Key mechanism to obtain brown algae-derived compounds with biotech applications

Every year, thousands of tons of brown algae are extracted from the seabed to obtain compounds such as alginates, a polymer composed of sugars that has high density and strength, offering potential biotechnological applications. An international team has deciphered the mechanism by which a type of enzyme, called alginate lyase (AL), is capable of degrading these marine biomaterials, allowing them to be used as carriers of drugs, additives or thickeners, among others. These results will help in the development and design of new 'tailored alginates' for specific applications, especially in the food and biomedical industries.

Key mechanism to obtain brown algae-derived compounds with biotech applications
Every year, thousands of tons of brown algae are extracted from the seabed to obtain compounds such as alginates, a polymer composed of sugars that has high density and strength, offering potential biotechnological applications. An international team has deciphered the mechanism by which a type of enzyme, called alginate lyase (AL), is capable of degrading these marine biomaterials, allowing them to be used as carriers of drugs, additives or thickeners, among others. These results will help in the development and design of new 'tailored alginates' for specific applications, especially in the food and biomedical industries.