formed solution increased with increasing reaction time, reached a maximum value of 2680 cP ($\gamma$=$33.75s^{-1}$, $25^{\circ}C$) by enzyme reaction for 8 hours, and then decreased. The temperature dependency of dextran formed solutions was well expressed by the Arrhenius equation and the activation energy reached a maximum value of 1.69 kcal/mole by enzyme reaction for 8 hours.