Publications by authors named "Christina Vafiadi"

The glycemic carbohydrates we consume are currently viewed in an unfavorable light in both the consumer and medical research worlds. In significant part, these carbohydrates, mainly starch and sucrose, are looked upon negatively due to their rapid and abrupt glucose delivery to the body which causes a high glycemic response. However, dietary carbohydrates which are digested and release glucose in a slow manner are recognized as providing health benefits.

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Within the brewing industry, malted barley is being increasingly replaced by raw barley supplemented with exogenous enzymes to lessen reliance on the time-consuming, high water and energy cost of malting. Regardless of the initial grain of choice, malted or raw, the resultant bulk spent grains are rich in proteins (up to 25% dry weight). Efficient enzymatic solubilization of these proteins requires knowledge of the protein composition within the spent grains.

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The Glycoside hydrolase (GH) family 70 originally was established for glucansucrases of lactic acid bacteria (LAB) converting sucrose into α-glucan polymers. In recent years we have identified 3 subfamilies of GH70 enzymes (designated GtfB, GtfC and GtfD) as 4,6-α-glucanotransferases, cleaving (α1 → 4)-linkages in maltodextrins/starch and synthesizing new (α1 → 6)-linkages. In this work, 106 putative GtfBs were identified in the Nestlé Culture Collection genome database with ~2700 genomes, and the L.

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Previously we have reported that the Gram-negative bacterium Azotobacter chroococcum NCIMB 8003 uses the 4,6-α-glucanotransferase GtfD to convert maltodextrins and starch into a reuteran-like polymer consisting of (α1→4) glucan chains connected by alternating (α1→4)/(α1→6) linkages and (α1→4,6) branching points. This enzyme constituted the single evidence for this reaction and product specificity in the GH70 family, mostly containing glucansucrases encoded by lactic acid bacteria (http://www.CAZy.

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Lactic acid bacteria possess a diversity of glucansucrase (GS) enzymes that belong to glycoside hydrolase family 70 (GH70) and convert sucrose into α-glucan polysaccharides with (α1 → 2)-, (α1 → 3)-, (α1 → 4)- and/or (α1 → 6)-glycosidic bonds. In recent years 3 novel subfamilies of GH70 enzymes, inactive on sucrose but using maltodextrins/starch as substrates, have been established (e.g.

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Background: Originally the glycoside hydrolase (GH) family 70 only comprised glucansucrases of lactic acid bacteria which synthesize α-glucan polymers from sucrose. Recently we have identified 2 novel subfamilies of GH70 enzymes represented by the Lactobacillus reuteri 121 GtfB and the Exiguobacterium sibiricum 255-15 GtfC enzymes. Both enzymes catalyze the cleavage of (α1→4) linkages in maltodextrin/starch and the synthesis of consecutive (α1→6) linkages.

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A glucuronyl esterase (GE) from the thermophilic fungus Sporotrichum thermophile, belonging to the carbohydrate esterase family 15 (CE-15), was functionally expressed in the methylotrophic yeast Pichia pastoris. The putative GE gene ge2 from the genomic DNA was successfully cloned in frame with the sequence for the Saccharomyces cerevisiae alpha-factor secretion signal under the transcriptional control of the alcohol oxidase (AOX1) promoter and integrated in P. pastoris X-33 to confirm that the encoded enzyme StGE2 exhibits esterase activity.

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Three acetyl esterases (AcEs) from the saprophytic bacteria Cellvibrio japonicus and Clostridium thermocellum, members of the carbohydrate esterase (CE) family 2, were tested for their activity against a series of model substrates including partially acetylated gluco-, manno- and xylopyranosides. All three enzymes showed a strong preference for deacetylation of the 6-position in aldohexoses. This regioselectivity is different from that of typical acetylxylan esterases (AcXEs).

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The cellulolytic system of the thermophilic fungus Sporotrichum thermophile contains a recently discovered esterase that may hydrolyze the ester linkage between the 4-O-methyl-D-glucuronic acid of glucuronoxylan and lignin alcohols. The glucuronoyl esterase named StGE1 was purified to homogeneity with a molecular mass of M(r) 58 kDa and pI 6.7.

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The ability of a feruloyl esterase (AnFaeA), either in free or immobilised (cross-linked enzyme aggregates) form, to catalyse the esterification of glycerol, a major by-product of the biodiesel industry, with sinapic acid was studied in four hexafluorophosphate anion-containing ionic liquids: ([Bmim][PF(6)], [Omim][PF(6)], [C(2)OHmim][PF(6)] and [C(5)O(2)mim][PF(6)]). Such ionic liquids are considered 'green' reaction systems. The synthetic reaction was optimised in [C(2)OHmim][PF(6)] and the highest conversion yield was 72.

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The potential of the Aspergillus niger type A feruloyl esterase (AnFaeA) for the synthesis of various phenolic acid esters was examined using a ternary-organic reaction system consisting of a mixture of n-hexane, 1- or 2-butanol and water. Reaction parameters including the type of methyl hydroxycinnamate, the composition of the reaction media, the temperature, and the substrate concentration were investigated to evaluate their effect on initial rate and conversion to butyl esters of sinapic acids. Optimisation of the reaction parameters lead to 78% and 9% yield for the synthesis of 1-butyl and 2-butyl sinapate, respectively.

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The chemoenzymatic synthesis of feruloylated arabino-oligosaccharides has been achieved, using a feruloyl esterase type C from Sporotrichum thermophile (StFaeC). The structure of the feruloylated products was confirmed by ESI-MS(n).

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The feruloyl esterase (StFaeC) produced by Sporotrichum thermophile transfered the feruloyl group to D: -arabinose using a mixture of n-hexane, t-butanol and water. About 45% conversion of D: -arabinose to the feruloylated derivative was achieved. The compound had an MIC value against Mycobacterium bovis BCG of 25 microg/ml.

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4-Nitrophenyl glycosides of 2-, 3-, and 5-O-(E)-feruloyl- and 2- and 5-O-acetyl-alpha-L-arabinofuranosides and of 2-, 3-, and 4-O-(E)-feruloyl- and 2-, 3- and 4-O-acetyl-beta-D-xylopyranosides, compounds mimicking natural substrates, were used to investigate substrate and positional specificity of type-A, -B, and -C feruloyl esterases. All the feruloyl esterases behave as true feruloyl esterases showing negligible activity on sugar acetates. Type-A enzymes, represented by AnFaeA from Aspergillus niger and FoFaeII from Fusarium oxysporum, are specialized for deferuloylation of primary hydroxyl groups, with a very strong preference for hydrolyzing 5-O-feruloyl-alpha-L-arabinofuranoside.

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The regioselective chemoenzymatic synthesis of O-[5-O-(trans-feruloyl)-alpha-L-arabinofuranosyl]-(1-->5)-L-arabinofuranose has been achieved. The reaction parameters affecting the feruloylation rate and conversion of the enzymatic synthesis, such as the composition of the reaction medium, substrate and enzyme concentration, have been investigated.

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The active site of the recombinant Talaromyces stipitatus type-C feruloyl esterase (TsFaeC) was probed using a series of C1-C4 alkyl ferulates and methyl esters of phenylalkanoic and cinnamic acids. The enzyme was active on 23 of the 34 substrates tested. Lengthening or shortening the aliphatic side chain while maintaining the same aromatic substitutions completely abolished the enzyme activity.

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