What is it about?
The cell wall of seaweed plant species contains unusual polysaccharides such as alginate. In this paper we show that one novel enzyme can be used to deconstruct polymeric alginate into two valuable products. First, it can produce short oligosaccharides with consistent structures (polyG, or guluronic acid-rich alginate). Next, it can produce DEH, a highly valuable molecule with potential applications in anti-microbial materials.
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Why is it important?
Seaweed is a hug untapped source of biomass for the production of fuels, materials, and pharmaceutical molecules. Advances in the processing of biomass, particulaarly methods that use sustainable approaches like the enzyme technology described in this paper, are necessary for large-scale exploitation of this natural resource.
Perspectives
We now have a reliable method for DEH production fro alginate using a novel enzyme. Seaweed biorefinery processing will likely gain significant economic importance in areas where it grows abundantly, such as Asia and parts of Europe. While the market for alginate and other seaweed cell wall components is quite clear, the application of DEH at scale still needs to be established.
Dr Lauren S McKee
Kungliga Tekniska Hogskolan
Read the Original
This page is a summary of: Preparation of 4-Deoxy-L-erythro-5-hexoseulose Uronic Acid (DEH) and Guluronic Acid Rich Alginate Using a Unique exo-Alginate Lyase from Thalassotalea crassostreae, Journal of Agricultural and Food Chemistry, February 2018, American Chemical Society (ACS),
DOI: 10.1021/acs.jafc.7b05751.
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