Search for and use of enzymes of marine origin for the directed hydrolysis of sulfated polysaccharides

• Applicant: Professor Dr. Siegmund Lang
• Subject Area: Biological Process Engineering
• Term: from 2005 to 2007
• Project identifier: Deutsche Forschungsgemeinschaft (DFG) - Project number 5445895

By means of enzymes capable to hydrolyse only the glycosidic linkages of sulfated polysaccharides, a broad spectrum of bioactive sulfated oligosaccharides should be produced. Reports on these enzymes are scarce; only one group, that of fucoidanases, was reported recently. This type of biocatalyst is specialized on fucose-containing polysaccharides, fucoidans, from brown algae. The fucoidanase-positive fungus Dendryphiella arenaria TM94 (isolated recently) serves as starting strain for basic studies on enzyme assays, initial solid substrate fermentation, batch cultivations and downstream processing. Additionally, the general methods to degrade natural fucoidans without loss of sulgate and to produce sulfated oligomers with molecular weights of more than 5 kDa have to be explored. In parallel, other microorganisms isolated from various marine habitats, have to be studied for their potential to hydrolyze natural sulfated polysaccharides in an endo-type manner. Best candidates have to be choosen for biochemical engineering experiments in batch and chemostat cultivations. Sufficient cell mass and/or supernatant have to be transferred to the downstream processing for isolation of the desired enzymes, their characterization, and their use in biocatalysis for the production of sulgated oligosaccharides (MW more than 5 kDa). Subsequently, the oligomers have to be tested for bioactivities.

• DFG Programme: Research Grants