Production and characterization of alfa-galactosidases from GH97 family

• Grant number: 22/09770-2
• Support Opportunities: Scholarships in Brazil - Scientific Initiation
• Start date: October 01, 2022
• End date: September 30, 2023
• Field of knowledge: Biological Sciences - Biochemistry - Enzymology
• Principal Investigator: Igor Polikarpov
• Grantee: Lucas de Araujo Montalvão
• Host Institution: Instituto de Física de São Carlos (IFSC). Universidade de São Paulo (USP). São Carlos , SP, Brazil

Abstract

Among the many products that farmers and industries consider disposable is the lignocellulosic biomass, formed by cellulose - a polymer consisting mainly of glucose, lignin - which has the function of transporting water and nutrients, and hemicellulose - comprising a heterogeneous class of structurally diverse polysaccharides, which can serve as raw material in the production of other materials, such as biofuels and other products with high added value. Within this class of polysaccharides are those that have galactose branches attached via alfa-1,6 bonds, such as galactomannans, galactoglucomannans and arabinogalactans. The removal of the ramifications of these polysaccharides or transglycosylations of mono or oligosaccharides form products of great interest, such as linear mannan, glucomannan and galactooligosaccharides (GOs), the latter standing out because of their properties related to human health, serving in the treatment of gastrointestinal problems, being able to directly inhibit infections by enteric pathogens, or being applied in the food industry, replacing sugar and giving texture to some foods such as yogurt. Taking into account the biotechnological interest behind these enzymatic tools, this study proposes to carry out the biochemical characterization of two enzymes with alfa-galactosidase activity belonging to the glycosyl hydrolase family 97 (GH97). In addition to the biochemical characterization, the applicability of the reaction products of these enzymes in the production of products with high added value, such as less branched glucomannans and galactomannans, will also be studied, optimizing the production process of these sugars of commercial interest.