Production and characterization of insoluble α-1,3-linked glucan and soluble α-1,6-linked dextran from Leuconostoc pseudomesenteroides G29

Bottom-Up Synthesized Glucan Materials: Opportunities from Applied Biocatalysis

Linear d-glucans are natural polysaccharides of simple chemical structure. They are comprised of d-glucosyl units linked by a single type of glycosidic bond. Noncovalent interactions within, and between, the d-glucan chains give rise to a broad variety of macromolecular nanostructures that can assemble into crystalline-organized materials of tunable morphology. Structure design and functionalization of d-glucans for diverse material applications largely relies on top-down processing and chemical derivatization of naturally derived starting materials. The top-down approach encounters critical limitations in efficiency, selectivity, and flexibility. Bottom-up approaches of d-glucan synthesis offer different, and often more precise, ways of polymer structure control and provide means of functional diversification widely inaccessible to top-down routes of polysaccharide material processing. Here the natural and engineered enzymes (glycosyltransferases, glycoside hydrolases and phosphorylases, glycosynthases) for d-glucan polymerization are described and the use of applied biocatalysis for the bottom-up assembly of specific d-glucan structures is shown. Advanced material applications of the resulting polymeric products are further shown and their important role in the development of sustainable macromolecular materials in a bio-based circular economy is discussed.

Effects of water-soluble and water-insoluble α-glucans produced in situ by Leuconostoc citreum SH12 on physicochemical properties of fermented soymilk and their structural analysis

This study investigated the effect of in situ produced water-soluble α-glucan (LcWSG) and water-insoluble α-glucan (LcWIG) from Leuconostoc citreum SH12 on the physicochemical properties of fermented soymilk. α-Glucans produced by Leuc. citreum SH12 improved water-holding capacity, viscosity, viscoelasticity and texture of fermented soymilk. Gtf1365 and Gtf836 of the five putative glucansucrases were responsible for synthesizing LcWSG and LcWIG during soymilk fermentation, respectively. Co-fermentation of soymilk with Gtf1365 and Gtf836 and non-exopolysaccharide-producing Lactiplantibacillus plantarum D1031 indicated that LcWSG effectively hindered the whey separation of fermented soymilk by increasing viscosity, while LcWIG improved hardness, springiness and accelerated protein coagulation. Fermented soymilk gel formation was mainly based on hydrogen bonding and hydrophobic interactions, which were promoted by both LcWSG and LcWIG. LcWIG has a greater effect on α-helix to β-sheet translation in fermented soymilk, causing more rapid protein aggregation and thicker cross-linked gel network. Structure-based exploration of LcWSG and LcWIG from Leuc. citreum SH12 revealed their distinct roles in the physicochemical properties of fermented soymilk due to their different ratio of α-1,6 and α-1,3 glucosidic linkages and various side chain length. This study may guide the application of the water-soluble and water-insoluble α-glucans in fermented plant protein foods for their quality improvement.

Structural Characterization and Functional Studies of Exopolysaccharide by Native Lacticaseibacillus rhamnosus P14 Isolated from the Moroccan Region

Exopolysaccharides (EPS) are natural polymers synthesized by several microorganisms, including lactic acid bacteria (LAB). They are characterized by a great structural diversity, which gives them interesting biological and pharmacological properties. This work investigates the physicochemical and biological characterization of a new exopolysaccharide (EPS) produced by a wild Lacticaseibacillus rhamnosus P14. The functional groups, chemical bonds, and thermal and morphological properties of the purified EPS-P14 were determined using Fourier Transform Infrared, Nuclear Magnetic Resonance, and X-ray diffraction spectroscopies, as well as Thermo-gravimetric analysis, Differential Scanning Calorimetry and Scanning Electron Microscopy. The functional properties, namely antioxidant and emulsifying activities, were also assessed. The physicochemical analysis revealed that EPS-P14 is a porous and thermally stable polysaccharide with a degradation temperature of 307 °C. NMR and FT-IR studies identified it as a homogeneous α-D-glucan with mainly α-(1 → 6) glycosidic linkage and some α-(1 → 3) branching. EPS-P14 was highly water-soluble and exhibited strong emulsifying and stabilizing properties in a concentration-dependent manner. Furthermore, EPS-P14 demonstrated significant DPPH scavenging and ferric-reducing capacities. These findings suggest that EPS-P14 is a bioactive polysaccharide with potential effects, which could be a promising natural candidate for prospective application.

Microbiome Analysis of Sugarcane Juices and Biofilms from Louisiana Raw Sugar Factories

During postharvest processing of sugarcane for raw sugar, microbial activity results in sucrose loss and undesirable exopolysaccharide (EPS) production. Historically, culture-based approaches have focused on the bacterium Leuconostoc mesenteroides as the main contributor to both processes. However, recent studies have shown that diverse microbes are present in sugarcane factories and may also contribute to sugarcane juice deterioration. In the present study, high-throughput amplicon-based sequence profiling was applied to gain a more comprehensive view of the microbial community in Louisiana raw sugar factories. Microbial profiling of the bacterial and fungal microbiomes by 16S V4 and ITS1 sequences, respectively, identified 417 bacterial amplicon sequence variants (ASVs) and 793 fungal ASVs. While Leuconostoc was indeed the most abundant bacterial genus overall (40.9% of 16S sequences), multiple samples were dominated by other taxa such as Weissella and Lactobacillus, underscoring the microbial diversity present in sugarcane factories. Furthermore, flask cultures inoculated with the same samples demonstrated differences in the rate of sucrose consumption, as well as the production of exopolysaccharides and other organic acids, which may result from the observed differences in microbial composition. IMPORTANCE Amplicon-based sequencing was utilized to address long-ignored gaps in microbiological knowledge about the diversity of microbes present in processing streams at Louisiana sugarcane raw sugar factories. These results support an emerging model where diverse organisms contribute to sugarcane juice degradation, help to contextualize microbial contamination problems faced by raw sugar factories, and will guide future studies on biocontrol measures to mitigate sucrose losses and operational challenges due to exopolysaccharide production.

Biocatalysts in Synthesis of Microbial Polysaccharides: Properties and Development Trends

Polysaccharides synthesized by microorganisms (bacterial cellulose, dextran, pullulan, xanthan, etc.) have a set of valuable properties, such as being antioxidants, detoxifying, structuring, being biodegradable, etc., which makes them suitable for a variety of applications. Biocatalysts are the key substances used in producing such polysaccharides; therefore, modern research is focused on the composition and properties of biocatalysts. Biocatalysts determine the possible range of renewable raw materials which can be used as substrates for such synthesis, as well as the biochemistry of the process and the rate of molecular transformations. New biocatalysts are being developed for participating in a widening range of stages of raw material processing. The functioning of biocatalysts can be optimized using the following main approaches of synthetic biology: the use of recombinant biocatalysts, the creation of artificial consortia, the combination of nano- and microbiocatalysts, and their immobilization. New biocatalysts can help expand the variety of the polysaccharides’ useful properties. This review presents recent results and achievements in this field of biocatalysis.