L-Arabinose

Thermal adaptation of Lactiplantibacillus plantarum by laboratory evolution does not enhance tagatose biosynthesis.[Pubmed:42799668]

Lett Appl Microbiol. 2026 Sep 26:ovag084.

D-Tagatose is recognized as a promising sugar alternative, but its biosynthesis is limited by poor thermodynamics of isomerization from D-galactose. Higher reaction temperatures favor tagatose production, but microbial whole cell conversion is limited by viability of cells at elevated temperatures. This work attempts to address this by engineering Lactiplantibacillus plantarum for growth at elevated temperatures towards development of a high-temperature galactose to tagatose isomerization biocatalytic system. Using adaptive laboratory evolution (ALE), a strain capable of growth at 43 degrees C was isolated over 85 passages of increasing thermal stress. The adaptation required using a cycling approach, where cultures were cultured at permissive (37 degrees C) between growth at elevated temperatures. At passage #85, the cells were able to grow at 43 degrees C over multiple passages, indicating complete adaptation. They were also able to grow well at 37 degrees C. Unfortunately, galactose to tagatose conversion reaction at 37, 50, and 60 degrees C using an L-Arabinose isomerase transformed strain revealed no benefit of using the evolved strain over the parental strain. Nevertheless, the ALE protocol and isolated strain may be of benefit for other applications.

Advances in the Production of D-Tagatose Using L-Arabinose Isomerase.[Pubmed:42795665]

Microorganisms. 2026 Sep 17;14(9):2085.

D-tagatose is a rare sugar that occurs naturally and combines high sweetness with a low caloric value. It has several beneficial effects, including anticariogenic activity, modulation of the intestinal microbiota, and potential benefits for diabetes management. It is used as a novel sweetener and pharmaceutical excipient in the food and pharmaceutical industries. Currently, D-tagatose is produced mainly through chemical synthesis and biocatalysis. The chemical preparation of D-tagatose requires complex product purification and entails high waste-treatment costs, while biological preparation of D-tagatose offers high catalytic efficiency, mild reaction conditions, and fewer by-products. Therefore, in recent years, the biocatalytic conversion of D-galactose into D-tagatose using L-Arabinose isomerase (L-AI) has attracted considerable attention, prompting extensive efforts to develop more economical and environmentally friendly production methods. To date, L-AI from various microbial sources has been identified and characterized, and researchers have engineered L-AI into a more effective biocatalyst through mutagenesis to improve process feasibility. This paper comprehensively reviews the current status and the latest advancements in the synthesis of D-tagatose from the perspective of biocatalysis.

L-Arabinose (CAS 5328-37-0) is a natural product offered by BioCrick for research applications. Customers can buy or order L-Arabinose from BioCrick, a supplier and manufacturer of research chemicals, with product specifications, purity, packaging, and pricing information available upon request.