Deutsch Intern
Institute of Organic Chemistry

A sugar manufacturer from the laboratory

03/31/2011

The group of Jürgen Seibel and researchers from Brunswick have discovered how a particular enzyme synthesizes natural large sugar molecules. With this knowledge, they can now produce tailor-made sugars, which are known as prebiotics.

The levansucrase synthesizes the polysaccharide levan from fructosyl units. Shown are the amino acids participating in the synthesis and their functions. (grafics: Seibel group)
The levansucrase synthesizes the polysaccharide levan from fructosyl units. Shown are the amino acids participating in the synthesis and their functions. (grafics: Seibel group)

 

The results are published in the Journal of Biological Chemistry.

 

“Polysaccharide synthesis of the levansucrase SACB from Bacillus Megaterium is controlled by distinct surface motifs”,  Christian P. Strube, Arne Homann, Martin Gamer, Dieter Jahn, Juergen Seibel and Dirk W. Heinz. J. Biol. Chem. jbc.M110.203166. First Published on March 25, 2011, doi:10.1074/jbc.M110.203166

Contact: Prof. Dr. Jürgen Seibel, T: +49 (0)931 31- 85326, E-Mail: seibel@chemie.uni-wuerzburg.de

Link: Prof. Dr. J. Seibelwww-organik.chemie.uni-wuerzburg.de/lehrstuehlearbeitskreise/seibel/

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