Synthesis and characterization of Bifidogenic raffinose-derived oligosaccharides via acceptor reactions of glucansucrase E81

Authors: ISPIRLI, HUMEYRA - Bayburt University; Bowman, Michael; Skory, Christopher - Chris; DERTLI, ENES - Yildiz Technical University

Submitted to: LWT - Food Science and Technology
Publication Type: Peer Reviewed Journal
Publication Acceptance Date: 4/15/2021
Publication Date: 4/17/2021
Citation: Ispirli, H., Bowman, M.J., Skory, C.D., Dertli, E. 2021. Synthesis and characterization of Bifidogenic raffinose-derived oligosaccharides via acceptor reactions of glucansucrase E81. LWT - Food Science and Technology. 147. Article 111525. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.lwt.2021.111525.
DOI: https://doi.org/10.1016/j.lwt.2021.111525

Interpretive Summary: Glucansucrases are enzymes that can modify different sugars to produce distinct rare sugars, which may act as prebiotics. Food products can be fortified with the prebiotics to obtain functional food products that enhance the growth of beneficial bacteria in the gut. In this study, raffinose and sucrose were modified with glucansucrase and the resulting products were shown to stimulate growth of beneficial bacteria, but these products did not stimulate growth of pathogenic bacteria. Raffinose is a carbohydrate that occurs in the seeds of many agricultural crops, including soy and cotton, and sucrose is common table sugar. This research could be valuable in the production of food and feed additives from soy whey, cottonseed meal, sugar cane, or sugar beets.

Technical Abstract: Glucansucrases can perform acceptor reactions with different sugars to produce distinct oligosaccharides which may act as prebiotics. In this study, raffinose-derived oligosaccharides produced by glucansucrase E81 were characterized and their prebiotic functions were evaluated. Although up to DP 7 oligosaccharides synthesized, the main product was a DP 4 oligosaccharide containing two products formed by the transfer of the glucose to raffinose at either the 3- (81 %) or 4-O (19 %) position of its galactose residue confirmed by NMR spectroscopy and LC-MS-LTQ analysis. The purified DP 4 raffinose-derived oligosaccharides were subjected to in vitro human gastric juice and alpha-amylase digestion tests and no digestion was observed under both conditions determined by HPLC analysis. Finally, prebiotic potential of DP 4 raffinose-derived oligosaccharides was tested with probiotic and pathogenic strains and only Bifidobacteria demonstrated growth promotion showing the bifidogenic activity of DP 4 raffinose-derived oligosaccharides.