Carbohydrate-Active Enzymes


Book Description

Recent advances in biochemistry and biotechnology have enabled significant progress in basic research on carbohydrate-active enzymes and advances in their effective application. The mechanism of catalytic reaction of carbohydrate-active enzymes is not fully understood, though, as they often show unusual substrate specificity and modes of action. This comprehensive collection summarises some of the most important research in the field of carbohydrate-active enzymes, focusing on the enzymatic reaction mechanism, structure-function relationship and role in the living organismThe book is based on papers presented in the 2008 Agricultural Biotechnology Symposium Carbohydrate-active enzymes: structure, function and applications held on September 26th-27th 2008 in Seoul National University, Korea. This symposium was organized by the Center for Agricultural Biomaterials, Seoul National University, Korea, which has organized symposia on agricultural biotechnology annually since 1990. Many important results on new types of carbohydrate-active enzymes and their applications have been reported at these meetings. Papers in Part one of this collection focus on structure-function relationships of carbohydrate-active enzymes. Papers in Part two discuss functions and applications of carbohydrate-active enzymes, such as enzymes for grain processing and glycosidases and their mutants as useful tools for glycoside synthesis.With its distinguished editor and international team of contributors, Carbohydrate-active enzymes: structure, function and applications is an essential reference for research scientists, post-graduate students and those in the food industry with an interest in enzymes. - Summarises some of the most important research in the field of carbohydrate-active enzymes - Covers topics ranging from enzyme classification and structural elucidation to applications of enzymes in food processing and other industries




Enzymatic Technologies for Marine Polysaccharides


Book Description

The bioactivity potential of marine polysaccharides has long been considered an underexploited aspect. These molecules found in seaweed, microalgae, bacteria, and animal fish (shellfish, mollusks, etc.) and the derived oligosaccharides need to be explored thoroughly with an interdisciplinary approach. They are an extraordinary source of chemical diversity, and the literature highlights many applicative fields, including the food industry, cosmetics, biomedicine, agriculture, environmental protection, wastewater management, etc. More recently, a new challenge has emerged: the exploitation of marine biomass as the source of sustainable energy to participate in the future replacement of fossil resources. Enzymatic Technologies for Marine Polysaccharides provides insight into the recent research developments of marine polysaccharides and their current and potential applications. The first section of the book explores the diversity of marine polysaccharides from various angles, including a description of the chemical complexity and current applications and new perspectives in food, pharmaceutical, cosmetics, and biomaterials offered by recent research. Efficient valorization of the marine polysaccharide biomass requires a rigorous analysis of the polysaccharides structure and their biological properties. The second section of the book concerns the development of extraction techniques and the improvement of the methods aimed at the characterization of their structure and function. Finally, the third and last section of the book articulates the enzymatic technologies from the discovery of novel enzymes to their production pipelines related to the fields of biorefinery, food, pharmaceutics, and other fine chemicals. Presents the latest research in marine oligosaccharides and polysaccharides Written by world-class researchers in marine enzyme technology Discusses the latest developments in extraction methods Presents a detailed overview of enzymatic routes for modification, production, and synthesis of marine oligosaccharides Contains extensive references at the end of each chapter to enhance further study




Chitin and Chitosan


Book Description

Offers a comprehensive guide to the isolation, properties and applications of chitin and chitosan Chitin and Chitosan: Properties and Applications presents a comprehensive review of the isolation, properties and applications of chitin and chitosan. These promising biomaterials have the potential to be broadly applied and there is a growing market for these biopolymers in areas such as medical and pharmaceutical, packaging, agricultural, textile, cosmetics, nanoparticles and more. The authors – noted experts in the field – explore the isolation, characterization and the physical and chemical properties of chitin and chitosan. They also examine their properties such as hydrogels, immunomodulation and biotechnology, antimicrobial activity and chemical enzymatic modifications. The book offers an analysis of the myriad medical and pharmaceutical applications as well as a review of applications in other areas. In addition, the authors discuss regulations, markets and perspectives for the use of chitin and chitosan. This important book: Offers a thorough review of the isolation, properties and applications of chitin and chitosan. Contains information on the wide-ranging applications and growing market demand for chitin and chitosan Includes a discussion of current regulations and the outlook for the future Written for Researchers in academia and industry who are working in the fields of chitin and chitosan, Chitin and Chitosan: Properties and Applications offers a review of these promising biomaterials that have great potential due to their material properties and biological functionalities.




A Practical Guide to Using Glycomics Databases


Book Description

This book provides glycoscientists with a handbook of useful databases that can be applied to glycoscience research. Although many databases are now publicly available, one of the hurdles for their users is the learning curve required to effectively utilize those databases. Therefore, this book not only describes the existing databases, but also provides tips on how to obtain the target data. That is, because many databases provide a variety of data that could be obtained from different perspectives, each chapter provides users with potential biological questions that can be answered by a particular database and step-by-step instructions, with figures, on how to obtain that data. Troubleshooting tips are also provided to aid users encountering problems that can be predicted when using these databases. Moreover, contact information for each database is provided in case unexpected issues arise.




Protein-Carbohydrate Interactions


Book Description

This volume is a wide-ranging tool for studying protein-carbohydrate interactions that extend from traditional biochemical methods to state-of-the-art techniques. This book focuses on four different research themes: Part I describes methods for screening and quantifying CAZyme activity; Part II contains methods for investigating the interactions between proteins and carbohydrate ligands; Part III discusses methods for the visualization of carbohydrates and protein-carbohydrate complexes; and Part IV focuses on structural and “omic” approaches for studying systems of CAZymes. Written in the highly successful Methods in Molecular Biology series format, chapters include introductions to their respective topics, lists of the necessary materials and reagents, step-by-step, readily reproducible laboratory protocols, and tips on troubleshooting and avoiding known pitfalls. Cutting-edge and thorough, Protein-Carbohydrate Interactions: Methods and Protocols is a valuable resource to the glycomics research community. In this continuously advancing field, the methods in this book highlight the biology of glycomics, thus driving biotechnological innovation and solutions for human health and sustainable resources within the emerging green community.




Carbohydrate Bioengineering


Book Description

Carbohydrate bioengineering is a rapidly expanding field with many applications in medicine and industry. Presenting state-of-the-art research, Carbohydrate Bioengineering: Interdisciplinary Approaches brings together international experts on many different aspects of this burgeoning topic. Coverage includes: the engineering of glycosidases for constructive purposes; structure-function studies and protein engineering of carbohydrate-active enzymes; chemo-enzymatic carbohydrate synthesis; and trends emerging from comprehensive work on genomes and glycomes. This timely publication will be welcomed by all those needing access to the latest research in the field, including practitioners in the medicinal, chemical, food and pharmaceutical areas.




The Exocrine Pancreas


Book Description

The secretions of the exocrine pancreas provide for digestion of a meal into components that are then available for processing and absorption by the intestinal epithelium. Without the exocrine pancreas, malabsorption and malnutrition result. This chapter describes the cellular participants responsible for the secretion of digestive enzymes and fluid that in combination provide a pancreatic secretion that accomplishes the digestive functions of the gland. Key cellular participants, the acinar cell and the duct cell, are responsible for digestive enzyme and fluid secretion, respectively, of the exocrine pancreas. This chapter describes the neurohumoral pathways that mediate the pancreatic response to a meal as well as details of the cellular mechanisms that are necessary for the organ responses, including protein synthesis and transport and ion transports, and the regulation of these responses by intracellular signaling systems. Examples of pancreatic diseases resulting from dysfunction in cellular mechanisms provide emphasis of the importance of the normal physiologic mechanisms.




Handbook of Industrial Biocatalysis


Book Description

Until now, no comprehensive handbook on industrial biocatalysis has been available. Soliciting chapters on virtually every aspect of biocatalysis from international experts most actively researching the field, the Handbook of Industrial Biocatalysis fills this need. The handbook is divided into three sections based on types of substrates. T




Industrial Applications of Glycoside Hydrolases


Book Description

This book gathers selected studies on the industrial applications of glycoside hydrolases (GHs), presenting an updated classification of these enzymes, and discussing their structure, mechanisms, and various approaches to improve their catalytic efficiency. Further, it explains the various industrial applications of glycoside hydrolases in food, effluent treatment, biofuel production, and the paper and pulp industries. Lastly, the book provides a comparative analysis of glycoside hydrolases and discusses the role of metagenomics in the discovery of industrially important enzymes. As such it is a thought-provoking, instructive and informative resource for biochemists, enzymologists, molecular biologists and bioprocess technologists.




Essentials of Glycobiology


Book Description

Sugar chains (glycans) are often attached to proteins and lipids and have multiple roles in the organization and function of all organisms. "Essentials of Glycobiology" describes their biogenesis and function and offers a useful gateway to the understanding of glycans.