Structural characterization and functional evaluation of a novel exopolysaccharide from the moderate halophile Gracilibacillus sp. SCU50

A novel exopolysaccharide (named mhEPS) with a molecular weight of 5.881 × 10⁴ g/mol was isolated from Gracilibacillus sp. SCU50's high-salt fermentation broth by ethanol precipitation, anion-exchange and gel-filtration chromatography before being structurally characterized and functionally evaluated. mhEPS consists of mannose, galactose, glucose and fucose in a molar ratio of 90.81:5.76:2.22:1.21. The backbone of mhEPS was (1→3,6)-linked α-D-mannopyranose residues, branched by single α-D-mannopyranose units attached to the main chain at C-2 position of every residue. The water solubility index, water holding capacity and oil holding capacity of mhEPS were 93.53, 14.89 and 1023.34%, respectively. mhEPS showed to possess good emulsifying activity against all tested substrates, and it could potentially increase the high-salinity tolerance of strain SCU50. The lack of toxicity of mhEPS was also preliminarily determined. Due to the functional properties of mhEPS, it is a good candidate to develop as an active ingredient in food, cosmetics and detergents.