Study on Production of Levan by Bacteria Isolated From Soil

Abstract

Biopolymers also called as and#8213;sleeping giants of biotechnologyand#8214; newlineplay crucial role in various industrial sectors and are strong newlinecompetitor of petroleum based polymers. Hence the demand newlinefor biopolymers is increasing day by day. Unlike synthetic polymers, newlinebiopolymers are biocompatible, human compatible and newlinebiodegradable. Examples of biopolymer includes xanthan, pollulan, newlinegellan, dextran etc. The present study deals with biopolymer and#8213;levanand#8214; newlinewhose characteristics made it unique and preferential over others. newlineIt has furanose ring structure making a long chain. It is water and newlineoil soluble as well as alkali and heat stable. It exhibits good newlinerheological properties and better film formation capacity as newlinecompared to other polymers. Due to this uniqueness it can be newlinesuccessfully applied in different sectors of food, pharmaceutical, newlinechemical, packaging and cosmetic industries. Though it is a product newlineof high value; costly production process is major hurdle in making newlineit, to reach to hands of common. newlineIn food industry, levan can be used as emulsifier, thickener, newlinestabilizer, surface finishing agent, formulation aid, as well as newlinecarriers for colours and flavours; in pharmaceutical industry it is newlineused as encapsulating agent, blood plasma extender, anticholesterimic newlineagent, anti-diabetic, anti-lipidemic agent; in medicine newlineit is used as anti-cancer agent, as prebiotic, and for drug-delivery; newlinein chemical industry it is used as anti-oxidant, surfactant and for newlineseparation of proteins; in cosmetics it is used as carrier for newlinefragrances, gives subtle, sleek appearance to skin. newlineLevan is an extracellular polysaccharides secreted by bacterial newlinecells as a protective mechanism under stress condition. It is a newlinebiopolymer formed by and#946;-(2,6) linkage having and#946;-(1,2) linkages on its newlinebranch points and contains long chain of fructose units in its newlinechemical structure . It develops in the course of a transglycosylation newlinereaction with the participation of the levansucrase [EC newline2.4.1.10]. Levansucrase is grouped into glycoside hydrolase 68 newlinefamily due to its substrate spe