Isomelezitose formation by glucansucrases

Authors: Cote, Gregory; Skory, Christopher - Chris

Submitted to: Carbohydrate Research
Publication Type: Peer Reviewed Journal
Publication Acceptance Date: 1/9/2017
Publication Date: 1/30/2017
Publication URL: http://handle.nal.usda.gov/10113/5609731
Citation: Cote, G.L., Skory, C.D. 2017. Isomelezitose formation by glucansucrases. Carbohydrate Research. 439:57-60.

Interpretive Summary: Isomelezitose is an unusual sugar with potential applications in the production of vaccines, drugs, and nutritional food supplements. In this work, we discovered that it is made in small amounts by a number of bacterial enzymes that act on the sugar sucrose. This significant finding provides useful information that will help us better understand how these enzymes work. Ultimately, this research will be used in the design of enzymes for new and improved products that benefit consumers.

Technical Abstract: Several glucansucrases were surveyed for their ability to produce isomelezitose, a trisaccharide with the structure a-D-glucopyranosyl (1'6) ß-D-fructofuranosyl (2'1) a-D-glucopyranoside. All strains tested produced at least trace levels of isomelezitose. Yields were low but significant, ranging from less than 1% to approximately 5% based on sucrose. This trisaccharide may arise in either of two ways: glucopyranosyl transfer to the 6Fru-OH position of sucrose, or to the anomeric –OH position of isomaltulose. This study indicates that isomelezitose formation may be a general phenomenon of glucansucrase reactions.