Structure Characteristics, Biochemical Properties, and Pharmaceutical Applications of Alginate Lyases

Abstract

Alginate, the most abundant polysaccharides of brown algae, consists of various proportions of uronic acid epimers α-L-guluronic acid (G) and β-D-mannuronic acid (M). Alginate oligosaccharides (AOs), the degradation products of alginates, exhibit excellent bioactivities and a great potential for broad applications in pharmaceutical fields. Alginate lyases can degrade alginate to functional AOs with unsaturated bonds or monosaccharides, which can facilitate the biorefinery of brown algae. On account of the increasing applications of AOs and biorefinery of brown algae, there is a scientific need to explore the important aspects of alginate lyase, such as catalytic mechanism, structure, and property. This review covers fundamental aspects and recent developments in basic information, structural characteristics, the structure–substrate specificity or catalytic efficiency relationship, property, molecular modification, and applications. To meet the needs of biorefinery systems of a broad array of biochemical products, alginate lyases with special properties, such as salt-activated, wide pH adaptation range, and cold adaptation are outlined. Withal, various challenges in alginate lyase research are traced out, and future directions, specifically on the molecular biology part of alginate lyases, are delineated to further widen the horizon of these exceptional alginate lyases.

Potential effects of biomaterials on macrophage function and their signalling pathways

“…Alginate and its degradation products, specifically alginate oligosaccharides (AOs), have demonstrated substantial bioactivity and can be used for various biomedical applications. 76 In a study, the effects of AO and alginate on macrophage-derived TNF-α and NO were investigated. 77 Compared with alginate, enzymatic degradation-derived AO increased the production of TNF-α in RAW264.7 cells at concentrations of 50, 100 and 200 μg mL −1 .…”

Cloning, expression and improvement of catalytic activity of alginate lyase by site-directed mutation

“…The preparation of alginate usually requires pretreatment such as acid treatment or alkali treatment. Thus, alginate lyase with extensive pH performance could be suitable for hydrolyzing [20,36]. The preparation of alkali treatment was a common method to improve the saccharification biomass in enzymatic reaction [37].…”

Fluorescent Labeling of Polymannuronic Acid and Its Distribution in Mice by Tail Vein Injection

“…Sodium alginate, a linear polysaccharide extracted from brown algae cell walls, is composed of β-D-mannuronic acid (M) and α-L-guluronic acid (G) that are linked via the copolymerization of 1,4-glycosidic bonds [ 1 ]. At present, sodium alginate is widely used in various industries such as food, agriculture, textile, and medicine [ 2 , 3 ].…”