title: [Sphingomonas sp.: an important microbial resource for biopolymer synthesis].
abstract: The genus Sphingomonas was established in 1990. Sphingomonas spp. synthesize sphingans, structurally related biopolymers such as gellan, welan and diutan. At present, only gellan is applied widely in foods and pharmaceuticals. The economic value of other sphingans has not been well explored, and related research of sphingans still remains limited. In the present review, we address the latest taxonomy developments of Sphingomonas, details about structure, characteristics and biosynthetic pathway of sphingans, current knowledge on the molecular genetics and genetic engineering of sphingans. In addition, we indicate future research needs.
authors.affiliation: Key Laboratory of Molecular Microbiology Technology, Ministry of Education, College of Life Sciences, Nankai University, Tianjin 300071, China. hhaidong@126.com
authors.forename: Haidong
authors.initials: H
authors.lastname: Huang
authors.forename: Yun
authors.initials: Y
authors.lastname: Liu
authors.forename: Rulin
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Liu
mesh_terms: D016667:Bacterial Capsules / Q000737:chemistry; D015394:Molecular Structure; D010802:Phylogeny; D011135:Polysaccharides, Bacterial / Q000096:biosynthesis* / Q000737:chemistry / Q000145:classification / Q000191:economics / Q000235:genetics*; D020578:Sphingomonas / Q000145:classification / Q000235:genetics / Q000378:metabolism*
chemical_list: D011135:Polysaccharides, Bacterial; C430406:sphingan; C048288:gellan gum; C068570:welan