RESUMO
Exopolysaccharides (EPSs), produced by lactic acid bacteria (LAB), have been used primarily to improve the quality and taste of food, also possess a variety of unique biological functions, such as immunoregulation and anti-tumor activities. The diversity of molecular structural characteristics of LAB-generated EPSs represents one of the main factors responsible for this plethora of functions. Accordingly, the structural analysis of the EPSs produced by LAB is both a prerequisite and basis for examining its functional and structure-activity relationships. In this article, we summarized the current progress of key methodologies involved in the structural analysis of LAB-generated EPSs, including their isolation, purification, primary structure and advances in structural research. A comprehensive discussion regarding the application of chemical analysis, instrument analysis and computer aided technology in the structure analysis of LAB-generated EPSs was provided. Further, the future development of the research on the structure of LAB-generated EPSs was presented.