Amylomaltases in Extremophilic Microorganisms

• Published in: Biomolecules (Basel, Switzerland) Vol. 11; no. 9; p. 1335
• Main Authors: Leoni, Claudia, Gattulli, Bruno A R, Pesole, Graziano, Ceci, Luigi R, Volpicella, Mariateresa
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: Switzerland MDPI AG 09-09-2021; MDPI
• Subjects: 4-α-glucanotransferases; Amino Acid Sequence; amylomaltases; Archaea; Archaea - enzymology; Bacteria; Bacteria - enzymology; Biodegradation; Chromatography; Cyclodextrin; Enzymes; Extremophiles - enzymology; extremophilic microorganisms; Gelatin; Genes; Glucans; Glucose; Glycogen; Glycogen Debranching Enzyme System - chemistry; Glycogen Debranching Enzyme System - genetics; Glycogen Debranching Enzyme System - metabolism; High temperature; Hydrophobicity; Industrial applications; Iodine; Maltose; Microorganisms; Models, Molecular; Mutation - genetics; Prokaryotes; Review; Starch; starch modification; Bacteria; starch modification; extremophilic microorganisms; 4-α-glucanotransferases; amylomaltases; Archaea
• ISSN: 2218-273X; 2218-273X
• DOI: 10.3390/biom11091335

Amylomaltases (4-α-glucanotransferases, E.C. 2.4.1.25) are enzymes which can perform a double-step catalytic process, resulting in a transglycosylation reaction. They hydrolyse glucosidic bonds of α-1,4'-d-glucans and transfer the glucan portion with the newly available anomeric carbon to the 4'-position of an α-1,4'-d-glucan acceptor. The intramolecular reaction produces a cyclic α-1,4'-glucan. Amylomaltases can be found only in prokaryotes, where they are involved in glycogen degradation and maltose metabolism. These enzymes are being studied for possible biotechnological applications, such as the production of (i) sugar substitutes; (ii) cycloamyloses (molecules larger than cyclodextrins), which could potentially be useful as carriers and encapsulating agents for hydrophobic molecules and also as effective protein chaperons; and (iii) thermoreversible starch gels, which could be used as non-animal gelatin substitutes. Extremophilic prokaryotes have been investigated for the identification of amylomaltases to be used in the starch modifying processes, which require high temperatures or extreme conditions. The aim of this article is to present an updated overview of studies on amylomaltases from extremophilic
and
, including data about their distribution, activity, potential industrial application and structure.