Enzymic analysis of polysaccharide structure

Research progress and future development potential of Flammulina velutipes polysaccharides in the preparation process, structure analysis, biology, and pharmacology: A review

In recent years, Flammulina velutipes (F. velutipes) has attracted consequential attention in various research fields due to its rich composition of proteins, vitamins, amino acids, polysaccharides, and polyphenols. F. velutipes polysaccharides (FVPs) are considered as key bioactive components of F. velutipes, demonstrating multiple physiological activities, including immunomodulatory, anti-inflammatory, and antibacterial properties. Moreover, they offer health benefits such as antioxidant and anti-aging properties, which have exceptionally valuable clinical applications. Polysaccharides derived from different sources exhibit a wide range of biomedical functions and distinct biological activities. The varied biological functions of polysaccharides, coupled with their extensive application in functional foods and clinical applications, have prompted a heightened focus on polysaccharide research. Additionally, the extraction, deproteinization, and purification of FVPs are fundamental to investigate the structure and biological activities of polysaccharides. Therefore, this review provides a comprehensive and systematic overview of the extraction, deproteinization, purification, characterization, and structural elucidation of FVPs. Furthermore, the biological activities and mechanisms of FVPs have been further explored through in vivo and in vitro experiments. This review aims to provide a theoretical foundation and guide future research and development of FVPs.

Carbohydrases and Phytase in Poultry and Pig Nutrition: A Review beyond the Nutrients and Energy Matrix

This review aimed to clarify the mechanisms through which exogenous enzymes (carbohydrases and phytase) influence intestinal health, as well as their effects on the nutrients and energy matrix in diets fed to poultry and pigs reared under sanitary challenging conditions. Enzyme supplementation can positively affect intestinal microbiota, immune system, and enhance antioxidant status. Although enzymes have been shown to save energy and nutrients, their responses under sanitary challenging conditions are poorly documented. Immune system activation alters nutrient partitioning, which can affect the matrix values for exogenous enzymes on commercial farms. Notably, the carbohydrases and phytase supplementation under sanitary challenging conditions align with energy and nutritional valorization matrices. Studies conducted under commercial conditions have shown that matrices containing carbohydrases and phytase can maintain growth performance and health in poultry and pigs. However, these studies have predominantly focused on assessing a single level of reduction in energy and/or available phosphorus and total calcium, limiting our ability to quantify potential energy and nutrient savings in the diet. Future research should delve deeper into determining the extent of energy and nutrient savings and understanding the effects of alone or blended enzymes supplementation to achieve more specific insights.

Effects of in vitro simulated digestion and fecal fermentation of polysaccharides from straw mushroom (Volvariella volvacea) on its physicochemical properties and human gut microbiota

Herein, the fermentation and digestion behavior of Volvariella volvacea polysaccharide (VVP) were examined through the in vitro simulation experiment. The results revealed that succeeding the simulated salivary gastrointestinal digestion, the molecular weight of VVP was reduced by only 8.9 %. In addition, the reducing sugar, uronic acid, monosaccharide composition and Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy characteristics of VVP did not change significantly, which indicate that saliva-gastrointestinal could not digest VVP. However, 48 h of fecal fermentation of VVP dramatically reduced its molecular weight by 40.4 %. Furthermore, the molar ratios of the monosaccharide composition altered considerably due to the degradation of VVP by microorganisms and the metabolysis into different short-chain fatty acids (SCFAs). Meanwhile, the VVP also raised the proportion of Bacteroidetes to Firmicutes and promoted the proliferation of some beneficial bacteria including Bacteroides and Phascolarctobacterium, whereas it inhibited the growth of unfavorable bacteria such as Escherichia-shigella. Therefore, VVP has the potential to have a positive influence on health and hinder diseases by improving the intestinal microbial environment. These findings provide a theoretical foundation to further develop Volvariella volvacea as a healthy functional food.

Mannan endo-1,4-β-mannosidase from Kitasatospora sp. isolated in Indonesia and its potential for production of mannooligosaccharides from mannan polymers

Mannan endo-1,4-β-mannosidase (commonly known as β-mannanase) catalyzes a random cleavage of the β-D-1,4-mannopyranosyl linkage in mannan polymers. The enzyme has been utilized in biofuel production from lignocellulose biomass, as well as in production of mannooligosaccharides (MOS) for applications in feed and food industries. We aimed to obtain a β-mannanase, for such mannan polymer utilization, from actinomycetes strains isolated in Indonesia. Strains exhibiting high mannanase activity were screened, and one strain belonging to the genus Kitasatospora was selected. We obtained a β-mannanase from this strain, and an amino acid sequence of this Kitasatospora β-mannanase showed a 58-71% similarity with the amino acid sequences of Streptomyces β-mannanases. The Kitasatospora β-mannanase showed a significant level of activity (944 U/mg) against locust bean gum (0.5% w/v) and a potential for oligosaccharide production from various mannan polymers. The β-mannanase might be beneficial particularly in the enzymatic production of MOS for applications of mannan utilization.

Optimization of Culture Conditions for Some Identified Fungal Species and Stability Profile of α-Galactosidase Produced

Microbial α-galactosidase preparations have implications in medicine and in the modification of various agricultural products as well. In this paper, four isolated fungal strains such as AL-3, WF-3, WP-4 and CL-4 from rhizospheric soil identified as Penicillium glabrum (AL-3), Trichoderma evansii (WF-3), Lasiodiplodia theobromae (WP-4) and Penicillium flavus (CL-4) based on their morphology and microscopic examinations, are screened for their potential towards α-galactosidases production. The culture conditions have been optimized and supplemented with specific carbon substrates (1%, w/v) by using galactose-containing polysaccharides like guar gum (GG), soya casein (SC) and wheat straw (WS). All strains significantly released galactose from GG, showing maximum production of enzyme at 7th day of incubation in rotary shaker (120 rpm) that is 190.3, 174.5, 93.9 and 28.8 U/mL, respectively, followed by SC and WS. The enzyme activity was stable up to 7days at −20°C, then after it declines. This investigation reveals that AL-3 show optimum enzyme activity in guar gum media, whereas WF-3 exhibited greater enzyme stability. Results indicated that the secretion of proteins, enzyme and the stability of enzyme activity varied not only from one strain to another but also differed in their preferences of utilization of different substrates.

Effect of β-mannanase on the digestibility of diets with different protein sources in dogs determined by different methodologies

This experiment aimed at evaluating the effects of including the enzyme, β-mannanase, in dog (Canis lupus familiaris) diets based on either poultry (Gallus gallus domesticus) by-product meal (PBM) or soybean [Glycine max (L.) Merr.] Meal (SBM). The second objective was to evaluate 3 methods for determining energy and nutrient digestibility values in diets fed to dogs: total fecal collection (TFC) and use of aia or crude fiber (CF) as a marker. Eight dogs were allotted to a replicated latin square (4 by 4) design. There were 2 diets based on PBM as the major protein source and 2 diets based on SBM as the major protein source. Within each protein source, 1 diet contained no β-mannanase and 1 diet contained 0.01% β-mannanase. Diets were fed for an adaptation period of 5 d followed by 5 d of TFC. Fecal score (1 = watery feces to 5 = dry, hard pellets), pH, DM, and fecal volume were determined. The apparent total tract digestibility (ATTD) of DM, OM, CP, ether extract (EE), N-free extract (NFE), and GE, and ME content were calculated using the methods of TFC, AIA, and CF. Data were analyzed as a 2 by 2 by 3 split-split-plot design (β-mannanase, protein source, and digestibility calculation procedure). There were interactions between protein source and β-mannanase (P < 0.05). Supplementation of β-mannanase increased ATTD of nutrients and energy and ME (+ 195.3 kcal/kg) and also reduced fecal production in the diet with SBM, but not in the diet that contained PBM. There was an interaction between digestibility calculation procedure and protein source (P < 0.05). The use of AIA overestimated ATTD of the diets containing PBM, but digestibility values estimated based on TFC and CF were not different. Dogs fed diets containing SBM produced more feces with greater moisture content and lower pH compared with dogs fed the PBM diet (P < 0.05). Addition of 0.01% β-mannanase increased (P < 0.05) the digestibility and ME content of the diets containing SBM, but did not improve (P > 0.05) fecal texture. Results indicated that values for ATTD of energy and nutrients in diets containing sbm are not different if they are calculated based on TFC, AIA, or CF, but use of AIA may result in an overestimation of values for ATTD of energy and nutrients in diets containing PBM.

Neoglycolipid-based "designer" oligosaccharide microarrays to define β-glucan ligands for Dectin-1

In this chapter, we describe the key steps of the "designer" oligosaccharide microarray approach we followed to prove the carbohydrate binding activity and define the oligosaccharide ligands for Dectin-1, an atypical C-type lectin-like signaling receptor of the mammalian innate immune system with a key role in anti-fungal immunity. The term "designer" microarray, which we introduced in the course of the Dectin-1 study refers to a microarray of oligosaccharide probes generated from ligand-bearing glycoconjugates to reveal the oligosaccharide ligands they harbor, so that these can be isolated and characterized. Oligosaccharide probes were generated from two polysaccharides, one that was bound by Dectin-1 and known to be rich in β1,3-glucose sequence and another that was not bound and was rich in β1,6-glucose sequence and served as a negative control. The approach involved: classic ELISA-type binding assays to select the polysaccharides; partial depolymerization of the polysaccharides by chemical hydrolysis; fractionation by size of the glucan oligosaccharides obtained and determination of their chain lengths by mass spectrometry; detection of Dectin-1 ligand-positive and ligand-negative oligosaccharides using the neoglycolipid (NGL) technology; methylation analysis of oligosaccharides to derive glucose linkage information, and incorporation of the newly generated glucan oligosaccharide probes into microarrays encompassing diverse mammalian-type and exogenous sequences for microarray analysis of Dectin-1.

Supplementation of β-mannanase to starter and grower diets for broilers

Kong, C., Lee, J. H. and Adeola, O. 2011. Supplementation of β-mannanase to starter and grower diets for broilers. Can. J. Anim. Sci. 91: 389–397. Two experiments were conducted to investigate the efficacy of β-mannanase on ileal nutrient digestibility, total tract utilization of dry matter (DM), N, energy, and apparent metabolizable energy (AME, exp. 1), and growth performance (exp. 2) of birds fed practical corn-soybean meal (SBM)-based diets. In each experiment, 192 male broilers were assigned to four diets arranged in a 2×2 factorial of energy level [corn-SBM-based diet that met or exceeded NRC nutrient requirements (AE) or low energy (LE) diet containing 100 kcal of ME kg−1 less than the AE diet] and enzyme supplementation (with or without β-mannanase) for 21 d. Supplementing the diet with β-mannanase increased the birds’ apparent ileal DM digestibility of the experimental diets (P<0.05), whereas there was no effect of energy level. Neither β-mannanase supplementation nor energy level had any effect on apparent ileal digestibility of any of the amino acids. The interaction between enzyme and energy levels was not significant for any criteria measured in the excreta except for DM (P=0.05). Addition of β-mannanase improved (P<0.01) the apparent total tract utilization of DM and energy in the broilers, and there was the same trend (P=0.06) for N utilization. Supplementing the diet with β-mannanase also improved the AME and AMEn of diets by 4.6 and 5.0%, respectively. For all growth performance responses in exp. 2, the interaction between enzyme and energy levels was not significant. During the starter period (day 2 to 22 post-hatch), β-mannanase supplementation significantly (P<0.05) increased the body weight (BW) gain of birds. During the grower period (day 22 to 44 post-hatch) and for the overall period there was no significant difference in BW gain or feed intake of birds regardless of energy level and β-mannanase supplementation. There were no dietary effects on feed efficiency of birds during the starter and the grower periods, whereas the birds fed AE diets had higher feed efficiency (P<0.01) than the birds fed LE diets. The results indicate that supplementing with β-mannanase may improve gain and energy utilization of broilers, whereas it may not affect ileal amino acid digestibility.

Chemical structure analysis of starch and cellulose derivatives

Starch and cellulose are the most abundant and important representatives of renewable biomass. Since the mid-19th century their properties have been changed by chemical modification for commercial and scientific purposes, and there substituted polymers have found a wide range of applications. However, the inherent polydispersity and supramolecular organization of starch and cellulose cause the products resulting from their modification to display high complexity. Chemical composition analysis of these mixtures is therefore a challenging task. Detailed knowledge on substitution patterns is fundamental for understanding structure-property relationships in modified cellulose and starch, and thus also for the improvement of reproducibility and rational design of properties. Substitution patterns resulting from kinetically or thermodynamically controlled reactions show certain preferences for the three available hydroxyl functions in (1→4)-linked glucans. Spurlin, seventy years ago, was the first to describe this in an idealized model, and nowadays this model has been extended and related to the next hierarchical levels, namely, the substituent distribution in and over the polymer chains. This structural complexity, with its implications for data interpretation, and the analytical approaches developed for its investigation are outlined in this article. Strategies and methods for the determination of the average degree of substitution (DS), monomer composition, and substitution patterns at the polymer level are presented and discussed with respect to their limitations and interpretability. Nuclear magnetic resonance spectroscopy, chromatography, capillary electrophoresis, and modern mass spectrometry (MS), including tandem MS, are the main instrumental techniques employed, in combination with appropriate sample preparation by chemical and enzymatic methods.

Prokaryotic expression, purification and characterization of Aspergillus sulphureus beta-mannanase and site-directed mutagenesis of the catalytic residues

Wild type (WT) DNA sequence, which encoded a mature beta-mannanase of Aspergillus sulphureus, composed of 1,152 nucleotides (nt), was amplified from pUCm-T-mann by polymerase chain reaction (PCR). Based on this DNA fragment, mutants designated as E(206)G and E(314)G were constructed by overextension PCR (OE-PCR). Glutamic acids of the 206th and 314th sites in the amino acid sequence of beta-mannanase were separately replaced by glycine in these two mutants. The WT and mutant genes were ligated into prokaryotic vector pET-28a (+) and transformed into the Escherichia coli BL21 strain, respectively. The recombinant enzyme proteins were expressed by IPTG induction and detected by Western blot. The recombinant proteins purified with Ni-NTA column were dialyzed to correctly refold. The WT recombinant beta-mannanase showed optimal activity at 50 degrees C and pH 2.4. The kinetic parameters of K (m) and V (max) for purified beta-mannanase were 1.38 mg/ml and 72.99 U/mg, respectively. However, the mutant proteins did not show any activity. It was demonstrated that E(206) and E(314) were the catalytic residues of beta-mannanase.

Ligands for the β-Glucan Receptor, Dectin-1, Assigned Using “Designer” Microarrays of Oligosaccharide Probes (Neoglycolipids) Generated from Glucan Polysaccharides

Dectin-1 is a C-type lectin-like receptor on leukocytes that mediates phagocytosis and inflammatory mediator production in innate immunity to fungal pathogens. Dectin-1 lacks residues involved in calcium ligation that mediates carbohydrate-binding by classical C-type lectins; nevertheless, it binds zymosan, a particulate beta-glucan-rich extract of Saccharomyces cerevisiae, and binding is inhibited by polysaccharides rich in beta1,3- or both beta1,3- and beta1,6-linked glucose. The oligosaccharide ligands on glucans recognized by Dectin-1 have not yet been delineated precisely. It is also not known whether Dectin-1 can interact with other types of carbohydrates. We have investigated this, since Dectin-1 shows glucan-independent binding to a subset of T-lymphocytes and is involved in triggering their proliferation. Here we assign oligosaccharide ligands for Dectin-1 using the neoglycolipid-based oligosaccharide microarray technology, a unique approach for constructing microarrays of lipid-linked oligosaccharide probes from desired sources. We generate "designer" microarrays from three glucan polysaccharides, a neutral soluble glucan isolated from S. cerevisiae and two bacterial glucans, curdlan from Alcaligenes faecalis and pustulan from Umbilicaria papullosa, and use these in conjunction with 187 diverse, sequence-defined, predominantly mammalian-type, oligosaccharide probes. Among these, Dectin-1 binding is detected exclusively to 1,3-linked glucose oligomers, the minimum length required for detectable binding being a 10- or 11-mer. Thus, the ligands assigned so far are exogenous rather than endogenous. We further show that Dectin-1 ligands, 11-13 gluco-oligomers, in clustered form (displayed on liposomes), mimic the macromolecular beta-glucans and compete with zymosan binding and triggering of tumor necrosis factor-alpha secretion by a Dectin-1-expressing macrophage cell line.

Chemical characterization of the immunomodulating polysaccharide of Aloe vera L

The polysaccharide isolated by alcohol precipitation of Aloe vera mucilaginous gel was found to have a Man:Glc:Gal:GalA:Fuc:Ara:Xyl ratio of 120:9:6:3:2:2:1 with traces of Rha and GlcA. Linkage analysis of the endo-(1-->4)-beta-d-mannanase-treated sample yielded Manp-(1--> (approximately 26%), 4-Manp (approximately 53%), 2,4-Manp (approximately 3%), 3,4-Manp (approximately 1%), 4,6-Manp (approximately 1%), 4-Glcp (approximately 5%), 4-Xylp (approximately 1%), Xylp-(1--> (approximately 2%), Galp-(1--> (approximately 5%), and traces of 4,6-Galp and 3,6-Galp. Hydrolysis with strong acids produced a mixture of short oligosaccharides and an acid-resistant fraction containing greater relative fractions of Manp-(1-->, Araf-(1-->, Xylp-(1-->, and 4-Xylp than the bulk polysaccharide. NMR analysis of oligosaccharides generated by endo-(1-->4)-beta-D-mannanase and acid hydrolysis showed the presence of di-, tri-, and tetrasaccharides of 4-beta-Manp, beta-Glcp-(1-->4)-Man, beta-Glcp-(1-->4)-beta-Manp-(1-->4)-Man, and beta-Manp-(1-->4)-[alpha-Galp-(1-->6)]-Man, consistent with a backbone containing alternating -->4)-beta-Manp-(1--> and -->4)-beta-Glcp-(1--> residues in a approximately 15:1 ratio. Analysis of the sample treated sequentially with endo-(1-->4)-beta-d-mannanase and alpha-D-galactosidase showed that the majority of alpha-Galp-(1--> residues were linked to O-2, O-3, or O-6 of -->4)-beta-Manp-(1--> residues, with approximately 16 -->4)-beta-Manp-(1--> residues between side chains. Our data provide direct evidence of a previously proposed glucomannan backbone, but draw into question previously proposed side-chain structures.

The methylotrophic yeast as a host for the expression and production of thermostable xylanase from the bacterium

A thermostable glycoside hydrolase family-10 xylanase originating from Rhodothermus marinus was cloned and expressed in the methylotrophic yeast Pichia pastoris (SMD1168H). The DNA sequence from Rmxyn10A encoding the xylanase catalytic module was PCR-amplified and cloned in frame with the Saccharomyces cerevisiae alpha-factor secretion signal under the control of the alcohol oxidase (AOX1) promotor. Optimisation of enzyme production in batch fermentors, with methanol as a sole carbon source, enabled secretion yields up to 3gl(-1) xylanase with a maximum activity of 3130Ul(-1) to be achieved. N-terminal sequence analysis of the heterologous xylanase indicated that the secretion signal was correctly processed in P. pastoris and the molecular weight of 37kDa was in agreement with the theoretically calculated molecular mass. Introduction of a heat-pretreatment step was however necessary in order to fold the heterologous xylanase to an active state, and at the conditions used this step yielded a 200-fold increase in xylanase activity. Thermostability of the produced xylanase was monitored by differential-scanning calorimetry, and the transition temperature (T(m)) was 78 degrees C. R. marinus xylanase is the first reported thermostable gram-negative bacterial xylanase efficiently secreted by P. pastoris.

Insights into the Molecular Determinants of Substrate Specificity in Glycoside Hydrolase Family 5 Revealed by the Crystal Structure and Kinetics of Cellvibrio mixtus Mannosidase 5A

The enzymatic hydrolysis of the glycosidic bond is central to numerous biological processes. Glycoside hydrolases, which catalyze these reactions, are grouped into families based on primary sequence similarities. One of the largest glycoside hydrolase families is glycoside hydrolase family 5 (GH5), which contains primarily endo-acting enzymes that hydrolyze beta-mannans and beta-glucans. Here we report the cloning, characterization, and three-dimensional structure of the Cellvibrio mixtus GH5 beta-mannosidase (CmMan5A). This enzyme releases mannose from the nonreducing end of mannooligosaccharides and polysaccharides, an activity not previously observed in this enzyme family. CmMan5A contains a single glycone (-1) and two aglycone (+1 and +2) sugar-binding subsites. The -1 subsite displays absolute specificity for mannose, whereas the +1 subsite does not accommodate galactosyl side chains but will bind weakly to glucose. The +2 subsite is able to bind to decorated mannose residues. CmMan5A displays similar activity against crystalline and amorphous mannans, a property rarely attributed to glycoside hydrolases. The 1.5 A crystal structure reveals that CmMan5A adopts a (beta/alpha)(8) barrel fold, and superimposition with GH5 endo-mannanases shows that dramatic differences in the length of three loops modify the active center accessibility and thus modulate the specificity from endo to exo. The most striking and significant difference is the extended loop between strand beta8 and helix alpha8 comprising residues 378-412. This insertion forms a "double" steric barrier, formed by two short beta-strands that function to "block" the substrate binding cleft at the edge of the -1 subsite forming the "exo" active center topology of CmMan5A.

Isolation and characterization of water-soluble hemicelluloses from flax shive

Partially depolymerized, water-soluble hemicelluloses were solubilized from flax shive employing hydrothermal microwave treatment and thereafter subjected to ion-exchange chromatography, enzymatic purification and/or size-exclusion chromatography (SEC). The oligo- and polysaccharide fractions thus obtained were characterized with respect to molar mass, molar mass distribution, degree of polymerization (DP) and degree of substitution with acetyl moieties (DSAc) by employing SEC in combination with MALDI-TOF mass spectrometry. The major portion of the water-soluble flax hemicellulose consisted of an O-acetyl-4-O-methylglucuronoxylan exhibiting a DPp value (i.e., peak-average DP) of 28. When the DSAc for this O-acetyl-4-O-methylglucuronoxylan was calculated on the basis of the MALDI-MS spectra obtained without and following deacetylation, a value of 0.7 was obtained. In addition, an O-acetyl-glucomannan (DPp=9, DS=0.4) and minor quantities of small neutral O-acetyl-xylooligosaccharides were also isolated from the mixture of water-soluble hemicelluloses released from the flax shive by microwave treatment.

endo-beta-1,4-Mannanases from blue mussel, Mytilus edulis: purification, characterization, and mode of action

Two variants of an endo-beta-1,4-mannanase from the digestive tract of blue mussel, Mytilus edulis, were purified by a combination of immobilized metal ion affinity chromatography, size exclusion chromatography in the absence and presence of guanidine hydrochloride and ion exchange chromatography. The purified enzymes were characterized with regard to enzymatic properties, molecular weight, isoelectric point, amino acid composition and N-terminal sequence. They are monomeric proteins with molecular masses of 39216 and 39265 Da, respectively, as measured by MALDI-TOF mass spectrometry. The isoelectric points of both enzymes were estimated to be around 7.8, however slightly different, by isoelectric focusing in polyacrylamide gel. The enzymes are stable from pH 4.0 to 9.0 and have their maximum activities at a pH about 5.2. The optimum temperature of both enzymes is around 50-55 degrees C. Their stability decreases rapidly when going from 40 to 50 degrees C. The N-terminal sequences (12 residues) were identical for the two variants. They can be completely renatured after denaturation in 6 M guanidine hydrochloride. The enzymes readily degrade the galactomannans from locust bean gum and ivory nut mannan but show no cross-specificity for xylan and carboxymethyl cellulose. There is no binding ability observed towards cellulose and mannan.

Analysis of carbohydrates in wood and pulps employing enzymatic hydrolysis and subsequent capillary zone electrophoresis

An efficient method for determining the carbohydrate composition of extractive-free delignified wood and pulp is described here. The polysaccharides in the sample are first hydrolyzed using a mixture of commercially available preparations of cellulase and hemicellulase. The reducing saccharides in the hydrolysate thus obtained are subsequently derivatized with 4-aminobenzoic acid ethyl ester and thereafter quantitated by capillary zone electrophoresis (CZE) in an alkaline borate buffer with monitoring of the absorption at 306 nm. All reducing sugars (i.e., neutral monosaccharides and uronic acids) which occur as structural elements in the polysaccharides of wood and pulp can be quantitated in a single such analytical run, which can also determine the contents of 4-deoxy-beta-L-threo-hex-4-enopyranosyluronic acid (HexA) residues present in pulps obtained from alkaline processes. CZE analyses were performed using linear regression of standard curves over a concentration range spanning approximately three orders of magnitude. Carbohydrate constituents constituting approximately 0.1% of the dry mass of the sample could be quantitated. The overall precision of this analytical procedure--involving enzymatic hydrolysis, derivatization and CZE--was good (RSD=2.2-7.5%), especially considering the heterogeneity of the wood and pulp samples. The total yield of carbohydrates (93-97%) obtained employing the procedure developed here was consistently higher than that obtained upon applying the traditional procedure for carbohydrate analysis (85-93%) (involving acid hydrolysis and gas chromatographic analysis) to the same pulps. The trisaccharide HexA-xylobiose was the only HexA-containing saccharide detected using the conditions for enzymatic hydrolysis developed here (i.e., 30 h incubation at pH 4 and 40 degrees C); whereas mixtures of HexA-xylobiose and HexA-xylotriose were obtained when the incubation was performed at pH 5 or 6.

Molecular characterisation of a membrane-bound galactosyltransferase of plant cell wall matrix polysaccharide biosynthesis

Galactomannan biosynthesis in vitro is catalysed by membrane preparations from developing fenugreek seed endosperms. Two enzymes interact: a GDP-mannose dependent (1-->4)-beta-D-mannan synthase and a UDP-galactose dependent (1-->6)-alpha-D-galactosyltransferase. The statistical distribution of galactosyl substituents along the mannan backbone, and the degree of galactose substitution of the primary product of galactomannan biosynthesis appear to be regulated by the specificity of the galactosyltransferase. We now report the detergent solubilisation of the fenugreek galactosyltransferase with retention of activity, the identification on gels of a putative 51 kDa galactosyltransferase protein, and the isolation, cloning and sequencing of the corresponding cDNA. The solubilised galactosyltransferase has an absolute requirement for added acceptor substrates. Beta-(1-->4)-linked D-manno-oligosaccharides with chain lengths greater than or equal to 5 acted as acceptors, as did galactomannans of low to medium galactose-substitution. The putative galactosyltransferase cDNA encodes a 51282 Da protein, with a single transmembrane alpha helix near the N terminus. We have also confirmed the identity of the galactosyltransferase by inserting the cDNA in frame into the genome of the methylotrophic yeast Pichia pastoris under the control of an AOX promoter and the yeast alpha secretion factor and observing the secretion of galactomannan alpha-galactosyltransferase activity. Particularly high activities were observed when a truncated sequence, lacking the membrane-spanning helix, was expressed.

Oligosaccharides obtained by enzymatic hydrolysis of birch kraft pulp xylan: analysis by capillary zone electrophoresis and mass spectrometry

Neutral and acidic oligosaccharides were obtained from an unbleached birch kraft pulp by treatment with a Trichoderma reesei endoxylanase pI 9 and subsequently characterized using capillary zone electrophoresis (CZE) and matrix assisted laser desorption ionization time of flight mass spectrometry (MALDI-TOF-MS). The borate complexes of unsaturated acidic oligosaccharides having a 4-deoxy-beta-L-threo-hex-4-enopyranosyluronic acid (4 delta UA) residue linked to a beta-D-(1-->4)-xylooligosaccharide backbone were separated by CZE and detected by their UV absorption at 232 nm without prior derivatization. Pre-column derivatization with the chromophore 6-aminoquinoline (6-AQ) followed by CZE in alkaline borate buffer using detection based on absorption at 245 nm was used in the case of neutral xylosaccharides. Furthermore, MALDI-TOF-MS was employed to determine the molecular masses of both unsaturated and saturated acidic oligosaccharides. The acidic oligosaccharides released upon endoxylanase treatment of the birch kraft pulp were a (4 delta UA)-beta-D-xylotetraose, a (4 delta UA)-beta-D-xylopentaose, a (4-O-methyl-alpha-D-glucurono)-beta-D-xylotetraose, and a (4-O-methyl-alpha-D-glucurono)-beta-D-xylopentaose. Analysis after enzymatic hydrolysis with beta-xylosidase and alpha-glucuronidase from Trichoderma reesei strongly indicated that the uronic acid residue in these acidic oligosaccharides was linked to the D-xylose unit adjacent to the non-reducing D-xylose unit. The neutral xylosaccharides obtained after endoxylanase treatment of the pulp sample were D-xylose, beta-(1-4)-D-xylobiose and beta-(1-4)-D-xylotriose.

Purification and characterization of extremely thermostable beta-mannanase, beta-mannosidase, and alpha-galactosidase from the hyperthermophilic eubacterium Thermotoga neapolitana 5068

Thermostable and thermoactive beta-mannanase (1,4-beta-D-mannan mannanohydrolase [EC 3.2.1.78]), beta-mannosidase (beta-D-mannopyranoside hydrolase [EC 3.2.1.25]) and alpha-galactosidase (alpha-D-galactoside galactohydrolase [EC 3.2.1.22]) were purified to homogeneity from cell extracts and extracellular culture supernatants of the hyperthermophilic eubacterium Thermotoga neapolitana 5068 grown on guar gum-based media. The beta-mannanase was an extracellular monomeric enzyme with a molecular mass of 65 kDa. The optimal temperature for activity was 90 to 92 degrees C, with half-lives (t1/2) of 34 h at 85 degrees C, 13 h at 90 degrees C, and 35 min at 100 degrees C. The beta-mannosidase and alpha-galactosidase were found primarily in cell extracts. The beta-mannosidase was a homodimer consisting of approximately 100-kDa molecular mass subunits. The optimal temperature for activity was 87 degrees C, with t1/2 of 18 h at 85 degrees C, 42 min at 90 degrees C, and 2 min at 98 degrees C. The alpha-galactosidase was a 61-kDa monomeric enzyme with a temperature optimum of 100 to 103 degrees C and t1/2 of 9 h at 85 degrees C, 2 h at 90 degrees C, and 3 min at 100 degrees C. These enzymes represent the most thermostable and thermoactive versions of these types yet reported and probably act synergistically to hydrolyze extracellular galactomannans to monosaccharides by T. neapolitana for nutritional purposes. The significance of such substrates in geothermal environments remains to be seen.

Characterization of the isozymes of glucuronoxylan xylanohydrolase in the presence of a native cell wall substrate

A simple but accurate method for measuring glucuronoxylan xylanohydrolase activity was developed using coleoptile cell wall particles prepared from maize (Zea mays L.). Two isozymes of glucuronoxylan xylanohydrolases designated as GX1 and GX2 (EC 3.2.1.136) were purified from a commercially available amylase preparation to electrophoretic homogeneity by three cation exchange chromatography steps. Upon characterization no significant differences between the two enzymes were detected: the molecular mass measured by MALDITOF mass spectrometry was 44,360 +/- 100 for GX1 and 44,370 +/- 50 for GX2 suggesting no difference in the total number of amino acid residues. Furthermore the N-terminal amino acid sequence for each of the isozymes was identical through the 37th amino acid residue. The values of pI were determined to be 9.0 for GX1 and 9.1 for GX2. The sensitivity to temperature, pH and to ionic strength was similar for both isozymes as were kinetic parameters including Km and Vmax. No differences could be detected in substrate specificity.

Oligosaccharides derived from the xyloglucan isolated from the seeds of Hymenaea courbaril var. stilbocarpa

On aqueous extraction, Hymenaea courbaril var. stilbocarpa, known in Brazil as jatobá, furnishes a high yield of viscous xyloglucan (45%) from its seeds. The crude polysaccharide (B1) was hydrolysed and the products, analysed as alditol acetates, were glucose, xylose, galactose and arabinose in the ratio 50:35:13:2. After further fractionation on DEAE-cellulose column (chloride form), the main fraction (70% yield, B2) was obtained. The basic structure of the xyloglucan was determined as a cellulose-type (1-->4)-linked beta-D-glucan backbone partially substituted with side chains at O6 of alpha-D-xylopyranose, some of which were themselves substituted at O2 by the units of beta-D-galactopyranose. Treatment of the xyloglucan (B2) with commercial cellulase from Trichoderma sp. yielded six oligosaccharides. These oligosaccharides were isolated by preparative paper chromatography, and their structures were determined by gas-liquid chromatography-mass spectroscopy of the derived partially O-methylated alditol acetates. These results confirm the structure proposed for jatobá seed xyloglucan.

Analysis of carbohydrates on IgG preparations

Characterization of monoclonal antibodies (MAbs) produced for therapeutic or diagnostic purposes increasingly includes an assessment of their carbohydrate content. Using high-performance anion exchange chromatography with pulsed amperometric detection (HPAEC/PAD), we have analyzed the PNGase F released oligosaccharides of several IgG preparations including human polyclonal IgG, a humanized monoclonal IgG (MAb M115), and a murine monoclonal IgG (MAb MY9-6) derived respectively from serum, hybridoma cultures, and ascites fluid. The N-linked oligosaccharides released by PNGase F treatment of the above IgGs were found to consist mainly of neutral, fucosylated, biantennary species. Comparison of glycosylation of human polyclonal IgG, MAb M115, and MAb MY9-6 revealed differences in the levels of galactosylation and in the levels as well as the form of sialic acid present. HPAEC/PAD oligosaccharide profiling, combined with the use of enzymes (PNGase F, endoglycosidase F2, endoglycosidase H, neuraminidase, beta-galactosidase, and beta-N-acetylhexosaminidase), and monosaccharide analysis allowed making of tentative structural assignments. By performing monosaccharide analysis directly on PVDF electroblotted heavy and light chain bands separated by SDS-PAGE, it was verified that IgGs used in this study were glycosylated predominantly in their heavy chain.

Structure of the Acetobacter methanolicus MB 129 capsular polysaccharide, and of oligosaccharides resulting from degradation by bacteriophage Acm7

The capsular polysaccharide of Acetobacter methanolicus MB 129 consists of D-Glc, D-Gal, L-Rha, and L-glyceric acid in the molar ratios 1:1:1:0.3. Periodate oxidation, methylation analysis, solvolysis with HF, and detailed 1H and 13C NMR analysis resulted in the structure of the repeating unit shown below. [formula: see text] Bacteriophage Acm7-associated end-alpha-L-rhamnopyranoside hydrolase depolymerizes the CPS even in the presence of the O-acyl group, to give the respective hexa-, nona-, and dodeca-saccharides.

Mode of action of the xylan-degrading enzymes from Aspergillus awamori on alkali-extractable cereal arabinoxylans

Alkali-extractable cereal arabinoxylan and oligosaccharides of known structure derived from it by enzymic hydrolysis were treated with endo-(1-->4)-beta-D-xylanases I and III from Aspergillus awamori CMI 142717 and the digests subjected to analysis by high performance anion-exchange chromatography. Clear differences in the mode of action of the two endo-(1-->4)-beta-D-xylanases were observed. When counting from the reducing end, at least one unsubstituted xylopyranosyl residue adjacent to singly substituted xylopyranosyl residues or two unsubstituted xylopyranosyl residues adjacent to doubly substituted xylopyranosyl residues cannot be removed by endo-(1-->4)-beta-D-xylanase I. At least two unsubstituted xylopyranosyl residues adjacent to singly or doubly substituted xylopyranosyl residues cannot be removed by endo-(1-->4)-beta-D-xylanase III. beta-D-Xylosidase from the same xylanolytic system was able to remove terminal xylopyranosyl residues from the nonreducing end of branched oligosaccharides only when two contiguous unsubstituted xylopyranosyl residues were present adjacent to singly or doubly substituted xylopyranosyl residues.

High-performance reversed-phase chromatographic mapping of 2-pyridylamino derivatives of xyloglucan oligosaccharides

Xyloglucan oligosaccharides from cotton cell walls and tamarind seeds were derivatized with 2-aminopyridine and subsequently separated by reversed-phase chromatography (r.p.c.) using an octadecylsilyl silica stationary phase and aqueous-organic eluents with 0.01% (v/v) trifluoroacetic acid. The chromatographic behavior of the 2-pyridylamino derivatives of xyloglucan oligosaccharides was examined under a wide range of elution conditions, including gradient steepness and shape, initial acetonitrile concentration in the eluent, and pore size of the r.p.c. packings. Relatively steep acetonitrile gradients resulted in poor resolution of the different xyloglucan fragments, which is believed to be the result of acetonitrile-induced conformational changes. Under these circumstances the elution order of the derivatized xyloglucan oligosaccharides was such that the smaller fragments eluted from the column before the larger ones. R.p.c. packing with a 70-A pore size necessitated relatively high acetonitrile concentration in the eluent when compared with 300-A stationary phase. The r.p.c. mapping of 2-pyridylamino derivatives of xyloglucan oligosaccharides was best achieved when both a wide-pore octadecyl-silyl silica stationary phase and a shallow gradient with consecutive linear segments of increasing acetonitrile concentration in the eluent were employed. This combination yielded rapid r.p.c. maps of the xyloglucan fragments from different sources with high separation efficiencies and concomitantly high resolution. The effects of the nature of the sugar residues in the xyloglucan oligomers and their degree of branching on r.p.c. retention and selectivity are also highlighted.

Structural features of the cell-wall polysaccharides of Asparagus officinalis seeds

The fine structure of a beta-)1----4)-linked glucomannan from Asparagus officinalis has been determined by n.m.r. analysis of the oligosaccharides obtained by acidic and enzymic hydrolyses. Cleavage of the glucomannan with beta-D-mannase from Aspergillus niger and purification by h.p.l.c. gave oligosaccharide fractions that contained Man (mannose), GlcMan (beta-glucopyranosylmannose), Man2, Glc2Man, and Glc3Man as the major components. Simulated digestion of a polymer composed of randomly distributed monomers with the same Glc:Man ratio as glucomannan from A. officinalis led to the same polysaccharides. The random distribution of the monomers of glucomannan from A. officinalis was corroborated by the diffraction diagram of the raw flour, which indicated that the "in situ" glucomannan was amorphous, whereas both cellulose and mannans are crystalline.

Detection of beta-glucanase activity on various beta-1,3 and beta-1,4-glucans after native and denaturing polyacrylamide gel electrophoresis

beta-Glucanases were detected after polyacrylamide gel electrophoresis under native and denaturing conditions using various beta-1,3- and beta-1,4-glucans, including mixed glucans (laminarin, pachyman, carboxymethyl cellulose, lichenan and barley beta-glucan). After electrophoresis and incubation of gels, substrates incorporated into polyacrylamide gels were stained with specific fluorochromes, Sirofluor for beta-1,3 linkages and Calcofluor White M2R for beta-1,4 linkages. Under UV illumination, lysis zones appeared as dark bands against a fluorescent background. Enzymes of bacterial, fungal and plant sources could be revealed sequentially in gles containing mixed beta-(1,3)(1,4)-glucans by staining first with sirofluor followed by staining with Calcofluor White M2R. Active profiles were more diverse when substrates were stained with sirofluor. The use of purified sirofluor at pH 11.5 compared with Aniline Blue at pH 8.6 allowed better detection of beta-1,3-glucanase activities. In gels containing laminarin stained with sirofluor, bands exhibiting a more intense fluorescence than the background fluorescence were observed in addition to dark nonfluorescent bands. It is postulated that these two types of beta-1,3-glucanase activities differ by their enzymatic action (partial versus extensive hydrolysis). Analysis of fungal extracts using denaturing gels embedded with various beta-glucans displayed lysis bands migrating between 32 and 35 kDa.

Exocellular polysaccharides produced by lactic acid bacteria

The production of homopolysaccharides (dextrans, mutans) and heteropolysaccharides by lactic acid bacteria, their chemical composition, their structure and their synthesis are outlined. Mutans streptococci, which include Streptococcus mutans and S. sobrinus produce soluble and insoluble alpha-glucans. The latter may contain as much as 90% alpha-1-3 linkages and possess a marked ability to promote adherence to the smooth tooth surface causing dental plaque. Dextrans produced by Leuconostoc mesenteroides are high molecular weight alpha-glucans having 1-6, 1-4 and 1-3 linkages, varying from slightly to highly branched; 1-6 linkages are predominant. Emphasis is put on exopolysaccharide producing thermophilic and mesophilic lactic acid bacteria, which are important in the dairy industry. The produced polymers play a key role in the rheological behaviour and the texture of fermented milks. One of the main problems in this field is the transitory nature of the thickening trait. This instability is not yet completely understood. Controversial results exist on the sugar composition of the slime produced, but galactose and glucose have always been identified with galactose predominating in most cases.

Degradation of larchwood xylan by enzymes of a thermophilic fungus, Thermoascus aurantiacus

Proteins from the culture filtrates of Thermoascus aurantiacus grown on paper were found to hydrolyze larchwood xylan completely to form xylose and 4-O-methyl-alpha-D-glucuronic acid. Partial hydrolysis of xylan by a xylanase purified from the culture filtrates resulted in the formation of neutral xylooligosaccharides of dp from 2 to 6 and acidic xylooligosaccharides of dp from 5 to 8. Each of these acidic sugars contained a single molecule of 4-O-methyl-alpha-D-glucuronic acid as a branch. Extensive hydrolysis of these oligosaccharides or xylan by xylanase led to the isolation of xylose, xylobiose, and an aldotetrauronic acid as terminal products. The structure of the aldotetrauronic acid was established by NMR as (2(2)-O-alpha-D,4-O-methyl-alpha-D-glucurono)-xylotriose. A beta-glucosidase, also purified from the culture filtrates, hydrolyzed xylan and the neutral or the acidic xylooligosaccharides from the nonreducing end to release only xylose. Neither xylanase nor beta-glucosidase hydrolyzed the beta-(1----4) linkage between the xylose carrying the branch and the adjacent xylose residue on each side.

Biosynthesis of legume-seed galactomannans in vitro : Cooperative interactions of a guanosine 5'-diphosphate-mannose-linked (1→4)-β-D-manno-syltransferase and a uridine 5'-diphosphate-galactose-linked α-D-galactosyltransferase in particulate enzyme preparations from developing endosperms of fenugreek (Trigonella foenum-graecum L.) and guar (Cyamopsis tetragonoloba [L.] Taub.)

Particulate enzyme preparations were isolated from developing fenugreek (Trigonella foenum-graecum L.) and guar (Cyamopsis tetragonoloba [L.] Taub.) seed endosperms during the period of galactomannan deposition in vivo. These preparations catalysed the formation of polysacharide products from guanosine 5'-diphosphate (GDP)-mannose, from uridine 5'-diphosphate (UDP)-galactose and from mixtures of the two nucleotides. The products were analysed by solubility, by complete acid hydrolysis, and by selective enzymatic cleavage using pure enzymes of known specificity. With GDP-[U-(14)C]-D-mannose as substrate and a divalent metal cation (Mg(+2), Mn(+2), or Ca(+2)) a highly efficient transfer of labelled D-mannosyl residues was obtained to give a product identified as linear (1→4)-β-linked D-mannan. No transfer of galactosyl residues was obtained when GDP-[U-(14)C]-D-galactose was the only substrate, although very low and variable amounts of an unidentified product which released labelled glucose on acid hydrolysis were formed. In the presence of UDP-galactose, GDP-mannose and Mn(+2) ions, products were formed which have been characterised as galactomanans - a linear (1→4)-β-D-mannan backbone carrying D-galactopyranosyl substituents linked (1→6)-α to mannose. The degree of galactose substitution of the D-mannan backbone was manipulated in vitro by varying GDP-mannose concentrations at constant (saturating) UDP-galactose levels. The transfer of D-galactosyl residues from UDP-galactose to galactomannan was absolutely dependent upon the simultaneous transfer of D-mannosyl residues from GDP-mannose. D-Mannan sequences pre-formed in situ using the mannosyltransferase in the absence of UDP-galactose could not become galactose-substituted in a subsequent incubation either with UDP-galactose alone or with UDP-galactose plus GDP-mannose A model for the interaction of GDP-mannose mannosyltransferase and UDP-galactose galactosyltransferase in galactomannan biosynthesis is proposed.