Yeast Cell Wall Beta-Glucan Solubility via Enzymatic Hydrolysis
Solution Overview
Problem
Intact β-glucans in yeast cell walls have limited bioavailability and health properties when digested in the gastrointestinal tract, leading to a need for increasing bioavailability while preserving immune system stimulation.
Innovation Solution
A process involving partial degradation of yeast cell wall β-glucans using a laminaripentaose-producing-β-1,3-glucanase to improve solubility in DMSO, increasing bioavailability and preserving health properties like immune system stimulation.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If yeast cell wall β-glucans are left intact, then immune system stimulation is preserved, but bioavailability is limited
Solution Approach 1:
The patent applies segmentation by partially degrading the β-glucan polymer chains into smaller oligosaccharide units (primarily laminaripentaose) through controlled enzymatic hydrolysis. This segmentation improves bioavailability by creating smaller, more absorbable units while preserving enough structural integrity to maintain immune-stimulating properties. The controlled partial degradation achieves both goals: enhanced absorption and retained biological activity.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent employs parameter changes by controlling the degree of hydrolysis through specific process parameters (enzyme concentration, incubation time, temperature, pH) to achieve optimal bioavailability while preserving immune-stimulating properties. By precisely adjusting these parameters, the process produces a specific profile of oligosaccharide products that balance solubility enhancement with maintenance of biological activity.
2Ease of operation
If β-glucans are partially degraded to improve solubility, then bioavailability increases, but complete degradation loses health properties
Solution Approach 1:
The patent applies partial action by using controlled enzymatic hydrolysis to achieve only the necessary degree of degradation for improved bioavailability, rather than complete degradation. The process stops at the optimal point where oligosaccharides are formed with enhanced solubility and bioavailability, but before complete breakdown into monomers occurs. This partial action preserves the health-stimulating properties while achieving the desired solubility improvement.
3Productivity
If yeast cell walls are treated with conventional enzymes, then complete breakdown occurs, but health properties are lost
Solution Approach 1:
The patent employs feedback control by monitoring the progression of enzymatic hydrolysis and stopping the reaction at the optimal point where health properties are preserved. The process uses feedback on product formation (laminaripentaose as major product) and substrate consumption to control the degree of degradation, preventing over-degradation that would destroy the health-stimulating properties while maintaining high productivity.
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 process enhances the bioavailability of β-glucans and maintains their health benefits, as evidenced by improved solubility ratios and immune responses in animals.
Implementation Method 1
contacting said composition with a laminaripentaose-producing-β-1,3-glucanase
Implementation Method 2
a laminaripentaose-producing-β-1,3-glucanase that liberates laminaripentaose as the major product from polysaccharides
Data Source
Figure 1~1B
Figure 2~3
Figure 4~5
AI summary
The present invention provides a process for the treatment of a composition comprising yeast cell walls comprising β-1,3-glucans which are insoluble when extracted with water and partially soluble when extracted with DMSO, the process comprising contacting said composition with laminaripentaose-producing-β-1,3-glucanase and inactivating the laminaripentaose-producing-β-1,3-glucanase to result in a composition comprising yeast cell walls wherein the β-1,3-glucans have an improved solubility in DMSO and the ratio of β-glucans soluble in DMSO compared to water is greater than or equal to 2.