Marine-derived exopolysaccharides
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| Auteurs | | Top |
- Delabarre-Ladrat, C.
- Boursicot, V.
- Colliec-Jouault, S.
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| Abstract |
Marine biotechnology still remains a new and emergent science, which is closely linked to marine biodiversity and to the technological capacities of investigating more atypical ecosystems. Marine microorganisms show a unique biodiversity since they have to adapt to various marine environmental conditions such as low or high temperatures, alkaline or acidic water, high pressure, and limited nutrients. Marine natural products, especially marine polysaccharides, are attracting more and more attention. Microbial polysaccharides are of growing interest for many sectors of industry, resulting in isolation of new exopolysaccharide (EPS )-producing bacteria. The diversity of these polysaccharides arises from the structural variations (glycosidic bonds, side branching chains, monosaccharidic content) controlled through a genetic basis. A lower molecular weight and functionalized derivatives together with the native form of the polysaccharide have been shown to possess a variety of biotechnological activities. Therefore, the biophysical and biological properties have made them useful in many pharmaceutical, food, and industrial applications. This chapter gives information on EPS -producing bacteria from the marine environment, as well as on the carbohydrate molecule they produce, including the chemical composition or structure when available, the putative pathways of biosynthesis, and the potential applications in industry with a focus on healthcare and glycosaminoglycan-like compounds. |
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