Analysis of Structural and Functional Differences of Glucans Produced by the Natively Released Dextransucrase of Liquorilactobacillus hordei TMW 1.1822

The properties of the glucopolymer dextran are versatile and linked to its molecular size, structure, branching, and secondary structure. However, suited strategies to control and exploit the variable structures of dextrans are scarce. The aim of this study was to delineate structural and functional differences of dextrans, which were produced in buffers at different conditions using the native dextransucrase released by Liquorilactobacillus (L.) hordei TMW 1.1822. Rheological measurements revealed that dextran produced at pH 4.0 (MW = 1.1 * 10$^{8}$ Da) exhibited the properties of a viscoelastic fluid up to concentrations of 10% (w/v). By contrast, dextran produced at pH 5.5 (MW = 1.86 * 10$^{8}$ Da) was gel-forming already at 7.5% (w/v). As both dextrans exhibited comparable molecular structures, the molecular weight primarily influenced their rheological properties. The addition of maltose to the production assays caused the formation of the trisaccharide panose instead of dextran. Moreover, pre-cultures of L. hordei TMW 1.1822 grown without sucrose were substantial for recovery of higher dextran yields, since the cells stored the constitutively expressed dextransucrase intracellularly, until sucrose became available. These findings can be exploited for the controlled recovery of functionally diverse dextrans and oligosaccharides by the use of one dextransucrase type

Size-Dependent Variability in Flow and Viscoelastic Behavior of Levan Produced by Gluconobacter albidus TMW 2.1191

Levan is a fructan-type exopolysaccharide which is produced by many microbes from sucrose via extracellular levansucrases. The hydrocolloid properties of levan depend on its molecular weight, while it is unknown why and to what extent levan is functionally diverse depending on ist size. The aim of our study was to gain deeper insight into the size-dependent functional variability of levan. For this purpose, levans of different sizes were produced using the water kefir isolate Gluconobacter albidus TMW 2.1191 and subsequently rheologically characterized. Three levan types could be identified, which are similarly branched, but differ significantly in their molecular size and rheological properties. The smallest levan (10$^{8}$ Da) produced at pH ≥ 4.5 were shear-thinning, and the levan produced at pH 5.0 showed a gel-like behavior at 5% (w/v). A third (intermediate) levan variant was obtained through production in buffers at pH 4.0 and exhibited the properties of a viscoelastic fluid up to concentrations of 15% (w/v). Our study reveals that the rheological properties of levan are determined by its size and polydispersity, rather than by the amount of levan used or the structural composition

The influence of bright and dim light on substrate metabolism, energy expenditure and thermoregulation in insulin-resistant individuals depends on time of day

AIMS/HYPOTHESIS: In our modern society, artificial light is available around the clock and most people expose themselves to electrical light and light-emissive screens during the dark period of the natural light/dark cycle. Such suboptimal lighting conditions have been associated with adverse metabolic effects, and redesigning indoor lighting conditions to mimic the natural light/dark cycle more closely holds promise to improve metabolic health. Our objective was to compare metabolic responses to lighting conditions that resemble the natural light/dark cycle in contrast to suboptimal lighting in individuals at risk of developing metabolic diseases. METHODS: Therefore, we here performed a non-blinded, randomised, controlled, crossover trial in which overweight insulin-resistant volunteers (n = 14) were exposed to two 40 h laboratory sessions with different 24 h lighting protocols while staying in a metabolic chamber under real-life conditions. In the Bright day–Dim evening condition, volunteers were exposed to electric bright light (~1250 lx) during the daytime (08:00–18:00 h) and to dim light (~5 lx) during the evening (18:00–23:00 h). Vice versa, in the Dim day–Bright evening condition, volunteers were exposed to dim light during the daytime and bright light during the evening. Randomisation and allocation to light conditions were carried out by sequential numbering. During both lighting protocols, we performed 24 h indirect calorimetry, and continuous core body and skin temperature measurements, and took frequent blood samples. The primary outcome was plasma glucose focusing on the pre- and postprandial periods of the intervention. RESULTS: Spending the day in bright light resulted in a greater increase in postprandial triacylglycerol levels following breakfast, but lower glucose levels preceding the dinner meal at 18:00 h, compared with dim light (5.0 ± 0.2 vs 5.2 ± 0.2 mmol/l, n = 13, p=0.02). Dim day–Bright evening reduced the increase in postprandial glucose after dinner compared with Bright day–Dim evening (incremental AUC: 307 ± 55 vs 394 ± 66 mmol/l × min, n = 13, p=0.009). After the Bright day–Dim evening condition the sleeping metabolic rate was identical compared with the baseline night, whereas it dropped after Dim day–Bright evening. Melatonin secretion in the evening was strongly suppressed for Dim day–Bright evening but not for Bright day–Dim evening. Distal skin temperature for Bright day–Dim evening was lower at 18:00 h (28.8 ± 0.3°C vs 29.9 ± 0.4°C, n = 13, p=0.039) and higher at 23:00 h compared with Dim day–Bright evening (30.1 ± 0.3°C vs 28.8 ± 0.3°C, n = 13, p=0.006). Fasting and postprandial plasma insulin levels and the respiratory exchange ratio were not different between the two lighting protocols at any time. CONCLUSIONS/INTERPRETATION: Together, these findings suggest that the indoor light environment modulates postprandial substrate handling, energy expenditure and thermoregulation of insulin-resistant volunteers in a time-of-day-dependent manner. TRIAL REGISTRATION: ClinicalTrials.gov NCT03829982. FUNDING: We acknowledge the financial support from the Netherlands Cardiovascular Research Initiative: an initiative with support from the Dutch Heart Foundation (CVON2014–02 ENERGISE). GRAPHICAL ABSTRACT: [Image: see text] SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: The online version contains peer-reviewed but unedited supplementary material available at 10.1007/s00125-021-05643-9

Size-Dependent Variability in Flow and Viscoelastic Behavior of Levan Produced by Gluconobacter albidus TMW 2.1191

Levan is a fructan-type exopolysaccharide which is produced by many microbes from sucrose via extracellular levansucrases. The hydrocolloid properties of levan depend on its molecular weight, while it is unknown why and to what extent levan is functionally diverse depending on its size. The aim of our study was to gain deeper insight into the size-dependent functional variability of levan. For this purpose, levans of different sizes were produced using the water kefir isolate Gluconobacter albidus TMW 2.1191 and subsequently rheologically characterized. Three levan types could be identified, which are similarly branched, but differ significantly in their molecular size and rheological properties. The smallest levan (<107 Da), produced without adjustment of the pH, exhibited Newton-like flow behavior up to a specific concentration of 25% (w/v). By contrast, larger levans (>108 Da) produced at pH ≥ 4.5 were shear-thinning, and the levan produced at pH 5.0 showed a gel-like behavior at 5% (w/v). A third (intermediate) levan variant was obtained through production in buffers at pH 4.0 and exhibited the properties of a viscoelastic fluid up to concentrations of 15% (w/v). Our study reveals that the rheological properties of levan are determined by its size and polydispersity, rather than by the amount of levan used or the structural composition

The C-Terminal Domain of Liquorilactobacillus nagelii Dextransucrase Mediates the Production of Larger Dextrans Compared to Liquorilactobacillus hordei

Dextransucrases released by certain lactic acid bacteria form glucose polymers with predominantly α-1,6-linkages and may be exploited biotechnologically for the tailored production of polysaccharides with application potential. Despite releasing two closely related dextransucrases, previous studies showed that water kefir borne Liquorilactobacillus (L.) hordei TMW 1.1822 and L. nagelii TMW 1.1827 produce different amounts of polysaccharides with distinct particle sizes (molecular weight and radius of gyration) and molecular architectures. To investigate where these differences originate and thus to provide deeper insights into the functionally diverse nature of polysaccharide formation during water kefir fermentation, we constructed two variants of the L. nagelii dextransucrase—a full-length enzyme and a truncated variant, devoid of a C-terminal glucan-binding domain that reflects the domain architecture of the L. hordei dextransucrase—and applied them at various enzyme concentrations to form dextran over 24 h. The full-length enzyme exhibited a high activity, forming constant amounts of dextran until a four-fold dilution, whereas the truncated variant showed a gradual decrease in activity and dextran formation at an increasing dilution. The application of the full-length enzyme resulted in higher average particle sizes compared to the truncated variant. However, the dilution of the enzyme extracts also led to a slight increase in the average particle size in both enzymes. Neither the domain architecture nor the enzyme concentration had an impact on the structural architecture of the dextrans. The presented results thus suggest that the comparatively higher processivity of the L. nagelii dextransucrase is predominantly caused by the additional C-terminal glucan-binding domain, which is absent in the L. hordei dextransucrase. The average particle size may be influenced, to some extent, by the applied reaction conditions, whereas the structural architecture of the dextrans is most likely caused by differences in the amino acid sequence of the catalytic domain

Circadian misalignment induces fatty acid metabolism gene profiles and induces insulin resistance in human skeletal muscle

Circadian misalignment, such as in shift work, has been associated with obesity and type 2 diabetes, however, direct effects of circadian misalignment on skeletal muscle insulin sensitivity and muscle molecular circadian clock have never been investigated in humans. Here we investigated insulin sensitivity and muscle metabolism in fourteen healthy young lean men (age 22.4 ± 2.8 years; BMI 22.3 ± 2.1 kg/m2 [mean ± SD]) after a 3-day control protocol and a 3.5-day misalignment protocol induced by a 12-h rapid shift of the behavioral cycle. We show that circadian misalignment results in a significant decrease in peripheral insulin sensitivity due to a reduced skeletal muscle non-oxidative glucose disposal (Rate of disappearance: 23.7 ± 2.4 vs. 18.4 ± 1.4 mg/kg/min; control vs. misalignment; p=0.024). Fasting glucose and FFA levels as well as sleeping metabolic rate were higher during circadian misalignment. Molecular analysis of skeletal muscle biopsies revealed that the molecular circadian clock was not aligned to the new behavourial rhythm, and microarray analysis revealed the human PPAR pathway as a key player in the disturbed energy metabolism upon circadian misallignement. Our findings may provide a mechanism underlying the increased risk of type 2 diabetes among shift workers

Circadian misalignment induces fatty acid metabolism gene profiles and induces insulin resistance in human skeletal muscle

Circadian misalignment, such as in shift work, has been associated with obesity and type 2 diabetes, however, direct effects of circadian misalignment on skeletal muscle insulin sensitivity and muscle molecular circadian clock have never been investigated in humans. Here we investigated insulin sensitivity and muscle metabolism in fourteen healthy young lean men (age 22.4 ± 2.8 years; BMI 22.3 ± 2.1 kg/m2 [mean ± SD]) after a 3-day control protocol and a 3.5-day misalignment protocol induced by a 12-h rapid shift of the behavioral cycle. We show that circadian misalignment results in a significant decrease in peripheral insulin sensitivity due to a reduced skeletal muscle non-oxidative glucose disposal (Rate of disappearance: 23.7 ± 2.4 vs. 18.4 ± 1.4 mg/kg/min; control vs. misalignment; p=0.024). Fasting glucose and FFA levels as well as sleeping metabolic rate were higher during circadian misalignment. Molecular analysis of skeletal muscle biopsies revealed that the molecular circadian clock was not aligned to the new behavourial rhythm, and microarray analysis revealed the human PPAR pathway as a key player in the disturbed energy metabolism upon circadian misallignement. Our findings may provide a mechanism underlying the increased risk of type 2 diabetes among shift workers

Circadian misalignment induces fatty acid metabolism gene profiles and induces insulin resistance in human skeletal muscle

Circadian misalignment, such as in shift work, has been associated with obesity and type 2 diabetes, however, direct effects of circadian misalignment on skeletal muscle insulin sensitivity and muscle molecular circadian clock have never been investigated in humans. Here we investigated insulin sensitivity and muscle metabolism in fourteen healthy young lean men (age 22.4 ± 2.8 years; BMI 22.3 ± 2.1 kg/m2 [mean ± SD]) after a 3-day control protocol and a 3.5-day misalignment protocol induced by a 12-h rapid shift of the behavioral cycle. We show that circadian misalignment results in a significant decrease in peripheral insulin sensitivity due to a reduced skeletal muscle non-oxidative glucose disposal (Rate of disappearance: 23.7 ± 2.4 vs. 18.4 ± 1.4 mg/kg/min; control vs. misalignment; p=0.024). Fasting glucose and FFA levels as well as sleeping metabolic rate were higher during circadian misalignment. Molecular analysis of skeletal muscle biopsies revealed that the molecular circadian clock was not aligned to the new behavourial rhythm, and microarray analysis revealed the human PPAR pathway as a key player in the disturbed energy metabolism upon circadian misallignement. Our findings may provide a mechanism underlying the increased risk of type 2 diabetes among shift workers