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The attack on cell-wall and related polysaccharides during malting is due to two enzyme systems: (a) a cytoclastic system present in barley itself, capable of reducing the molecular complexity of preformed water-soluble nonstarchy polysaccharides and of increasing the solubility of initially insoluble hemicellulosic materials; (b) a cytolytic system, first formed in substantial amount only after steeping and growth, which is capable of bringing about a prolonged and more profound hydrolysis of these substrates. Description of details of the changes involved must await the development of means of fractionation of barley polysaccharides and of the enzymes them selves.
Preece et al. (Mon,) studied this question.