Galactosyl hydrolases from Bifidobacterium adolescentis and Bifidobacterium longum

Abstract

The human intestine contains many bacteria, among which bifidobacteria. These can have a positive effect on human health. By consuming products containing dietary fibres (prebiotics), the amount of these intestinal bacteria can be stimulated, because they contain enzymes, which are able to degrade the fibres. Knowing which enzymes are present in the bacteria, will help to determine which kind of dietary fibres are suitable for use as a prebiotic. In this research, enzymes present in bifidobacteria, which were able to degrade the fibres galactan and galacto-oligosaccharides, were investigated. Three different enzymes were examined: a beta-galactosidase, an endo-galactanase, and an alpha-galactosidase. The results of this thesis gave more insight in how galactans and galacto-oligosaccharides can be degraded by bifidobacteria