Polysaccharides from Africa: An Attractive Future for Biotechnology and Bioprocess Fields

A special issue of Applied Sciences (ISSN 2076-3417). This special issue belongs to the section "Applied Biosciences and Bioengineering".

Deadline for manuscript submissions: closed (30 April 2022) | Viewed by 11262

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Institut Pascal UMR CNRS 6602 Axe GePEB, Team 4Bio, Université Clermont Auvergne, 63170 Aubière, France
Interests: polysaccharides from bacteria; algae and terrestrial plants; bioprocess; enzymes; chromatography
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Special Issue Information

Dear Colleagues,

Polysaccharides are highly variable and complex biomolecules whose inventory of structures is still very incomplete, since Nature still preserves unexplored biotopes. Plants, macro-, and microalgae are an integral part of the daily life of human beings regardless of culture, time, or knowledge development of a country. Widely distributed throughout the world, natural medicine is an ancestral knowledge handed down for centuries from generation to generation by those commonly referred to as “nganga” healers, shamans, or traditional healers. Also called alternative medicine, traditional medicine or complementary medicine remains associated for millennia to myths, legends, rituals, and beliefs. This Special Issue places an emphasis regarding ethnobotanic approach associated to the structural variability of poly- and oligosaccharides, with the purpose to design the new polysaccharide-based drugs and hydrocolloids of tomorrow. Overall, the philosophy is to explore the potential of plants, macro-, and microalgae from Africa as a source of polysaccharides with original structures and, secondly, to correlate these structures with biological activities and technofunctional properties, in particular to address Biotechnology and Bioprocess fields. Making your own oligo- and/or polymers (e.g., glycosaminoglycan mimetics) via enzymatic and/or chemical approaches is included in the topics. This thematic Special Issue will also be associated to the incoming POLYSAC 2021 conference, which will be held in Tunisia, within the framework of the PHC MAGHREB Hubert Curien Project (PHC) EXPLORE 2019–2021, funded by Campus France (41423UC).

Assoc. Prof. Guillaume Pierre
Assoc. Prof.  Cédric DELATTRE
Guest Editors

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Keywords

  • polysaccharides
  • Africa
  • microalgae
  • macroalgae
  • plants
  • biological activities
  • rheological behavior
  • ethnobotany
  • oligosaccharides

Published Papers (5 papers)

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Research

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18 pages, 2973 KiB  
Article
Structural Characterization and Cardioprotective Effect of Water-Soluble Polysaccharides Extracted from Clematis flammula
by Intissar Baaziz, Lakhdar Ghazouani, Ilhem Rjeibi, Anouar Feriani, Kais Mnafgui, Afoua Mufti, Mounir Traikia, Didier Le Cerf, Philippe Michaud, Guillaume Pierre and Slim Cherif
Appl. Sci. 2022, 12(21), 10818; https://doi.org/10.3390/app122110818 - 25 Oct 2022
Cited by 1 | Viewed by 1280
Abstract
Clematis flammula is widely used for its pharmacological properties in Tunisia. This work aimed to explore, in a rat model, the cardiopreventive capacity of polysaccharides extracted from C. flammula (CFPS) after a myocardial injury caused by isoproterenol. Structural analyses suggested that the average [...] Read more.
Clematis flammula is widely used for its pharmacological properties in Tunisia. This work aimed to explore, in a rat model, the cardiopreventive capacity of polysaccharides extracted from C. flammula (CFPS) after a myocardial injury caused by isoproterenol. Structural analyses suggested that the average molecular weight of CFPS was 1.82 × 105 g/mol, being mainly composed of glucuronide (41.53%), galacturonic acid (19.06%), arabinose (16.10%), galactose (6.15%), glucose (5.49%), and rhamnose (3.55%). Fourier transform–infrared spectroscopy and nuclear magnetic resonance spectroscopy experiments showed that CFPS was rich with carbohydrates containing pectic materials with glycosidic bonds. In addition, results show that pretreatment with CFPS (150 mg/kg) could improve the electrocardiogram pattern by decreasing the elevated ST segment and ameliorating the relative heart weights and the biochemical profile content (creatine phosphokinase-MB, lactate dehydrogenase, and cardiac troponin I). Furthermore, pretreatment with CFPS reduced the amount of malondialdehyde and restored the genotoxicity induced by isoproterenol. The histopathological study revealed that CFPS pretreatment diminished the level of cardiac tissue injury. Based on these data, CFPS presents a broad biological effect as a cardioprotective and can be used for the exploration of novel natural products for the treatment of cardiac disease. Full article
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20 pages, 1857 KiB  
Article
Polysaccharides from Moroccan Green and Brown Seaweed and Their Derivatives Stimulate Natural Defenses in Olive Tree Leaves
by Meriem Aitouguinane, Zainab El Alaoui-Talibi, Halima Rchid, Imen Fendri, Slim Abdelkafi, Mohamed Didi Ould El-Hadj, Zakaria Boual, Pascal Dubessay, Philippe Michaud, Mounir Traïkia, Guillaume Pierre, Cherkaoui El Modafar and Cédric Delattre
Appl. Sci. 2022, 12(17), 8842; https://doi.org/10.3390/app12178842 - 02 Sep 2022
Cited by 8 | Viewed by 1682
Abstract
This study aims to assess for the first time the ability of marine polysaccharides and their derivatives to stimulate natural defenses in olive tree leaves. Alginates, ALSM, and ALCM were isolated from the brown algae Sargassum muticum and Cystoseira myriophylloides, respectively. The [...] Read more.
This study aims to assess for the first time the ability of marine polysaccharides and their derivatives to stimulate natural defenses in olive tree leaves. Alginates, ALSM, and ALCM were isolated from the brown algae Sargassum muticum and Cystoseira myriophylloides, respectively. The OASM and OACM fractions were obtained after radical depolymerization of ALSM and ALCM, respectively. Three sulfated polysaccharides, arabinogalactans (AGB and AGP) and fucoidans (FUCCM) were extracted from the green alga Codium decorticatum and the brown seaweed C. myriophylloides, respectively. The extraction yield of different extracts was in the range of 0.82–32% and the average molecular weight (Mw) varied from 3000 Da to 2173 kDa. The M/G ratios of ALSM and ALCM were 0.87 and 1.12, respectively. FUCCM contained 53% of fucose and 12.83% of sulfates. The AGB and AGP fractions were characterized by the presence of a high degree of sulfation and protein (12–23% (w/w)) and were composed mainly of galactose, glucose, and arabinose. The aqueous saccharide solutions were applied to the leaf discs of the olive tree at 0.5 g/L, 1 g/L, and 2 g/L, for 24 h. These molecules triggered defense responses, by showing a differential capacity to induce the activity of the phenylalanine and tyrosine ammonia-lyase (TAL and PAL), polyphenols, and lignin contents in the leaves of the olive tree. Alginates and their derivatives as well as arabinogalactans exhibited an important induction of TAL activity compared to the PAL. The sulfated polysaccharides were more effective compared to the unsulfated polysaccharides (alginates) which were active at a low concentration. The optimum concentration for most of the studied elicitors was 2 g/L. These results suggest the valorization of these molecules derived from marine biomass as inducers of natural defenses of the olive tree to protect against phytopathogens in the context of sustainable development. Full article
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19 pages, 3800 KiB  
Article
A Novel Sulfated Glycoprotein Elicitor Extracted from the Moroccan Green Seaweed Codium decorticatum Induces Natural Defenses in Tomato
by Meriem Aitouguinane, Zainab El Alaoui-Talibi, Halima Rchid, Imen Fendri, Slim Abdelkafi, Mohamed Didi Ould El-Hadj, Zakaria Boual, Pascal Dubessay, Philippe Michaud, Didier Le Cerf, Christophe Rihouey, Guillaume Pierre, Cédric Delattre and Cherkaoui El Modafar
Appl. Sci. 2022, 12(7), 3643; https://doi.org/10.3390/app12073643 - 04 Apr 2022
Cited by 9 | Viewed by 2082
Abstract
Sulfated glycoproteins extracted for the first time from the Moroccan green seaweed Codium decorticatum were investigated for their ability to induce a natural defense metabolism in the roots and the upper leaves of tomato seedlings. The crude (AGB) and the purified fractions (AGP) [...] Read more.
Sulfated glycoproteins extracted for the first time from the Moroccan green seaweed Codium decorticatum were investigated for their ability to induce a natural defense metabolism in the roots and the upper leaves of tomato seedlings. The crude (AGB) and the purified fractions (AGP) were characterized chemically (Colorimetric assays) and structurally (SEC-MALS, GC-EI/MS, ATR-FTIR). The elicitor aqueous solutions (1 g/L) were applied by foliar spray and syringe infiltration into the internodal middle of 45-day-old tomato seedlings. Phenylalanine ammonia-lyase (PAL) activity, polyphenols, and lignin contents were measured in the roots and the leaves after 0 h, 12, 24, 48, and 72 h of treatment. The AGB and AGP extracts contained 37.67% and 48.38% of the total carbohydrates, respectively, and were mainly composed of galactose, glucose, arabinose, and a minor amount of xylose and rhamnose. They were characterized by an important molecular weight (Mw) > of 2000 × 103 g·mol−1 and a high degree of sulfation and protein (12–23% (w/w)), indicating that the extracted polysaccharides could be an arabinogalactan-rich protein present in the cell wall of the green seaweed C. decorticatum. Both crude and purified fractions exhibited an elicitor effect by inducing the PAL activity, the accumulation of phenolic compounds and lignin contents in the roots and the leaves of tomato seedlings. These responses were systemic in both the methods used (injection and foliar spray) and were mobilized throughout tissues that are not directly treated (roots and/or leaves). Regarding the elicitor activities, AGB and AGP presented globally similar patterns, which revealed the importance of crude extracts in the stimulation of plant immunity. These results suggest the new application of sulfated glycoprotein isolated from green seaweed in agriculture as inducers of natural defenses of plants. Full article
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18 pages, 3156 KiB  
Article
Expression, Characterization and Structure Analysis of a New GH26 Endo-β-1, 4-Mannanase (Man26E) from Enterobacter aerogenes B19
by Huijing Liu, Jie Liu and Tangbing Cui
Appl. Sci. 2020, 10(21), 7584; https://doi.org/10.3390/app10217584 - 28 Oct 2020
Cited by 2 | Viewed by 2070
Abstract
β-mannanase is one of the key enzymes to hydrolyze hemicellulose. At present, most β-mannanases are not widely applied because of their low enzyme activity and unsuitable enzymatic properties. In this work, a new β-mannanase from Enterobacter aerogenes was studied, which laid the foundation [...] Read more.
β-mannanase is one of the key enzymes to hydrolyze hemicellulose. At present, most β-mannanases are not widely applied because of their low enzyme activity and unsuitable enzymatic properties. In this work, a new β-mannanase from Enterobacter aerogenes was studied, which laid the foundation for its further application. Additionally, we will further perform directed evolution of the enzyme to increase its activity, improve its temperature and pH properties to allow it more applications in industry. A new β-mannanase (Man26E) from Enterobacter aerogenes was successfully expressed in Escherichia coli. Man26E showed about 40 kDa on SDS-PAGE gel. The SWISS-MODEL program was used to model the tertiary structure of Man26E, which presented a core (α/β)8-barrel catalytic module. Based on the binding pattern of CjMan26 C, Man26E docking Gal1Man4 was investigated. The catalytic region consisted of a surface containing four solvent-exposed aromatic rings, many hydrophilic and charged residues. Man26E displayed the highest activity at pH 6.0 and 55 °C, and high acid and alkali stability in a wide pH range (pH 4–10) and thermostability from 40 to 50 °C. The enzyme showed the highest activity on locust bean gum, and the Km and Vmax were 7.16 mg mL−1 and 508 U mg−1, respectively. This is the second β-mannanase reported from Enterobacter aerogenes B19. The β-mannanase displayed high enzyme activity, a relatively high catalytic temperature and a broad range of catalytic pH values. The enzyme catalyzed both polysaccharides and manno-oligosaccharides. Full article
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Review

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29 pages, 2560 KiB  
Review
Polysaccharides and Derivatives from Africa to Address and Advance Sustainable Development and Economic Growth in the Next Decade
by Antony Sarraf, Emeline Verton, Noura Addoun, Zakaria Boual, Mohamed Didi Ould El Hadj, Zainab El Alaoui-Talibi, Cherkaoui El Modafar, Slim Abdelkafi, Imen Fendri, Cédric Delattre, Pascal Dubessay, Philippe Michaud and Guillaume Pierre
Appl. Sci. 2021, 11(11), 5243; https://doi.org/10.3390/app11115243 - 04 Jun 2021
Cited by 3 | Viewed by 3368
Abstract
Polysaccharides are highly variable and complex biomolecules whose inventory of structures is still very incomplete, as nature still preserves unexplored biotopes. Plants, macroalgae and microalgae are an integral part of the daily life of human being regardless of culture, time, or knowledge development [...] Read more.
Polysaccharides are highly variable and complex biomolecules whose inventory of structures is still very incomplete, as nature still preserves unexplored biotopes. Plants, macroalgae and microalgae are an integral part of the daily life of human being regardless of culture, time, or knowledge development of a country. Natural medicine is an ancestral knowledge widely distributed throughout the world, handed down for centuries from generation to generation by those commonly referred to as “nganga” healers or shamans. It is also called alternative medicine or traditional medicine, and has been associated for millennia to legends. This review gives an emphasis regarding the ethnobotanic approach associated to the structural variability of poly- and oligosaccharides for designing the new polysaccharide-based drugs and hydrocolloids of tomorrow. The guiding thread is to survey the potential of plants (and some macroalgae) from Africa as a source of polysaccharides with original structures and, secondly, to correlate these structures with biological and/or functional properties in particular to address and advance the sustainable development and economic growth of mankind. Full article
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