title: Biotechnological advances in UDP-sugar based glycosylation of small molecules.
abstract: Glycosylation of small molecules like specialized (secondary) metabolites has a profound impact on their solubility, stability or bioactivity, making glycosides attractive compounds as food additives, therapeutics or nutraceuticals. The subsequently growing market demand has fuelled the development of various biotechnological processes, which can be divided in the in vitro (using enzymes) or in vivo (using whole cells) production of glycosides. In this context, uridine glycosyltransferases (UGTs) have emerged as promising catalysts for the regio- and stereoselective glycosylation of various small molecules, hereby using uridine diphosphate (UDP) sugars as activated glycosyldonors. This review gives an extensive overview of the recently developed in vivo production processes using UGTs and discusses the major routes towards UDP-sugar formation. Furthermore, the use of interconverting enzymes and glycorandomization is highlighted for the production of unusual or new-to-nature glycosides. Finally, the technological challenges and future trends in UDP-sugar based glycosylation are critically evaluated and summarized.
authors.affiliation: Centre of Expertise-Industrial Biotechnology and Biocatalysis, Department of Biochemical and Microbial Technology, Ghent University, Coupure links 653, 9000 Ghent, Belgium.
authors.forename: Frederik
authors.initials: F
authors.lastname: De Bruyn
authors.affiliation: Centre of Expertise-Industrial Biotechnology and Biocatalysis, Department of Biochemical and Microbial Technology, Ghent University, Coupure links 653, 9000 Ghent, Belgium.
authors.forename: Jo
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Maertens
authors.affiliation: Centre of Expertise-Industrial Biotechnology and Biocatalysis, Department of Biochemical and Microbial Technology, Ghent University, Coupure links 653, 9000 Ghent, Belgium.
authors.forename: Joeri
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Beauprez
authors.affiliation: Centre of Expertise-Industrial Biotechnology and Biocatalysis, Department of Biochemical and Microbial Technology, Ghent University, Coupure links 653, 9000 Ghent, Belgium.
authors.forename: Wim
authors.initials: W
authors.lastname: Soetaert
authors.affiliation: Centre of Expertise-Industrial Biotechnology and Biocatalysis, Department of Biochemical and Microbial Technology, Ghent University, Coupure links 653, 9000 Ghent, Belgium. Electronic address: Marjan.DeMey@Ugent.be.
authors.forename: Marjan
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: De Mey
mesh_terms: D000595:Amino Acid Sequence / Q000235:genetics; D001709:Biotechnology; D002241:Carbohydrates / Q000096:biosynthesis*; D002384:Catalysis; D006031:Glycosylation; D016695:Glycosyltransferases / Q000737:chemistry / Q000235:genetics* / Q000378:metabolism; D006801:Humans; D013379:Substrate Specificity; D014530:Uridine Diphosphate / Q000096:biosynthesis* / Q000737:chemistry
chemical_list: D002241:Carbohydrates; D014530:Uridine Diphosphate; D016695:Glycosyltransferases
keywords: Glycorandomization; Glycosides; Glycosylation; Glycosyltransferases; In vitro; In vivo; Metabolic engineering; Small molecules; UDP-sugars; UGT