Structures, physico-chemical properties, production and (potential) applications of sucrose-derived α-d-glucans synthesized by glucansucrases

Xiaodan Li; Xiaofei Wang; Xiangfeng Meng; Lubbert Dijkhuizen; Weifeng Liu

doi:10.1016/j.carbpol.2020.116818

Structures, physico-chemical properties, production and (potential) applications of sucrose-derived α-d-glucans synthesized by glucansucrases

Carbohydr Polym. 2020 Dec 1:249:116818. doi: 10.1016/j.carbpol.2020.116818. Epub 2020 Jul 28.

Authors

Xiaodan Li¹, Xiaofei Wang², Xiangfeng Meng³, Lubbert Dijkhuizen⁴, Weifeng Liu⁵

Affiliations

¹ College of Food Science and Engineering, Qingdao Agricultural University, No. 700 Changcheng Road, Qingdao, 266109, PR China. Electronic address: lixd1231@163.com.
² State Key Laboratory of Microbial Technology, Microbial Technology Institute, Shandong University, No. 72 Binhai Road, Qingdao, 266237, PR China. Electronic address: 2992025663@qq.com.
³ State Key Laboratory of Microbial Technology, Microbial Technology Institute, Shandong University, No. 72 Binhai Road, Qingdao, 266237, PR China. Electronic address: x.meng@sdu.edu.cn.
⁴ CarbExplore Research BV, Zernikeparka 12, 97a47 AN, Groningen, the Netherlands; Microbiology, Groningen Biomolecular Sciences and Biotechnology Institute (GBB), University of Groningen, the Netherlands. Electronic address: l.dijkhuizen@rug.nl.
⁵ State Key Laboratory of Microbial Technology, Microbial Technology Institute, Shandong University, No. 72 Binhai Road, Qingdao, 266237, PR China. Electronic address: weifliu@sdu.edu.cn.

PMID: 32933666
DOI: 10.1016/j.carbpol.2020.116818

Abstract

Glycoside hydrolase family 70 (GH70) glucansucrases produce α-d-glucan polysaccharides (e.g. dextran), which have different linkage composition, branching degree and size distribution, and hold potential applications in food, cosmetic and medicine industry. In addition, GH70 branching sucrases add single α-(1→2) or α-(1→3) branches onto dextran, resulting in highly branched polysaccharides with "comb-like" structure. The physico-chemical properties of these α-d-glucans are highly influenced by their linkage compositions, branching degrees and sizes. Among these α-d-glucans, dextran is commercially applied as plasma expander and separation matrix based on extensive studies of its structure and physico-chemical properties. However, such detailed information is lacking for the other type of α-d-glucans. Aiming to stimulate the application of α-d-glucans produced by glucansucrases, we present an overview of the structures, production, physico-chemical properties and (potential) applications of these sucrose-derived α-d-glucan polysaccharides. We also discuss bottlenecks and future perspectives for the application of these α-d-glucan polysaccharides.

Keywords: Branching sucrase; Dextran; Glucansucrase; Physico-chemical property; α-d-glucan.

Publication types

Review