Study of biochemical and physico-chemical properties of exopolysaccharide and biomass of Lasiodiplodia theobromae.

• Grant number: 10/06317-8
• Support Opportunities: Scholarships in Brazil - Scientific Initiation
• Start date: June 01, 2010
• End date: December 31, 2010
• Field of knowledge: Biological Sciences - Biochemistry - Biochemistry of Microorganisms
• Principal Investigator: Valéria Marta Gomes de Lima
• Grantee: Tania Sila Campioni
• Host Institution: Faculdade de Ciências e Letras (FCL-ASSIS). Universidade Estadual Paulista (UNESP). Campus de Assis. Assis , SP, Brazil

Abstract

Exopolysaccharides (EPS) are groups of polymers synthesized by some species of microorganisms. Present chemical structures and rheological characteristics and peculiar to biological research of new biotechnological applications. The polysaccharides of microbial origin (exopolysaccharides, EPS), besides having properties similar or better than traditional (vegetable and seaweed sources) are less susceptible to variability in their chemical and physical properties while maintaining the quality standard. The exopolysaccharide produced by the fungus B. rhodina was characterized as a beta- (1-3; 1-6) - D - glucan, and called Botriosferana. This chain of EPS can provide conformation of single helix , triple helix or random coil. The random coil format between glucan possibly has a higher biological activity. There are many reports on the polysaccharide produced by the fungus Lasiodiplodia theobromae, phylogenetically close to B. rhodina, which justifies the importance of characterizing and evaluating the applications of this polymer. The present work have like aims to produce the biopolymer Lasiodiplodia theobromae and evaluate its monosaccharide composition and biochemical properties and physical-chemical properties. The biomass generated in the fermentation of the fungus will be analyzed for its composition. With these results it is expected to characterize the biopolymer as a glucan, besides knowing the characteristics of biomass.