Alginates from Bacteria

Abstract

Introduction Historical Outline Chemical Structures Biosynthetic Pathway of the Alginate Precursor, GDP-Mannuronic Acid Genetics of Alginate Biosynthesis Regulation of Alginate Biosynthesis Environmentally Induced Activation of alg Genes Genotypic Switch Polymerization and Export of the Alginate Chain Alginate-Modifying Enzymes Mannuronan C-5-epimerases O-Transacetylases Alginate Lyases The Role of Alginate in Biofilm Formation The Applied Potential of Bacterial Alginates Acknowledgments Keywords: alginates; biosynthesis; genotypic switch; epimerases; transacetylases; alginate lyases; structure–function analysis