Search research articles

ABOUT JoVE

Overview Leadership Blog JoVE Help Center

AUTHORS

Publishing Process Editorial Board Scope & Policies Peer Review FAQ Submit

LIBRARIANS

Testimonials Subscriptions Access Resources Library Advisory Board FAQ

RESEARCH

JoVE Journal Methods Collections JoVE Encyclopedia of Experiments Archive

EDUCATION

JoVE Core JoVE Business JoVE Science Education JoVE Lab Manual Faculty Resource Center Faculty Site

Terms & Conditions of Use

Related Concept Videos

You might also read

Related Articles

Articles linked to this work by shared authors, journal, and citation graph.

Sort by

Same author

Development and Physical Characterization of α-Glucan Nanoparticles.

Molecules (Basel, Switzerland)·2020

Same author

Inhibition of Erwinia amylovora by Bacillus nakamurai.

Current microbiology·2020

Same author

Valorization of egg shell as a detoxifying and buffering agent for efficient polymalic acid production by Aureobasidium pullulans NRRL Y-2311-1 from barley straw hydrolysate.

Bioresource technology·2019

Same author

Inhibition of <i>Streptococcus mutans</i> and <i>S. sobrinus</i> biofilms by liamocins from <i>Aureobasidium pullulans</i>.

Biotechnology reports (Amsterdam, Netherlands)·2019

Same author

Inhibition of Lactobacillus biofilm growth in fuel ethanol fermentations by Bacillus.

Bioresource technology·2018

Same author

Structural analysis of the α-d-glucan produced by the sourdough isolate Lactobacillus brevis E25.

Food chemistry·2017

Search research articles

Related Experiment Video

Updated: Jun 28, 2026

Preparation and Characterization of SDF-1α-Chitosan-Dextran Sulfate Nanoparticles

Preparation and Characterization of SDF-1α-Chitosan-Dextran Sulfate Nanoparticles

Published on: January 22, 2015

Modification of alternan by dextranase.

Timothy D Leathers¹, Melinda S Nunnally, Gregory L Côté

¹Bioproducts and Biocatalysis Research Unit, National Center for Agricultural Utilization Research, Agricultural Research Service, U.S. Department of Agriculture, 1815 North University Street, Peoria, IL 61604, USA. Tim.Leathers@ARS.USDA.GOV

Biotechnology Letters

|October 22, 2008

Summary

Penicillium sp. secretes dextranase to modify alternan, a glucan previously thought resistant to this enzyme. This bioconversion yields a gum arabic substitute with potential industrial applications.

More Related Videos

Dextran Enhances the Lentiviral Transduction Efficiency of Murine and Human Primary NK Cells

Dextran Enhances the Lentiviral Transduction Efficiency of Murine and Human Primary NK Cells

Published on: January 15, 2018

Antigens Protected Functional Red Blood Cells By The Membrane Grafting Of Compact Hyperbranched Polyglycerols

Antigens Protected Functional Red Blood Cells By The Membrane Grafting Of Compact Hyperbranched Polyglycerols

Published on: January 2, 2013

Related Experiment Videos

Last Updated: Jun 28, 2026

Preparation and Characterization of SDF-1α-Chitosan-Dextran Sulfate Nanoparticles

Preparation and Characterization of SDF-1α-Chitosan-Dextran Sulfate Nanoparticles

Published on: January 22, 2015

Dextran Enhances the Lentiviral Transduction Efficiency of Murine and Human Primary NK Cells

Dextran Enhances the Lentiviral Transduction Efficiency of Murine and Human Primary NK Cells

Published on: January 15, 2018

Antigens Protected Functional Red Blood Cells By The Membrane Grafting Of Compact Hyperbranched Polyglycerols

Antigens Protected Functional Red Blood Cells By The Membrane Grafting Of Compact Hyperbranched Polyglycerols

Published on: January 2, 2013

Area of Science:

Biochemistry
Food Science
Microbiology

Background:

Alternan, a glucan with alternating alpha-(1-->6) and alpha-(1-->3) linkages, is modified by Penicillium sp. into a lower molecular weight form.
This modified alternan exhibits solution viscosity similar to commercial gum arabic, suggesting its potential as a substitute.
The mechanism behind this bioconversion process was previously unknown.

Purpose of the Study:

To elucidate the mechanism by which Penicillium sp. modifies alternan.
To investigate the role of dextranase in alternan modification.
To explore the potential of using dextranase for producing alternan as a gum arabic substitute.

Main Methods:

Isolation of Penicillium sp. strains capable of alternan modification.
Analysis of enzymes secreted by Penicillium sp. during germination on alternan.
In vitro modification of alternan using commercial dextranases.
Characterization of bioconversion-modified and dextranase-modified alternan.

Main Results:

Penicillium sp. strains secrete dextranase during germination on alternan.
Alternan is modified in vitro by commercial dextranases, yielding a product identical to the bioconversion-modified alternan.
Native alternan, considered dextranase-resistant, appears to possess localized regions of alpha-(1-->6) linkages susceptible to dextranase action.

Conclusions:

Dextranase is responsible for the modification of alternan by Penicillium sp.
Alternan is not entirely resistant to dextranase, contrary to previous assumptions.
Dextranase treatment, especially with Generally Recognized As Safe (GRAS) enzymes, offers a practical method for producing modified alternan as a gum arabic substitute.