Enzymatic synthesis of cholecalciferol glycosides using β-glucosidase from sweet almond.

β-Glucosidase from sweet almond (Amygdalus communis var. 'Dulcis') entrapped on to calcium alginate beads catalysed the synthesis of water soluble 17-O-(D-glucopyranosyl)cholecalciferol. Optimum conditions for the reaction were: 60% (w/w D-glucose) β-glucosidase, 0.12 mM pH 6 phosphate buffer and 30 h incubation period. β-Glucosidase also catalyzed the reaction with D-glucose 2, D-galactose 3, D-mannose 4 and D-fructose 5 with generally low yields in the range of 3-14%. Both α/β anomers of D-glucose 2, D-galactose 3 and D-mannose 4 reacted, of which the former two formed C6-O derivatives also.