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ARS Home » Research » Publications at this Location » Publication #180719
Title: PREBIOTIC PROPERTIES OF ALTERNANSUCRASE MALTOSE-ACCEPTOR OLIGOSACCHARIDES

Author
item SANZ, MARIA - BERKSHIRE, UK
item Cote, Gregory
item GIBSON, GLENN - BERKSHIRE, UK
item RASTALL, ROBERT - BERKSHIRE, UK

Submitted to: Journal of Agricultural and Food Chemistry
Publication Type: Peer Reviewed Journal
Publication Acceptance Date: 5/26/2005
Publication Date: 7/28/2005
Citation: Sanz, M.L., Cote, G.L., Gibson, G.R., Rastall, R.A. 2005. Prebiotic properties of alternansucrase maltose-acceptor oligosaccharides. Journal of Agricultural and Food Chemistry. 53:5911-5916.

Interpretive Summary: Complex carbohydrates were made from sugar and corn syrup using a food-grade bacterium. Different sized molecules were separated and each was analyzed for its ability to support the growth of beneficial or detrimental bacteria. Certain sizes were better than others at supporting the growth of good intestinal bacteria. This provides information that will be useful in designing health-enhancing food and feed additives from agricultural commodities.

Technical Abstract: Alpha-1,6 and 1,3-linked oligosaccharides were obtained from the reaction between sucrose and maltose, catalysed by an alternansucrase isolated from Leuconostoc mesenteroides NRRL B-21297 and separated using a Bio-Gel P2 column in six fractions. Fractions 1, 2, and 3 were mainly composed of DP3, DP4, and DP5, respectively. However, fractions 4, 5, and 6 consisted of mixtures from DP5 to DP9 and they are identified here as DP5.7, DP6.7, and DP7.4, respectively. Potential prebiotic properties of these oligosaccharides were tested using pure and mixed cultures. Generally, in pure studies, most of the tested bacteria failed to grow or grew poorly using the DP6.7 and DP7.4 fractions and showed the greatest growth on DP3. Growth of faecal bacteria on the maltose-acceptor products was tested following an in vitro fermentation method. DP3 showed the highest prebiotic effect, followed by DP4 and DP6.7, whereas DP7.4 did not present any prebiotic activity.