Linamarase, or beta-D-glucosidase (EC 3.2.1.21), is an enzyme found in many plants including cassava and the butter bean.
In cassava it is found in the cell walls. When the plant is chewed or ground, it exposes the enzyme to compounds like linamarin and lotaustralin which release cyanide compounds that can be lethal to the eater. In humans, chronic toxicity is more likely than death.
This action of the enzyme is used by many cultures to process cassava into an edible substance. The enzyme converts the cyanide containing compounds into acetone cyanohydrin, which spontaneously decomposes to hydrogen cyanide (HCN). The HCN then either dissolves readily in water or is released into the air. Not all cyanide can be removed during processing.
Linamarase can be inhibited by low pH via a dilute acid.
linamarase, beta, glucosidase, enzyme, found, many, plants, including, cassava, butter, bean, cassava, found, cell, walls, when, plant, chewed, ground, exposes, enzyme, compounds, like, linamarin, lotaustralin, which, release, cyanide, compounds, that, lethal,. Linamarase or beta D glucosidase EC 3 2 1 21 is an enzyme found in many plants including cassava and the butter bean In cassava it is found in the cell walls When the plant is chewed or ground it exposes the enzyme to compounds like linamarin and lotaustralin which release cyanide compounds that can be lethal to the eater In humans chronic toxicity is more likely than death This action of the enzyme is used by many cultures to process cassava into an edible substance The enzyme converts the cyanide containing compounds into acetone cyanohydrin which spontaneously decomposes to hydrogen cyanide HCN The HCN then either dissolves readily in water or is released into the air Not all cyanide can be removed during processing Linamarase can be inhibited by low pH via a dilute acid References EditT Itoh Nashida M Hiraiwa and Y Uda 1987 Purification and properties of beta D glucosidase linamarase from the butter bean Phaseolus lunatus Last accessed 13 November 2005 Heuberger Christoph 10 May 2005 Physicochemical properties of cassava tubers with focus on cyanide content in fermented products Last accessed 13 November 2005 Portal Biology This EC 3 2 enzyme related article is a stub You can help Wikipedia by expanding it vte Retrieved from https en wikipedia org w index php title Linamarase amp oldid 1021986621, wikipedia, wiki, book, books, library,
