Exopolysaccharides produced by Lactococcus lactis: from genetic engineering to improved rheological properties?

Over the last years, important advances have been made in the study of the production of exopolysaccharides (EPS) by several lactic acid bacteria, including Lactococcus lactis. From different EPS-producing lactococcal strains the specific eps gene clusters have been characterised. They contain eps g...

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Bibliographic Details
Published in:Antonie van Leeuwenhoek 1999-11, Vol.76 (1-4), p.357-365
Main Authors: Kleerebezem, M, van Kranenburg, R, Tuinier, R, Boels, I C, Zoon, P, Looijesteijn, E, Hugenholtz, J, de Vos, W M
Format: Article
Language:English
Subjects:
Bacteria
Biosynthesis
eps gene
Fermentation
galE gene
galU gene
Genes, Bacterial
Genetic engineering
Genetic Engineering - methods
Lactococcus lactis
Lactococcus lactis - genetics
Lactococcus lactis - metabolism
Microbiology
Multigene Family
Polysaccharides, Bacterial - biosynthesis
Polysaccharides, Bacterial - genetics
rfbABCD gene
Rheology
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Summary:Over the last years, important advances have been made in the study of the production of exopolysaccharides (EPS) by several lactic acid bacteria, including Lactococcus lactis. From different EPS-producing lactococcal strains the specific eps gene clusters have been characterised. They contain eps genes, which are involved in EPS repeating unit synthesis, export, polymerisation, and chain length determination. The function of the glycosyltransferase genes has been established and the availability of these genes opened the way to EPS engineering. In addition to the eps genes, biosynthesis of EPS requires a number of housekeeping genes that are involved in the metabolic pathways leading to the EPS-building blocks, the nucleotide sugars. The identification and characterisation of several of these housekeeping genes (galE, galU, rfbABCD) allows the design of metabolic engineering strategies that should lead to increased EPS production levels by L. lactis. Finally, model development has been initiated in order to predict the physicochemical consequences of the addition of a EPS to a product.
ISSN:0003-6072
1572-9699
DOI:10.1023/A:1002084822851