Dextran: Sources, Structures, and Properties
Dextran is an exopolysaccharide (EPS) synthesized by lactic acid bacteria (LAB) or their enzymes in the presence of sucrose. Dextran is composed of a linear chain of <span style="font-variant: small-caps;">d</span>-glucoses linked by α-(1→6) bonds, with possible branches of <...
| Main Author: | |
|---|---|
| Format: | Article |
| Language: | English |
| Published: |
MDPI AG
2021-07-01
|
| Series: | Polysaccharides |
| Subjects: | |
| Online Access: | https://www.mdpi.com/2673-4176/2/3/33 |
| _version_ | 1797517442231042048 |
|---|---|
| author | Elsa Díaz-Montes |
| author_facet | Elsa Díaz-Montes |
| author_sort | Elsa Díaz-Montes |
| collection | DOAJ |
| description | Dextran is an exopolysaccharide (EPS) synthesized by lactic acid bacteria (LAB) or their enzymes in the presence of sucrose. Dextran is composed of a linear chain of <span style="font-variant: small-caps;">d</span>-glucoses linked by α-(1→6) bonds, with possible branches of <span style="font-variant: small-caps;">d</span>-glucoses linked by α-(1→4), α-(1→3), or α-(1→2) bonds, which can be low (<40 kDa) or high molecular weight (>40 kDa). The characteristics of dextran in terms of molecular weight and branches depend on the producing strain, so there is a great variety in its properties. Dextran has commercial interest because its solubility, viscosity, and thermal and rheological properties allow it to be used in food, pharmaceutical, and research areas. The aim of this review article is to compile the latest research (in the past decade) using LAB to synthesize high or low molecular weight dextran. In addition, studies using modified enzymes to produce dextran with specific structural characteristics (molecular weights and branches) are addressed. On the other hand, special attention is paid to LAB extracted from unconventional sources to expose their capacities as dextran producers and their possible application to compete with the only commercial strain (<i>Leuconostoc mesenteroides</i> NRRL B512). |
| first_indexed | 2024-03-10T07:16:41Z |
| format | Article |
| id | doaj.art-ad5ff4f1bcba44618b5f3d7482f014c3 |
| institution | Directory Open Access Journal |
| issn | 2673-4176 |
| language | English |
| last_indexed | 2024-03-10T07:16:41Z |
| publishDate | 2021-07-01 |
| publisher | MDPI AG |
| record_format | Article |
| series | Polysaccharides |
| spelling | doaj.art-ad5ff4f1bcba44618b5f3d7482f014c32023-11-22T14:57:41ZengMDPI AGPolysaccharides2673-41762021-07-012355456510.3390/polysaccharides2030033Dextran: Sources, Structures, and PropertiesElsa Díaz-Montes0Unidad Professional Interdisciplinaria de Biotecnología, Instituto Politécnico Nacional, Av. Acueducto s/n, Barrio La Laguna Ticoman, Ciudad de México 07340, MexicoDextran is an exopolysaccharide (EPS) synthesized by lactic acid bacteria (LAB) or their enzymes in the presence of sucrose. Dextran is composed of a linear chain of <span style="font-variant: small-caps;">d</span>-glucoses linked by α-(1→6) bonds, with possible branches of <span style="font-variant: small-caps;">d</span>-glucoses linked by α-(1→4), α-(1→3), or α-(1→2) bonds, which can be low (<40 kDa) or high molecular weight (>40 kDa). The characteristics of dextran in terms of molecular weight and branches depend on the producing strain, so there is a great variety in its properties. Dextran has commercial interest because its solubility, viscosity, and thermal and rheological properties allow it to be used in food, pharmaceutical, and research areas. The aim of this review article is to compile the latest research (in the past decade) using LAB to synthesize high or low molecular weight dextran. In addition, studies using modified enzymes to produce dextran with specific structural characteristics (molecular weights and branches) are addressed. On the other hand, special attention is paid to LAB extracted from unconventional sources to expose their capacities as dextran producers and their possible application to compete with the only commercial strain (<i>Leuconostoc mesenteroides</i> NRRL B512).https://www.mdpi.com/2673-4176/2/3/33lactic acid bacteriaexopolysaccharidesdextranstructureproperties |
| spellingShingle | Elsa Díaz-Montes Dextran: Sources, Structures, and Properties Polysaccharides lactic acid bacteria exopolysaccharides dextran structure properties |
| title | Dextran: Sources, Structures, and Properties |
| title_full | Dextran: Sources, Structures, and Properties |
| title_fullStr | Dextran: Sources, Structures, and Properties |
| title_full_unstemmed | Dextran: Sources, Structures, and Properties |
| title_short | Dextran: Sources, Structures, and Properties |
| title_sort | dextran sources structures and properties |
| topic | lactic acid bacteria exopolysaccharides dextran structure properties |
| url | https://www.mdpi.com/2673-4176/2/3/33 |
| work_keys_str_mv | AT elsadiazmontes dextransourcesstructuresandproperties |