Agarose Saccharification Using Beta-Agarooligosaccharide Hydrolase

Resolve Bottlenecks,
Find Innovative Solutions
Generate Solutions

Solution Overview

Problem

Current methods for producing 3,6-anhydro-L-galactose and D-galactose from agarose have low yields and are hindered by the inability to fully decompose agarotriose, a reaction residue, due to the lack of enzymes with hydrolytic activity for agarooligosaccharides.

Innovation Solution

A composition comprising a β-agarooligosaccharide hydrolase with specific hydrolytic activity for agarotriose, along with an agarase and α-neoagarobiose hydrolase, is used to effectively hydrolyze agarose and its derivatives, improving the yield of 3,6-anhydro-L-galactose and D-galactose.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Productivity

If conventional enzymatic treatment with agarase and α-neoagarobiose hydrolase is used, then partial saccharification of agarose occurs, but agarotriose remains as reaction residue and saccharification yield is limited to 50%

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvesaccharification yieldVSAvoidagarotriose residue
Core Design Contradiction:
ProductivityVSLoss of substance

Solution Approach 1:

The invention divides the enzymatic treatment into distinct functional components: agarase for initial depolymerization, β-agarooligosaccharide hydrolase for intermediate oligosaccharide hydrolysis, and α-neoagarobiose hydrolase for final monosaccharide production. This segmentation allows each enzyme to target specific substrates in the degradation pathway, eliminating the accumulation of agarotriose residue while maximizing saccharification yield to 70%.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #1Segmentation

2Ease of manufacture

If chemical pretreatment is applied to improve substrate reactivity, then enzyme accessibility increases, but excessive hydrolysis occurs and production yield decreases

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvesubstrate reactivityVSAvoidproduction yield
Core Design Contradiction:
Ease of manufactureVSProductivity

Solution Approach 1:

The invention replaces chemical pretreatment methods with a tailored enzymatic system that achieves substrate activation through biological catalysis. The combination of three specific enzymes works synergistically to hydrolyze agarose under milder conditions, improving substrate reactivity without causing excessive hydrolysis, thereby maintaining high production yield while avoiding the drawbacks of chemical methods.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #28Mechanics substitution (Replace mechanical system)

3Productivity

If β-galactosidase is used to decompose agarotriose, then theoretical complete hydrolysis is possible, but commercially available β-galactosidases show no hydrolytic activity for agarooligosaccharides

Engineering Contradiction:
Improveagarotriose decompositionVSAvoidenzyme activity
Core Design Contradiction:
ProductivityVSReliability

Solution Approach 1:

The invention introduces β-agarooligosaccharide hydrolase as an intermediary enzyme that bridges the gap between agarase and α-neoagarobiose hydrolase. This intermediary enzyme specifically targets agarooligosaccharides including agarotriose, converting them into neoagarobiose and other intermediates that can then be further hydrolyzed by α-neoagarobiose hydrolase to produce monosaccharides, thus achieving complete decomposition without relying on ineffective β-galactosidase.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #24Intermediary (Mediator)

Applied Scientific Principles

This section explains which scientific principles are used to turn an abstract innovation direction into a practical engineering solution.

Function Achieved in This Case

The use of β-agarooligosaccharide hydrolase significantly increases the saccharification yield of 3,6-anhydro-L-galactose and D-galactose from agarose, achieving a 70% saccharification rate compared to 20% with pretreatment alone and 50% with conventional enzymatic treatment.

Implementation Method 1

a β-agarooligosaccharide hydrolase having hydrolytic activity for agarotriose

Methodology Applied
Scientific EffectHydrolysis: Hydrolysis

Implementation Method 2

β-agarooligosaccharide hydrolase having hydrolytic activity for agarotriose

Methodology Applied
Scientific EffectEnzyme: Enzyme

Implementation Method 3

Agarose is depolymerized by an exo-type Aga50D enzyme into neoagarobiose and agarotriose

Methodology Applied
Scientific EffectHydrolysis: Hydrolysis

Implementation Method 4

exo-type Aga50D enzyme

Methodology Applied
Scientific EffectEnzyme: Enzyme

Implementation Method 5

the neoagarobiose is ultimately hydrolyzed into 3,6-anhydro-L-galactose and D-galactose by SdNABH, which is an α-neoagarobiose hydrolase

Methodology Applied
Scientific EffectHydrolysis: Hydrolysis

Implementation Method 6

α-neoagarobiose hydrolase

Methodology Applied
Scientific EffectEnzyme: Enzyme

Data Source

PatentEP3059309B1Agarooligosaccharide hydrolase and method for producing 3,6-anhydro-l-galactose and galactose from agarose by using same
Publication Date: 2018.05.16 KOREA UNIV RES & BUSINESS FOUND
  • EP3059309B1 patent drawingFigure 1~2
  • EP3059309B1 patent drawingFigure 3~4A
  • EP3059309B1 patent drawingFigure 4B~5A

AI summary

The present invention relates to agarooligosaccharide hydrolase and a method for producing 3,6-anhydro-L-galactose and galactose from agarose by using the same. More specifically, the production yield of 3,6-anhydro-L-galactose and galactose from agarose, that is, the saccharification yield, is improved by using β-agarooligosaccharide hydrolase having an agarotriose hydrolytic activity.