Isolation, preparation and utilization of novel glycoside hydrolases

人们对使用低聚糖越来越感兴趣，低聚糖由不同糖分子的短链组成，如葡萄糖和甘露糖，用于各种目的，包括治疗。虽然它们的化学合成方法正在改进，但使用酶来实现这一目的具有显著的优势。一类被称为保留糖苷水解酶的酶通常会分解低聚糖，释放出组成糖。这种被称为糖合酶的酶的适当改变形式可以有效地用来形成而不是分解低聚糖。这个项目的重点是扩大可以用糖合酶合成的低聚糖的范围。新的和以前发现的具有新性质的糖苷水解酶将转化为糖合酶，并用于合成具有理想性质的特定寡糖。提高酶的效用和有效性的方法将被开发出来。

There is an increasing interest in using defined oligosaccharides, which comprise short chains of different sugar molecules such as glucose and mannose, for a variety of purposes, including therapeutics. Although chemical methods for their synthesis are being improved, the use of enzymes for this purpose offers significant advantages. A class of enzymes called retaining glycoside hydrolases normally break down oligosaccharides, releasing the component sugars. Appropriately altered forms of the enzymes, mutants called glycosynthases, can be used effectively to form rather than break down oligosaccharides. This project focuses on expanding the range of oligosaccharides that can be synthesized with glycosynthases. Both new and previously identified glycoside hydrolases with novel properties will be converted to glycosynthases and used to synthesize specific oligosccharides with desirable properties. Methods for enhancing the utility and effectiveness of the enzymes will be developed.