Production of beta-glucans and mannans

Abstract

Disclosed are methods for producing yeast β-glucan and mannan preparations. The methods employ an autolysis process, followed by enzymatic treatment with one or more of a protease, glucanase or lipase. The preparations produced may be used in food supplements, pharmaceuticals, cosmetics, animal feeds, and neutraceuticals.

1 . A method for processing microorganism cells comprising: 
 (a) autolyzing the microorganism cells to release microorganism cell walls;    (b) incubating the microorganism cell walls with an exogenous protease;    (c) separating the microorganism cell walls into a glucan-enriched component and a mannan enriched component; and    (d) ultrafiltering the mannan-enriched component of step (c) to form a filtrate and a retentate.    
   
   
       2 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein the microorganism comprises at least one of a yeast, fungi, bacteria or plant.  
   
   
       3 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein the microorganism cells comprise yeast cells.  
   
   
       4 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein the protease of step (b) is inactivated prior to step (c).  
   
   
       5 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein the incubation of step (b) is carried out at a pH of 9 to 10, and a temperature of 50° C. to 65° C.  
   
   
       6 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein the retentate comprises mannans, and wherein at least 85% (w/w) of the mannans have a molecular weight of at least 10,000 Da.  
   
   
       7 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein step (a) is carried out at a pH of 4 to 8.  
   
   
       8 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein step (a) is carried out for 24 to 36 hours.  
   
   
       9 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein step (a) is carried out at a temperature of 35° C. to 55° C.  
   
   
       10 . The method of  claim 1 , further comprising using the glucan-enriched component of step (c) in an animal feed.  
   
   
       11 . The method of  claim 1 , further comprising using the protease-treated cell walls of step (b) in an animal feed.  
   
   
       12 . The method of  claim 1 , further comprising using the filtrate of step (d) in an animal feed.  
   
   
       13 . The method of  claim 1 , further comprising using the glucan-enriched component of step (c) in a product selected from a food supplement, pharmaceutical, cosmetic and neutraceutical.  
   
   
       14 . The method of  claim 1 , further comprising using the protease-treated cell walls of step (b) in a product selected from a food supplement, pharmaceutical, cosmetic and neutraceutical.  
   
   
       15 . The method of  claim 1 , further comprising using the filtrate of step (d) in using the glucan-enriched component of step (c) in a product selected from a food supplement, pharmaceutical, cosmetic and neutraceutical.  
   
   
       16 . A method for processing yeast cells comprising: 
 (a) autolyzing the yeast cells at a temperature of 50° C. to 65° C. to release yeast cell walls;    (b) incubating the cell walls with an exogenous protease at a pH of 9 to 10; and    (c) incubating the protease-treated cell walls of step (b) with an enzyme comprising at least one of an amylase, lipase and a combination thereof.    
   
   
       17 . The method of  claim 16 , wherein the yeast cells comprise brewer's yeast cells.  
   
   
       18 . The method of  claim 16 , further comprising using the cell walls treated with the enzyme of step (c) in an animal feed.  
   
   
       19 . The method of  claim 16 , further comprising using the cell walls treated with the enzyme of step (c) in a product selected from a food supplement, pharmaceutical, cosmetic and neutraceutical.  
   
   
       20 . The method of  claim 16 , wherein step (c) is carried out at a pH of 4 to 6.  
   
   
       21 . The method of  claim 20 , further comprising 
 (d) separating the enzyme-treated cell walls of step (c) into a glucan-enriched component and a mannan-enriched component.    
   
   
       22 . The method of  claim 21 , further comprising using the glucan-enriched component of step (d) in an animal feed.  
   
   
       23 . The method of  claim 21 , further comprising using the glucan-enriched component of step (d) in a product selected from a food supplement, pharmaceutical, cosmetic and neutraceutical.  
   
   
       24 . The method of  claim 21 , further comprising 
 (e) ultrafiltering the mannan-enriched component of step (d) to form a filtrate and a retentate.    
   
   
       25 . The method of  claim 24 , wherein the retentate comprises mannans, and wherein at least 85% (w/w) of the mannans have a molecular weight of at least 10,000 Da.  
   
   
       26 . The method of  claim 24 , further comprising using the filtrate of step (e) in an animal feed.  
   
   
       27 . The method of  claim 24 , further comprising using the filtrate of step (e) in a product selected from a food supplement, pharmaceutical, cosmetic and neutraceutical.  
   
   
       28 . A composition comprising a-mannans, wherein at least 85% (w/w) of the total a-mannans have a molecular weight of 10,000 Da or more.  
   
   
       29 . A food supplement, pharmaceutical, cosmetic or neutraceutical comprising the composition of  claim 28 .  
   
   
       30 . An animal feed comprising the composition of  claim 28 .  
   
   
       31 . The animal feed of  claim 30 , wherein the animal feed is a dog, cat, pig, fish or cattle feed.