A partial characterization of an autolytically solubilized cell wall glucan.

Incubation of purified cell wall fragments from corn (Zea mays) coleoptiles results in solubilization of some of the wall dry matter. The portion of the weight loss due to enzymatic autolysis is due mainly to solubilization of a glucan and, to a small extent, to liberation of free glucose. No other carbohydrate wall components or sugars other than glucose are solubilized despite the high concentrations of, for example, galactans, arabans, and xylans in the walls. The glucan has been partially characterized and found to be a lichenan-like polymer composed of 1-->3 and 1-->4 linked glucosyl units.