Bifidobacterium glycoside hydrolases and (potential) prebiotics

Carbohydrates occur in food as natural constituents or are added as ingredients. In the last decade a number of novel dietary carbohydrates have been introduced as ingredients for food applications, responding to the growing awareness among consumers of the link between health and diet. One important group is formed by the non-digestible oligosaccharides (NDOs) which may function as prebiotics. In many studies it has been shown that prebiotics in the diet positively influence the human intestinal microbiota. It is envisaged that this will balance the microbial composition in the gastrointestinal tract in favor of health promoting genera such as Bifidobacterium and Lactobacillus.In this review we will focus on the degradation of (potential) prebiotics, derived from plant (poly)saccharides, by bifidobacterial glycoside hydrolases. In addition the possibilities to use or produce new classes of NDOs using the most important glycoside hydrolases from Bifidobacterium sp. will be discussed.Industrial relevanceCarbohydrates occur in food as natural constituents or are added as ingredients or additives. In the last decade a number of novel dietary carbohydrates have been introduced as ingredients for food applications, responding to the growing awareness among consumers of the link between health, nutrition, and diet. The food industry is continuously seeking for new opportunities to design new functional foods.One important group is non-digestible oligosaccharides (NDOs) which may function as prebiotics. In many studies it has been shown that prebiotics (and/or probiotics) in the diet positively influence the human intestinal microbiota. It is envisaged that this will balance the microbial composition in the gastrointestinal tract in favor of health promoting genera such as Bifidobacterium and Lactobacillus. To understand how these bacteria can grow on these carbon sources, knowledge of the carbohydrate-modifying enzymes is needed.In this manuscript we will focus on the degradation of (potential) prebiotics by bifidobacterial glycoside hydrolases by exploring the genome sequences of bifidobacteria. Next to that the possibilities to use or produce new classes of NDOs exploiting the most important carbohydrate modifying enzymes in bifidobacteria, in particular carbohydrases with transglycosylation activity, is discussed. In addition, approaches to use and improve carbohydrate-modifying enzymes in (potential) prebiotic design will also be presented. For innovation it is important to look for new opportunities to produce new products. The carbohydrases from bifidobacteria can have different roles like synthesis and degradation of prebiotics. Combining the knowledge of the biochemical characterization of the carbohydrases and exploring the genome sequences of gut bacteria especially bifidobacteria may result in the design of other, new, or novel prebiotics. Thus this review will provide the food industry with different criteria that can be important for the development of prebiotics.