Microbial Preparation of Glucuronides with a Novel Streptomycete

Benefit

Bioavailability refers to the utility of the chemical in an organism. Water solubility commonly affects the bioavailability of a xenobiotic entering an organism. Glucuronidation is often used to increase the water solubility of the molecule in the liver of an organism which naturally produces proteins that use glucuronidation of fat-soluble molecules to water-soluble molecules. Natural products have many biological activities allowing for wide applications in both pharmaceuticals and nutraceuticals. However, their health benefits are often limited by their poor water solubility and low bioavailability. Many drugs have limited bioavailability, due to poor water solubility.

Glucuronidation refers to the process of binding a glucuronic acid moiety to a substrate. A glucuronide is any substance that links glucuronic acids through a glycosidic bond. Glucuronidation is a highly efficient way to increase the water solubility of the original substance. This invention presents a novel streptomycete strain that can glycosylate a variety of polyphenols to prepare corresponding glucuronides. The dedicated enzyme can transfer the glucuronic acid moiety to various bioactive molecules, making it a powerful tool in medical scenarios to increase bioavailability. These effects increase water solubility which leads to greater bioavailability thus enhancing the effects of drugs.

This technology will allow efficient and cost-effective preparation of glucuronides of bioactive molecules. The water-soluble products may have enhanced bioactivity and bioavailability that can find wide applications in drug discovery, cosmetics, food additives, etc. This would prove helpful in increasing drug effectiveness.

Market Application

This technology can be applied across various industries - such as food, cosmetics, pharmaceuticals, and nutraceuticals - as a biocatalyst to enhance water solubility.