Sugar catabolism and its impact on the biosynthesis and engineering of exopolysaccharide production in lactic acid bacteria

Over the last years, the production of exopolysaccharides (EPS) by lactic acid bacteria (LAB) has been extensively studied. These EPS play an important role in the theology and texture of fermented food products. Significant progress in the understanding of EPS biosynthetic pathways, genetics, kinetic models, and physics has been made. This knowledge can now be applied to rationally design metabolic engineering studies to modify EPS production and composition. This mini review will discuss the potential engineering strategies of sugar catabolism for the production of EPS by lactic acid bacteria (LAB). (C) 2001 Elsevier Science Ltd. All rights reserved.