Immobilization and Characterization of E. gracilis Extract with Enriched Laminaribiose Phosphorylase Activity for Bienzymatic Production of Laminaribiose

Immobilization methods and carriers were screened for immobilization of Euglena gracilis extract with laminaribiose phosphorylase activity. The extract was successfully immobilized on three different carriers via covalent linkage. Suitable immobilization carriers were Sepabeads EC-EP/S and ECR 8209M with epoxy groups and ECR 8309M with amino groups as functional units. Immobilization on Sepabeads EC-EP/S resulted in highest retained activity (65%). The immobilizates were characterized for pH, temperature, and buffer molarity preferences. The immobilized enzyme lost 48% of its activity when used seven times. Together with sucrose phosphorylase, laminaribiose phosphorylase was successfully applied for bienzymatic production of laminaribiose from sucrose and glucose with a final laminaribiose concentration of 14.3 ± 2.1 g/L (20% yield).

Extending synthetic routes for oligosaccharides by enzyme, substrate and reaction engineering

The integration of all relevant tools for bioreaction engineering has been a recent challenge. This approach should notably favor the production of oligo- and polysaccharides, which is highly complex due to the requirements of regio- and stereoselectivity. Oligosaccharides (OS) and polysaccharides (PS) have found many interests in the fields of food, pharmaceuticals, and cosmetics due to different specific properties. Food, sweeteners, and food ingredients represent important sectors where OS are used in major amounts. Increasing attention has been devoted to the sophisticated roles of OS and glycosylated compounds, at cell or membrane surfaces, and their function, e.g., in infection and cancer proliferation. The challenge for synthesis is obvious, and convenient approaches using cheap and readily available substrates and enzymes will be discussed. We report on new routes for the synthesis of oligosaccharides (OS), with emphasis on enzymatic reactions, since they offer unique properties, proceeding highly regio- and stereoselective in water solution, and providing for high yields in general.