[Strategy of obtaining microbial exopolysaccharides possessing stable preset properties]

Basing on the development of approaches to the controlled regulation of synthesis of the complex polysaccharide preparation ethapolan (producer Acinetobacter sp.) the strategy of obtaining microbial exopolysaccharides (EPS) with stable composition and properties was determined. The strategy is based on the following principles of regulation of composition, physico-chemical properties and synthesis intensification of EPS: 1) to find out EPS functional groups determining their physico-chemical properties and factor providing synthesis of EPS with certain functional groups; 2) to study changes of EPS composition and properties during producer cultivation and to determine growth phase in which the synthesis of EPS possessing necessary properties occurs; 3) to investigate interrelation between EPS physico-chemical properties and their protective functions and to determine cultivation conditions necessary for development of EPS protective functions; 4) analysis of metabolic pathways of EPS synthesis, elucidation of "bottlenecks" in producer's metabolism and search for ways toward their elimination.