title: Alpha and beta-galactosidase activities and oligosaccharide content in peanuts.
abstract: Thirty-three peanut cultivars were examined for their alpha-1,6 and beta-1,4 galactosidase activities and oligosaccharide contents along with proximate compositions. The average moisture, protein, fat, ash, and carbohydrate contents were: 4.9%, 26.6%, 43.1%, 2.3% and 23.1%, respectively. The corresponding coefficients of variation were: 5.2%, 10.1%, 7.2%, 7.8% and 15.7%, respectively. Raffinose and stachyose contents (%) ranged from 0.05 to 0.12 and 0.31 to 0.61, respectively. The specific activity (micromol product/min/mg protein) of crude preparation of alpha-galactosidase for the 33 cultivars ranged from 1.096 to 2.784 for the non-germinated seeds and from not being detected in some samples up to 2.432 for the germinated seeds; the mean values for non-germinated and germinated seeds were: 1.781 and 1.410, respectively. The specific activity of beta-galactosidase ranged from 0.101 to 1.727 in the non-germinated seeds and from not being detected in some samples up to 0.898 in the germinated seeds. Germination decreased the activity of both galactosidases significantly (p < or = 0.05).
authors.affiliation: Department of Food and Animal Science, Alabama A&M University, 4900 Meridian St. N, Normal, AL 35762, USA. rbryant@spa.ars.usda.gov
authors.forename: R J
authors.initials: RJ
authors.lastname: Bryant
authors.forename: D R
authors.initials: DR
authors.lastname: Rao
authors.forename: S
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Ogutu
mesh_terms: D010367:Arachis / Q000737:chemistry* / Q000201:enzymology* / Q000235:genetics; D005696:Galactosidases / Q000378:metabolism*; D018525:Germination; D009753:Nutritive Value; D009844:Oligosaccharides / Q000032:analysis*; D012639:Seeds / Q000737:chemistry* / Q000201:enzymology*
chemical_list: D009844:Oligosaccharides; D005696:Galactosidases