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Recent advances on applications and biotechnological production of d-psicose

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Abstract

d-Psicose is a hexoketose monosaccharide sweetener, which is a C-3 epimer of d-fructose and is rarely found in nature. It has 70 % relative sweetness but 0.3 % energy of sucrose, and is suggested as an ideal sucrose substitute for food products. It shows important physiological functions, such as blood glucose suppressive effect, reactive oxygen species scavenging activity, and neuroprotective effect. It also improves the gelling behavior and produces good flavor during food process. This article presents a review of recent studies on the properties, physiological functions, and food application of d-psicose. In addition, the biochemical properties of d-tagatose 3-epimerase family enzymes and the d-psicose-producing enzyme are compared, and the biotechnological production of d-psicose from d-fructose is reviewed.

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Acknowledgments

This work was supported by the Natural Science Foundation of China Project (nos. 31171705 and 20906040), the 863 Project (no. 2011AA100904), the 973 Project (no. 2012CB720802), the Support Project of Jiangsu Province (nos. BE2011622, BE2011766, BE2010678, and BE2010626), and the Innovative Research Team of Jiangnan University Project (no. 2008CXTD01).

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Correspondence to Wanmeng Mu.

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Mu, W., Zhang, W., Feng, Y. et al. Recent advances on applications and biotechnological production of d-psicose. Appl Microbiol Biotechnol 94, 1461–1467 (2012). https://doi.org/10.1007/s00253-012-4093-1

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