Feasibility of Enzyme Modification of Glycolipids (GLs)

GL compounds are widely found in nature. It is a nonionic biosurfactant with excellent surface properties. As an important kind of biosurfactant, GLs have been gradually commercialized. Research on the production and application of GLs is also gradually increasing. Since natural GLs are more expensive to produce and have a more homogeneous structure, their applications are limited. In the process of GL synthesis, a modification step can be added to change the structure and properties of GLs to expand their applications.

Currently, GLs obtained from microbial fermentation can be enzymatically modified. Enzymes can selectively modify specific parts of GLs, thus targeting the formation of new GL derivatives. When using enzymes to manufacture GLs, appropriate enzymes can be selected to change the nature of natural GLs in a targeted manner to synthesize new types of GLs. They also can be targeted to modify GL derivatives synthesized by microbial fermentation.

Fig.1 Enzyme-catalyzed transesterifications at the lipid tail. (Delbeke, et al., 2016)

Creating Quality Services

CD BioGlyco incorporates enzymatic modifications to the microbial fermentation process as a way to obtain novel GL derivatives. Our enzymatic modifications are mainly used for the synthesis of sophorolipids (SLs) and their derivatives. It has been shown that the novel SL derivatives generated by enzymatic modification exhibit some anti-HIV activity.

• SL enzyme modification service
  SL has a hydrophilic carbohydrate head, and enzymes can selectively acylate the hydroxyl groups in the head of SL. During the synthesis of SL, we added enzymes (e.g., lipase and esterase) to modify their heads, resulting in the synthesis of novel SL derivatives. By modeling the reactions, we screen for enzymes capable of regionally selective recognition and hydrolysis of SL. In addition to this, we screened for the optimal substrate during the reaction and the temperature at which the substrate conversion is highest. The enzymatic hydrolysis of SL eventually leads to the production of SL derivatives.
  SL has a hydrophobic lipid tail. We catalyze the ester exchange reaction of SL lipid tails by the enzyme to generate SL derivatives. Further enzyme-catalyzed hydrolysis of the lipid tails also generates other novel derivatives.

Fig.2 Generation of novel derivatives after enzymatic modification. (CD BioGlyco)

• Rhamnolipid (RL) and Sophorolipid (SL) production services
  GLs can be used not only in environmental protection but also have a wide range of applications in medicine and immunology. We offer RL and SL, both of which are manufactured by microbial fermentation process. All manufacturing processes are free of additional chemical additives or chemical reactions, making the production process green and environmentally friendly.

Applications

• GL enzymatic modification techniques are used to synthesize a variety of SLs, enabling researchers to study the bioactive strength of modified SL.
• In the field of medicine, modified GLs are used in medical research for antibacterial, anti-inflammatory, anti-tumor, and wound healing promotion.
• GL enzymatic modification technology has a wide range of applications in agricultural production. Researchers use this method to produce GL for agricultural use such as promoting crop growth and controlling plant diseases.

Highlights

• Enzymatic reaction conditions are mild and capable of selective modification of glycolipid structure. Fewer by-products are ultimately generated, which facilitates product isolation and purification.
• Our research team includes researchers in the fields of biology and chemistry. We improve the efficiency of enzymatic reactions by selecting enzymes and solvents, enhancing substrate solubility, and optimizing the reaction environment.
• Enzymes have great advantages in terms of stereoselectivity of modification as sites and efficient synthetic reaction conditions. The enzyme-modified GL technology helps researchers to synthesize GLs with specific structures.

CD BioGlyco is dedicated to the study of adding other modifications to the traditional fermentation process of GLs to obtain GL derivatives with specific functions. Currently, our enzyme modification studies are mainly done in the laboratory. We provide detailed modification strategies according to customers' needs. In addition to enzymatic modification, we also provide Chemical Post-Treatment-based Glycolipid Manufacture Service, Enzymatic Conversion-based Carbohydrate Derivative Manufacture Service, etc. If you need to complete experiments related to GL modification manufacturing, you can contact us. We have a complete experimental platform and an experienced research team.

• Bacterial Fermentation Process-based Glycolipid Manufacture Service
• Yeast Fermentation Process-based Glycolipid Manufacture Service
• Chemical Post-Treatment-based Glycolipid Manufacture Service