Publications by authors named "E Jurak"

Article Synopsis
  • Bifidobacteria produce complex exopolysaccharides (EPS) that have potential health benefits, but it's unclear how growth conditions, especially carbon sources, influence their structure.
  • Researchers studied the effects of two non-digestible carbohydrates, 2'-fucosyllactose (2'-FL) and galactooligosaccharides (GOS), on the growth of two Bifidobacteria species, B. adolescentis and B. infantis.
  • Results showed that B. adolescentis produced larger EPS molecules when exposed to GOS, while B. infantis thrived with 2'-FL and also created an additional polysaccharide with GOS, indicating the varied effects of different growth conditions on EPS production.
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The transition towards a sustainable society involves the utilization of lignocellulosic biomass as a renewable feedstock for materials, fuel, and base chemicals. Lignocellulose consists of cellulose, hemicellulose, and lignin, forming a complex, recalcitrant matrix where efficient enzymatic saccharification is pivotal for accessing its valuable components. This study investigated microbial communities from brackish Lauwersmeer Lake, in The Netherlands, as a potential source of xylan-degrading enzymes.

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Glycogen, an α-glucan polymer serving as an energy storage compound in microorganisms, is synthesized through distinct pathways (GlgC-GlgA or GlgE pathway). Both pathways involve multiple enzymes, with a shared glycogen branching enzyme (GBE). GBEs play a pivotal role in establishing α-1,6-linkages within the glycogen structure.

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Proteins featuring the Domain of Unknown Function 1735 are frequently found in Polysaccharide Utilization Loci, yet their role remains unknown. The domain and vicinity analyzer programs we developed mine the Kyoto Encyclopedia of Genes and Genomes and UniProt to enhance the functional prediction of DUF1735. Our datasets confirmed the exclusive presence of DUF1735 in Bacteroidota genomes, with Bacteroidetes thetaiotaomicron harboring 46 copies.

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