Syntheses of p-aminophenyl α-d-talopyranoside and 1-thio α-d-talopyranoside as analogs of glycosidase substrates

p-Nitrophenyl and p-aminophenyl α-d-talopyranoside and 1-thio-α-d-talopyranosides were prepared for studies on specificity of glycosidases. Reaction of α-d-talopyranose pentaacetate with p-nitrophenol gave exclusively p-nitrophenyl 2,3,4,6-tetra-O-acetyl-α-d-talopyranoside (2) in 63% yield. A similar reaction with p-nitrobenzenethiol afforded the 1-thio analog (3) of 2 in 41.8% yield; the p-nitrophenyl 2,3,4,6-tetra-O-acetyl-1-thio-β-d-talopyranoside (6) was also obtained in low yield (6.7%). The two α-d-talosides 2 and 3 were catalytically deacetylated in near-quantitative yields by methanolic sodium methoxide. The p-nitrophenyl α-d-talopyranoside (4) and 1-thio-α-d-talopyranoside (5) were reduced with palladium on barium sulfate catalyst to the corresponding p-aminophenyl talosides. The acetylated p-nitrophenyl d-talosides 2, 3, and 6 were determined, from their 250-MHz n.m.r. spectra, to exist in the ⁴C₁ (d) conformation in chloroform solution.     

Thiodisaccharides with galactofuranose or arabinofuranose as terminal units: Synthesis and inhibitory activity of an exo β-d-galactofuranosidase

Thiodisaccharides having β-d-Galf or α-l-Araf units as non-reducing end have been synthesized by the SnCl₄- or MoO₂Cl₂-promoted thioglycosylation of per-O-benzoyl-d-galactofuranose (1), its 1-O-acetyl analogue 4, or per-O-acetyl-α-l-arabinofuranose (16) with 6-thioglucose or 6-thiogalactose derivatives. After convenient removal of the protecting groups, the free thiodisaccharides having the basic structure β-d-Galf(1→6)-6-thio-α-d-Glcp-OMe (5) or β-d-Galf(1→6)-6-thio-α-d-Galp-OMe (15) were obtained. The respective α-l-Araf analogues 18 and 20 were prepared similarly from 16. Alternatively, β-d-Galf(1→4)-4-thio-3-deoxy-α-l-Xylp-OiPr was synthesized by Michael addition to a sugar enone of 1-thio-β-d-Galf derivative, generated in situ from the glycosyl isothiourea derivative of 1. The free S-linked disaccharides were evaluated as inhibitors of the β-galactofuranosidase from Penicillium fellutanum, being 15 and 20 the more active inhibitors against this enzyme.     

Syntheses stereoselectives de 1-thioglycosides

2,3,4,6-Tetra-O-acetyl-β-d-mannopyranosyl chloride (2) was obtained in 70% yield by the action of lithium chloride on 2,3,4,6-tetra-O-acetyl-α-d-mannopyranosyl bromide (1) in hexamethylphosphoric triamide. p-Nitrobenzenethiol reacted with 1 and 2 as well as with 2,3,4,6-tetra-O-acetyl-α-d-glucopyranosyl bromide (9) or its β-d-chloro analog (10), giving exclusively and in good yield the corresponding p-nitrophenyl 1-thioglycosides of inverted anomeric configuration. The 1,2-cis-d-manno and -glucop-nitrophenylglycosides were likewise prepared. α-d-Glucopyranosyl 1-thio-α-d-glucopyranoside was similarly obtained by the action of the sodium salt of 1-thio-α-d-glucopyranose on the β-chloride 10 in hexamethylphosphoric triamide, or by treatment of 10 with sodium sulfide, with subsequent deacetylation. Analogous procedures allowed the preparation of β-d-mannopyranosyl 1-thio-β-d-mann opyranoside, the corresponding α,β anomer and α-d-glucopyranosyl 1-thio-α-d-mannopyranoside, starting from bromide 1, 1-thio-α-d-mannopyranose (8),and chloride 10, respectively. When acetone was used as solvent, the reaction between 1 and 8 led instead to the α,α anomer. The thio disaccharides that are interglycosidic 4-thio analogs of methyl 4-O-(β-d-galactopyranosyl)-α-d-galactopyranoside, methyl α-cellobioside, and methyl α-maltoside, respectively, were obtained by way of the peracetates of methyl 4-thio-α-d-galactopyranoside and -glucopyranoside by reaction of the corresponding thiolates with tetra-O-acetyl-α-d-galactopyranosyl bromide, bromide 9, or chloride 10, respectively, in hexamethylphosphoric triamide. These 1-thioglycosides, and (1→1)- and (1→4)-thiodisaccharides, were characterized by ¹H- and ^{1 3}C-n.m.r. spectroscopy. Correlations were established between the polarity of the sulfur atom and certain proton and carbon chemical-shifts in the 1-thioglycosides in comparison with the O-glycosyl analogs; these correlations permitted in particular the unambigous attribution of anomeric configuration.     

Purification and some properties of a (1→4)-β-d-glucan glucohydrolase associated with the cellulase from the fungus Penicillium funiculosum

The (1→4)-β-d-glucan glucohydrolase from Penicillium funiculosum cellulase was purified to homogeneity by chromatography on DEAE-Sephadex and by iso-electric focusing. The purified component, which had a molecular weight of 65,000 and a pI of 4.65, showed activity on H₃PO₄-swollen cellulose, o-nitrophenyl β-d-glucopyranoside, cellobiose, cellotriose, cellotetraose, and cellopentaose, the K_m values being 172 mg/mL, and 0.77, 10.0, 0.44, 0.77, and 0.37 mm, respectively. d-Glucono-1,5-lactone was a powerful inhibitor of the action of the enzyme on o-nitrophenyl β-d-glucopyranoside (K_i 2.1 μm), cellobiose (K_i 1.95 μm), and cellotriose (K_i 7.9 μm) [cf.d-glucose (K_i 1756 μm)]. On the basis of a Dixon plot, the hydrolysis of o-nitrophenyl β-d-glucopyranoside appeared to be competitively inhibited by d-glucono-1,5-lactone. However, inhibition of hydrolysis by d-glucose was non-competitive, as was that for the gluconolactone-cellobiose and gluconolactone-cellotriose systems. Sophorose, laminaribiose, and gentiobiose were attacked at different rates, but the action on soluble O-(carboxymethyl)cellulose was minimal. The enzyme did not act in synergism with the endo-(1→4)-β-d-glucanase component to solubilise highly ordered cotton cellulose, a behaviour which contrasts with that of the other exo-(1→4)-β-d-glucanase found in the same cellulase, namely, the (1→4)-β-d-glucan cellobiohydrolase.     

5-thio-l-rhamnose

Two routes for the synthesis of methyl 5-S-acetyl-6-deoxy-2,3-O-isopropylidene-5-thio-l-mannofuranoside (8) have been examined. Reaction of l-rhamnose with methanol in the presence of the cation-exchange resin gives methyl 6-deoxy-α-l-mannofuranoside (2), which on conventional acetonation yields methyl 6-deoxy-2,3-O- isopropylidene-α-l-mannofuranosides (3). Compounds 3 is also obtained by acetonation of l-rhamnose followed by treatment with a mixture of methanol, acetonation, Amberlite IR-120(H⁺) resin. Chlorination of 3 with triphenylphosphine-carbon tetrachloride gives methyl 5-chloro-5,6-dideoxy-2,3-O-isopropylidene-β-d-gulofuranoside (7), which reacts with potassium thioacetate to give 8. Alternatively, 3 is iodized with ruthenium tetraoxide to methyl 6-deoxy-2,3-O-isopropylidene-α-l-lyxo-hexofuranosid-5-ulose (9), which reduced by sodium borohydride mainly to methyl 6-deoxy-2,3-O-isopropylidene-β-d-gulofuranoside (10). The O-tosyl derivative of 10 reacts with potassium thioacetate to produced 8. Hydrolysis of 8 with 90% aqueous triflouroacetic acid, followed by acetolysis with a solution of acetic acid, acetic anhydride, and sulfuric acids gives an anomeric mixture of 1,2,3,4,-tetra-O-acetyl-6-deoxy-5-thio-l-mannopyranoses (12), together with a small proportion of 1,2,3,-tri-O-acetyl-5-S-acetyl-6-deoxy-5-thio-β-l-mannofuranose (13). Deacetylation of 12 or 13 gives 5-thio-l-rhamnose (6), from which crystalline 1,2,3,4-tetra-O-(p-nitrobenzoyl)-5-thio-β-l-rhamnopyranose (14) is obtained.     

Syntheses of p-nitrophenyl 3- and 4-thio-β-D-glycopyranosides

Thioglycosides have proved to be useful, enzymatically stable analogs of glycosides for structural and mechanistic studies and their synthesis is considerably simplified through the use of thioglycoligases. As part of an investigation into the use of thioglycosides as potential pharmacological chaperones, and as components of glycoproteins and glycolipids, the syntheses of p-nitrophenyl 3-thio-β-d-galactopyranoside, phenyl 1,4-dithio-β-d-glucopyranoside, p-nitrophenyl 4-thio-β-d-mannopyranoside and p-nitrophenyl 2-acetamido-2-deoxy-4-thio-β-d-mannopyranoside are described.     

The chemistry of some 1-mercury(II)thio-d-glucose compounds; a new synthesis of 1-thio sugars

Treatment of tetra-O-acetyl-β-d-glucopyranosyl N,N-dimethyldithiocarbamate (1) with phenylmercury(II) acetate gives tetra-O-acetyl-1-phenylmercury(II)thio-β-d-glucopyranose (3), which can also be made in high yield from other dithiocarbamates, from tetra-O-acetyl-1-thio-β-d-glucopyranose, and from its S-acetyl derivative. The p-diethylamino derivative (7) of compound 3 displays significantly different properties and is readily convertible into bis(tetra-O-acetyl-1-thio-β-d-glucopyranosyl)mercury(II) (8), which is also obtainable by treatment of tetra-O-acetyl-1-thio-β-d-glucopyranose with mercury(II) acetate. Aspects of the chemistry of compounds 3, 7, and 8 are reported; demercuration of 3 affords a convenient synthesis of 2,3,4,6-tetra-O-acetyl-1-thio-β-d-glucose.     

Syntheses of p-aminophenyl 1-thio-α- and -β-d-idopyranosides as analogs of glycosidase substrates

The p-nitrophenyl and p-aminophenyl 1-thio-α- and -β-d-idopyranosides were synthesized for use in structure-activity studies of glycosidases. Zinc chloride-catalyzed fusion of α-d-idopyranose pentaacetate with p-nitrobenzenethiol gave p-nitrophenyl 2,3,4,6-tetra-O-acetyl-1-thio-α-d-idopyranoside as an amorphous glass in 67% yield, and the crystalline β anomer in 13% yield. Deacetylation with catalytic amounts of sodium methoxide in methanol, followed by hydrogenation under pressure over palladium-on-barium sulfate catalyst, afforded p-aminophenyl 1-thio-α- and -β-d-idopyranosides.     

Glycosidases. Ligands for affinity chromotagraphy: II. Syntheses of p-aminophenyl 1-thio-L-fucopyranosides

Syntheses of p-aminophenyl 1-thio-α-L- and β-L-fucopyranosides are described. 1,2,3,4-Tetra-O-acetyl-α-L-fucopyranose, on heating with p-nitrothiophenol in the presence of p-toluenesulfonic acid under diminished pressure, gave a mixture of p-nitrophenyl 2,3,4-tri-O-acetyl-1-thio-α- and β-L-fucopyranosides, which was separated by chromatography on silica gel. When the reaction was carried out in the presence of zinc chloride at atmospheric pressure, the β-anomer was the exclusive product. Deacetylation of the aryl α-L- and α-L-thiofucopyranosides with sodium methoxide, followed by catalytic hydrogenation in the presence of palladium on barium sulfate, afforded the respective aminophenyl 1-thiofucopyranosides. The aryl thiofucopyranosides thus synthesized were tested for their inhibitory activity toward clam α-L-fucosidase. The p-aminophenyl 1-thio α-L-fucopyranoside showed a competitive-type inhibition, with a K_i of 0.71mM.     

6-thio and -seleno-β-D-glucose esters of dimethylarsinous acid

Syntheses of 2-Se-(1,2,3,4-tetra-O-acetyl-β-D-glucopyranosyl)-3-N,N-dimethyl-selenopseudourea hydroiodide (3), 1,2,3,4-tetra-O-acetyl-6-S-dimethylarsino-6-thio-β-D-glucopyranose (4), 1,2,3,4-tetra-O-acetyl-6-Se-dimethylarsino-6-seleno-β-D-glucopyranose (7), 6-S-dimethylarsino-6-thio-β-D-glucopyranose (5), and 6-Se-dimethylarsino-6-seleno-β-D-glucopyranose (9) are described. Various spectral properties of the compounds are given. The relative rates of alkaline hydrolysis of 5 and 9 are compared.     

O-benzylated thio sugars: 2,3,4- and 2,4,6-tri-O-benzyl-1-thio-β-d-galactopyranose

The 2,3,4- (9) and 2,4,6-tribenzyl (19) ethers of 1-thio-β-d-galactopyranose were prepared from the corresponding O-benzylated normal (1-hydroxyl) sugars 4 and 15 via the sequence: normal sugar → diacetate → O-acetylglycosyl bromide → O-acetyl-glycosyl ethylxanthate → 1-thio sugar. 2,3,4-Tri-O-benzyl-α-d-galactopyranose (4) is most advantageously made from allyl 6-O-allyl-α-d-galactopyranoside (2) by a published synthesis. An improved synthesis of 2,4,6-tri-O-benzyl-d-galactopyranose (15) was devised; it involves the selective 3-O-benzoylation of allyl 2,6-di-O-benzyl-α-d-galactopyranoside (10).     

Structure-based engineering of glucose specificity in a family 10 xylanase from Streptomyces olivaceoviridis E-86

Substrate specificity is one of the most important functional property of enzymes. We use family 10 xylanase from Streptomyces olivaceoviridis as a model for substrate specificity of glycoside hydrolases. Seven variants were initially designed to change the preference from xylose to glucose at substrate binding subsites ?2 and ?1. The known mobility of Trp at the ?1 subsite and the influence of its environment, which is different in subset 1 and subset 2 family 10 enzymes, were taken into account in variant design. Q88A/R275A had the best ratio of p-nitrophenyl cellobioside vs p-nitrophenyl xylobioside hydrolyzing activity in the first series of variants. The crystal structure shows a movement of Trp274 compared to the native, as a result of loss of interaction with the long side chain of Arg275. The movement creates extra space for the hydroxymethyl of glucose, resulting in improved K_m on glucose derived substrates, while the negative effect on k_cat is compensated by the Q88A mutation, which also contributes to a further reduction of K_m. Further mutagenesis based on the Q88A/R275A variant resulted in 5.2 times improvement compared to the wild-type p-nitrophenyl cellobioside hydrolyzing activity, which is the best improvement obtained so far for an engineered xylanase.     

Synthesis of 5-deoxy-β-d-galactofuranosides as tools for the characterization of β-d-galactofuranosidases

Derivatives of 5-deoxy-β-d-galactofuranose (5-deoxy-α-l-arabino-hexofuranose) have been synthesized starting from d-galacturonic acid. The synthesis of methyl 5-deoxy-α-l-arabino-hexofuranoside (14α) was achieved by an efficient strategy previously optimized, involving a photoinduced electron transfer (PET) deoxygenation. Compound 14α was converted into per-O-acetyl-5-deoxy-α,β-l-arabino-hexofuranoside (16), an activated precursor for glycosylation reactions. The SnCl₄-promoted glycosylation of 16 led to 4-nitrophenyl (19α), and 4-methylthiophenyl 5-deoxy-α-l-arabino-hexofuranosides (20α). The oxygenated analog 4-methylphenyl 1-thio-β-d-galactofuranoside (23β) was also prepared. The 5-deoxy galactofuranosides were evaluated as inhibitors or substrates of the exo-β-d-galactofuranosidase from Penicillium fellutanum, showing that the absence of HO-5 drastically diminishes the affinity for the protein.     

Synthesis and properties of some O-(2,2-dialkoxyethyl)glycolaldehydes

β-d-Mannosidase (β-d-mannoside mannohydrolase EC 3.2.1.25) was purified 160-fold from crude gut-solution of Helix pomatia by three chromatographic steps and then gave a single protein band (mol. wt. 94,000) on SDS-gel electrophoresis, and three protein bands (of almost identical isoelectric points) on thin-layer iso-electric focusing. Each of these protein bands had enzyme activity. The specific activity of the purified enzyme on p-nitrophenyl β-d-mannopyranoside was 1694 nkat/mg at 40° and it was devoid of α-d-mannosidase, β-d-galactosidase, 2-acet-amido-2-deoxy-d-glucosidase, (1→4)-β-d-mannanase, and (1→4)-β-d-glucanase activities, almost devoid of α-d-galactosidase activity, and contaminated with <0.02% of β-d-glucosidase activity. The purified enzyme had the same K_m for borohydride-reduced β-d-manno-oligosaccharides of d.p. 3–5 (12.5mm). The initial rate of hydrolysis of (1→4)-linked β-d-manno-oligosaccharides of d.p. 2–5 and of reduced β-d-manno-oligosaccharides of d.p. 3–5 was the same, and o-nitrophenyl, methylumbelliferyl, and naphthyl β-d-mannopyranosides were readily hydrolysed. β-d-Mannobiose was hydrolysed at a rate ～25 times that of 6¹-α-d-galactosyl-β-d-mannobiose and 6³-α-d-galactosyl-β-d-mannotetraose, and at ～90 times the rate for β-d-mannobi-itol.     

Use of 3-O-(2-acetamido-3,4,6-tri-O-acetyl-2-deoxy-β-d-glucopyranosyl)-2,4,6-tri-O-acetyl-α-d-galactopyranosyl bromide as a glycosyl donor: Synthesis of p-nitrophenyl 3-O-(2-acetamido-2-deoxy-β-d-glucopyranosyl)-β-d-galactopyranoside

Acetolysis of methyl 3-O-(2-acetamido-3,4,6-tri-O-acetyl-2-deoxy-β-d-glucopyranosyl)-2,4,6-tri-O-acetyl-α-d-galactopyranoside afforded 3-O-(2-acetamido-3,4,6-tri-O-acetyl-2-deoxy-β-d-glucopyranosyl)-1,2,4,6-tetra-O-acetyl-d-galactopyranose (2). Treatment of 2 in dichloromethane with hydrogen bromide in glacial acetic acid gave 3-O-(2-acetamido-3,4,6-tri-O-acetyl-2-deoxy-β-d-glucopyranosyl)- 2,4,6-tri-O-acetyl-α-d-galactopyranosyl bromide (3). The α configuration of 3 was indicated by its high, positive, specific rotation, and supported by its ¹H-n.m.r. spectrum. Reaction of 3 with Amberlyst A-26-p-nitrophenoxide resin in 1:4 dichloromethane-2-propanol furnished p-nitrophenyl 3-O-(2-acetamido-3,4,6- tri-O-acetyl-2-deoxy-β-d-glucopyranosyl)-2,4,6-tri-O-acetyl-β-d-galactopyranoside (7). Compound 7 was also obtained by the condensation (catalyzed by silver trifluoromethanesulfonate-2,4,6-trimethylpyridine) of 3,4,6-tri-O-acetyl-2-deoxy-2-phthalimido-β-d-glucopyranosyl bromide with p-nitrophenyl 2,4,6-tri-O-acetyl-β-d-galactopyranoside, followed by the usual deacylation-peracetylation procedure. O-Deacetylation of 7 in methanolic sodium methoxide furnished the title disaccharide (8). The structure of 8 was established by ¹³C-n.m.r. spectroscopy.     

o-nitrophenyl 6-deoxy-3-O-(6-deoxy-β-d-xylo-hex-5-enopyranosyl)-β-d-xylo-hex-5-enopyranoside,the major product of β-d-glucosidase action on o-nitrophenyl 6-deoxy-β-d-xylo-hex-5-enopyranoside

Incubation of o-nitrophenyl 6-deoxy-β-d-xylo-hex-5-enopyranoside (1) with emulin β-d-glucosidase gave, instead of the expected 6-deoxy-d-xylo-hexos-5-ulose (3), o-nitrophenyl 6-deoxy-3-O-(6-deoxy-β-d-xylo-hex-5-enopyranosyl)-β-d-xylo-hex-5-enopyranoside (2) in high yield (≈90% under optimal conditions). The structure of 2 was established from spectroscopic data and by correlation with compounds synthesised definitively. The specificity of the transfer reaction is discussed as an argument for an acceptor or aglycon binding-site.     

An improved method for the syntheses of p-aminophenyl 1-thio-β-d-glycosides

The condensation of the appropriate acetylglycosyl bromides with p-amino-benzenethiol in the presence of sodium methoxide afforded p-aminophenyl 1-thio-β-d-glucopyranoside, 1-thio-β-d-galactopyranoside, 1-thio-β-d-xylopyranoside, and 2-acetamido-2-deoxy-1-thio-β-d-glucopyranoside. p-Aminophenyl 1-thio-β-d-glucopyranosiduronic acid was synthesized by condensation of methyl (2,3,4-tri-o-acetyl-β-d-glucopyranosyl bromide)uronate with p-aminobenzenethiol, followed by saponification with sodium hydroxide.     

Synthesis of the (1→6)-linked thiodisaccharide of galactofuranose: Inhibitory activity against a β-galactofuranosidase

A new (1→6)-linked thiodisaccharide formed by two galactofuranosyl units has been synthesized. Methyl (methyl α,β-d-galactofuranosid)uronate was employed as the starting compound, which was per-O-silylated with TBSCl and reduced with LiAlH₄ to afford methyl 2,3,5-tri-O-tert-butyldimethylsilyl-β-d-galactofuranoside (2β) as a key precursor for the preparation of methyl per-O-tert-butyldimethylsilyl-6-thio-β-d-galactofuranoside (12). The free thiol group of 12 was glycosylated and the product O-deprotected to afford the target β-d-Galf-S-(1→6)-β-d-Galf-OMe (14). The conformations of this thiodisaccharide were preliminarily studied using combined theoretical calculations and NMR data. Furthermore, the glycomimetic 14 showed to be a competitive inhibitor of the β-galactofuranosidase from Penicillum fellutanum (K_i = 3.62 mM).     

Two crystalline pentofuranosyl bromides: tri-O-(p-nitrobenzoyl)-β-D-ribofuranosyl bromide and tri-O-(p-nitrobenzoyl)-α,β-D-xylofuranosyl bromide

Methyl α,β-D-ribofuranoside was p-nitrobenzoylated to give methyl tri-O-(p-nitrobenzoyl)-β-D-ribofuranoside (2),and this was treated with HBr in acetic acid to give tri- O-(p-nitrobenzoyl)-β-D-ribofuranosyl bromide (3). Bromide 3 could be converted into 2,5-anhydro-3,4,6-tri-O-(p-nitrobenzoyl)-D-allononitrile (4) with Hg(CN)₂, or hydrolyzed to 2,3,5-tri-O-(p-nitrobenzoyl)-D-ribose (5). On p-nitro- benzoylation, 5 gave tetra-O-(p-nitrobenzoyl)-β-D-ribofuranose (6). The synthesis of tri-O-(p-nitrobenzoyl)-α-β-D-xylofuranosyl bromide (11) started with methyl 3,5-O-isopropylidene-β-D-xyldfuranoside (7), which was p-nitrobenzoylated to give ester 8; this was then hydrolyzed, and the product p-nitrobenzoylated to give methyl tri-O-(p-nitrobenzoyl)-β-D-xylofuranoside (10) which, on treatment with HBr in CH₂Cl₂, afforded the desired bromide (11). Nucleophilic replacement with Hg(CN)₂ afforded 2,5-anhydro-3,4,6-tri-O-(p-nitrobenzoyl)-D-gulononitrile (12).     

Some kinetic properties of the β-d-glucosidase (cellobiase) in a commercial cellulase product from Penicillium funiculosum and its relevance in the hydrolysis of cellulose

Some kinetic parameters of the β-d-glucosidase (cellobiase, β-d-glucoside glucohydrolase, EC 3.2.1.21) component of Sturge Enzymes CP cellulase [see 1,4-(1,3;1,4)-β-d-glucan 4-glucanohydrolase, EC 3.2.1.4] from Penicillium funiculosum have been determined. The Michaelis constants (K_m) for 4-nitrophenyl β-d-glucopyranoside (4NPG) and cellobiose are 0.4 and 2.1 mM, respectively, at pH 4.0 and 50°C. d-Glucose is shown to be a competitive inhibitor with inhibitor constants (K_i) of 1.7 mM when 4NPG is the substrate and 1 mM when cellobiose is the substrate. Cellobiose, at high concentrations, exhibits a substrate inhibition effect on the enzyme. d-Glucono-1,5-lactone is shown to be a potent inhibitor (K_i = 8 μM; 4NPG as substrate) while d-fructose exhibits little inhibition. Cellulose hydrolysis progress curves using Avicel or Solka Floc as substrates and a range of commercial cellulase preparations show that CP cellulase gives the best performance, which can be attributed to the activity of the β-d-glucosidase in this preparation in maintaining the cellobiose at low concentrations during cellulose hydrolysis.