Extremophilic exopolysaccharides: A review and new perspectives on engineering strategies and applications

Jia Wang; David R Salem; Rajesh K Sani

doi:10.1016/j.carbpol.2018.10.011

Extremophilic exopolysaccharides: A review and new perspectives on engineering strategies and applications

Carbohydr Polym. 2019 Feb 1:205:8-26. doi: 10.1016/j.carbpol.2018.10.011. Epub 2018 Oct 9.

Authors

Jia Wang¹, David R Salem², Rajesh K Sani³

Affiliations

¹ Department of Chemical and Biological Engineering, South Dakota School of Mines and Technology, Rapid City, SD 57701, USA; BuG ReMeDEE consortium, South Dakota School of Mines and Technology, Rapid City, SD 57701, USA.
² Department of Chemical and Biological Engineering, South Dakota School of Mines and Technology, Rapid City, SD 57701, USA; Department of Materials and Metallurgical Engineering, South Dakota School of Mines and Technology, Rapid City, SD 57701, USA; Composite and Nanocomposite Advanced Manufacturing - Biomaterials Center (CNAM-Bio Center), Rapid City, SD 57701, USA. Electronic address: David.Salem@sdsmt.edu.
³ Department of Chemical and Biological Engineering, South Dakota School of Mines and Technology, Rapid City, SD 57701, USA; Composite and Nanocomposite Advanced Manufacturing - Biomaterials Center (CNAM-Bio Center), Rapid City, SD 57701, USA; BuG ReMeDEE consortium, South Dakota School of Mines and Technology, Rapid City, SD 57701, USA. Electronic address: Rajesh.Sani@sdsmt.edu.

PMID: 30446151
DOI: 10.1016/j.carbpol.2018.10.011

Abstract

Numerous microorganisms inhabiting harsh niches produce exopolysaccharides as a significant strategy to survive in extreme conditions. The exopolysaccharides synthesized by extremophiles possess distinctive characteristics due to the varied harsh environments which stimulate the microorganisms to produce these biopolymers. Despite many bioprocesses have been designed to yield exopolysaccharides, the production of exopolysaccharides by extremophiles is inefficient compared with mesophilic and neutrophilic exopolysaccharide producers. Meanwhile, the industrial development of novel extremophilic exopolysaccharides remains constrained due to the lack of exploration. In this review, we summarize the structure and properties of various exopolysaccharides produced by extremophiles, and also discuss potential metabolic and genetic engineering strategies for enhanced yield and modified structure of extremophilic exopolysaccharides. Special focus is given to the applications of extremophilic exopolysaccharides in the areas of biomedicine, food industry, and biomaterials via nano-techniques, casting and electrospinning.

Keywords: Exopolysaccharide; Exopolysaccharide application; Exopolysaccharide biosynthesis; Exopolysaccharide property; Extremophile.

Publication types

Review