Advances in the preparation of alginate oligosaccharides and its biological functions / 生物工程学报

Alginate is a group of polyuronic saccharides that are widely used in pharmaceutical and food industry due to its unique physicochemical properties and beneficial health effects. However, the low water solubility and high viscosity of alginate hampered its application. Alginate oligosaccharide (AOS) is a decomposition product of alginate and has received increasing attention due to its low molecular weight, high water solubility, safety, and non-toxicity. The wide-ranging biological functions of AOS are closely related to its structural diversity. AOS with distinct structures and biological functions can be obtained by different methods of preparation. This review summarized the biological functions of AOS reported to date, including anti-tumor, immunomodulatory, anti-inflammatory, antioxidant, prebiotic, and anti-diabetes. The preparation of AOS, as well as the relationship between the structure and biological functions of AOS were discussed, with the aim to provide a reference for further development and application of AOS.

Increases in alginate production and transcription levels of alginate lyase (alyA1) by control of the oxygen transfer rate in Azotobacter vinelandii cultures under diazotrophic conditions

BACKGROUND: Alginates are polysaccharides used in a wide range of industrial applications, with their functional properties depending on their molecular weight. In this study, alginate production and the expression of genes involved in polymerization and depolymerization in batch cultures of Azotobacter vinelandii were evaluated under controlled and noncontrolled oxygen transfer rate (OTR) conditions. RESULTS: Using an oxygen transfer rate (OTR) control system, a constant OTR (20.3 ± 1.3 mmol L 1 h 1 ) was maintained during cell growth and stationary phases. In cultures subjected to a controlled OTR, alginate concentrations were higher (5.5 ± 0.2 g L 1 ) than in cultures under noncontrolled OTR. The molecular weight of alginate decreased from 475 to 325 kDa at the beginning of the growth phase and remained constant until the end of the cultivation period. The expression level of alyA1, which encodes an alginate lyase, was more affected by OTR control than those of other genes involved in alginate biosynthesis. The decrease in alginate molecular weight can be explained by a higher relative expression level of alyA1 under the controlled OTR condition. CONCLUSIONS: This report describes the first time that alginate production and alginate lyase (alyA1) expression levels have been evaluated in A. vinelandii cultures subjected to a controlled OTR. The results show that automatic control of OTR may be a suitable strategy for improving alginate production while maintaining a constant molecular weight.

Cloning and expression of alginate lyase genes from Vibrio alginolyticus and characterization of the alginate lyase / 生物工程学报

With the discovery of the significant medicinal value of alginate oligosaccharides and bioethanol produced by microalgae, alginate lyase has been the focus of research in all fields. Five alginate lyase genes in cluster from Vibrio alginolyticus were cloned and expressed in Escherichia coli. SDS-PAGE and enzyme activity showed that four of the five genes have the activity to degrade alginate. Optimization of the induction conditions, protein purification and enzyme properties of rAlgV3 with the highest enzyme activity were studied. The results showed that the enzyme activity of recombinant enzyme rAlgV3 increased from 2.34×10⁴ U/L to 1.68×10⁵ U/L, which was 7.3 times higher than before. The optimal reaction temperature was 40 °C, and the enzyme was relatively stable between 4 °C and 20 °C. The enzyme had a higher activity between pH 6.5 and 9.0, with the optimum pH 8.0. It showed a wide range of pH that the alginate lyase can exist stably between pH 4.5 and 9.5. Appropriate concentrations of NaCl and Fe²⁺, Fe³⁺ ions promoted enzyme activity. SDS and Cu²⁺ ions inhibited the enzyme activity. The enzyme degraded Poly-M fragments and Poly-G fragments, with a wide range of substrate properties. The degraded product of sodium alginate of rAlgV3 analyzed by ESI-MS mainly was oligosaccharides with a polymerization degree of 2 to 3, which means that rAlgV3 was an endo-type alginate lyase. This enzyme has the potential in the development of third-generation bioethanol and the production of alginate oligosaccharides.

Enzyme Therapy: Current Perspectives.

Enzymes control all metabolic processes in human system from simple digestion of food to highly complex immune response. Physiological reactions occuring in healthy individuals are disturbed when enzymes are deficient or absent. Enzymes are administered for normalizing biological function in certain pathologies. Initially, crude proteolytic enzymes were used for the treatment of gastrointestinal disorders. Recent advances have enabled enzyme therapy as a promising tool in the treatment of cardiovascular, oncological and hereditary diseases. Now, a spectrum of other diseases are also covered under enzyme therapy. But, the available information on the use of enzymes as therapeutic agents for different diseases is scanty. This review details the enzymes which have been used to treat various diseases/disorders.