title: Recent advances on physiological functions and biotechnological production of epilactose.
abstract: Epilactose (4-O-β-D-galactopyranosyl-D-mannose), an epimer of lactose, is a rare disaccharide existing extremely small quantities in heat-treated milk, in which epilactose is produced by non-enzymatic catalysis from lactose. This disaccharide is a kind of non-digestible carbohydrate, has a good prebiotic effect, and promotes intestinal mineral absorption. This article presents a review of recent studies on epilactose formation in food system, qualitative and quantitative analysis, and its physiological functions. In addition, the biochemical properties and kinetic parameters of the epilactose-producing enzyme, cellobiose 2-epimerase, are compared, and the biotechnological production of epilactose from lactose is reviewed.
authors: State Key Laboratory of Food Science and Technology, Jiangnan University, Wuxi, Jiangsu 214122, China. wmmu@jiangnan.edu.cn
authors: Wanmeng
authors: W
authors: Mu
authors: Qiuxi
authors: Q
authors: Li
authors: Chen
authors: C
authors: Fan
authors: Chen
authors: C
authors: Zhou
authors: Bo
authors: B
authors: Jiang
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D001709:Biotechnology / Q000379:methods* / Q000639:trends; D002238:Carbohydrate Epimerases / Q000378:metabolism; D004187:Disaccharides / Q000302:isolation & purification / Q000378:metabolism*; D006801:Humans; D007422:Intestines / Q000502:physiology; D008903:Minerals / Q000378:metabolism; D056692:Prebiotics
chemical_list: D004187:Disaccharides; D008903:Minerals; D056692:Prebiotics; C047464:epilactose; D002238:Carbohydrate Epimerases