Optimize your carbohydrate research.

As you know, carbohydrates encompass simple sugars through complex polysaccharides that are part of the structure and function of all living things. Scientists at Industrial Research Ltd. (Box 31-310, Lower Hutt, New Zealand) are involved in carbohydrate research. Their work includes synthesizing small bioactive molecules, many with carbohydrate-like structures and enzyme inhibitory properties, and developing polysaccharides derived from animals, plants, bacteria and seaweed for the food, healthcare and biotechnology industries.

Various projects have included the structural analysis of organic chemicals, especially carbohydrates; the bioassay-guided isolation and identification of biologically-active natural products; the development of applications of polysaccharides and their derivatives, especially agar, carrageenan and cellulose-based materials; and determining the levels of polysaccharides in natural samples and finding a way to isolate them. Industrial Research is focusing on the synthesis of small, mostly carbohydrate-like molecules which fit into and inhibit carbohydrate enzymes, specifically glycosidases.

Polysaccharides are widely used for gelling, thickening and suspension stabilization in foods and drugs. Those derived from seaweeds offer opportunities to produce high-value fine and specialty chemicals for sale internationally to biotechnology, food ingredient and agrochemical companies. The company's research activities on deriving polysaccharides from natural sources include: the discovery and identification of naturally-occurring polysaccharides; analyzing their chemical structure; screening them for useful physical and chemical properties; and developing techniques for extracting and modifying them for commercial applications.

Company researchers are investigating the chemical nature of polysaccharide products from New Zealand marine red algae. They are looking for ways to improve crop yield, quality and consistency, using a range of research methods including carbon-13 labeling to study the algal metabolism. Labeled polysaccharide products from the studied algae are analyzed for age and environmental factors affecting growth. Other scientists seek to improve the yield and quality of agar and carrageenan by developing chemical pretreatments and fractionation techniques.

In addition, recent advances at Industrial Research in the NMR spectroscopy of polysaccharides in the solid state have made it possible to monitor staling in baked goods, thereby providing an opportunity to discover new antistaling agents and processes. The company's expertise and facilities for organic chemistry are available on a contract basis. Further information. Richard Furneaux; phone: [phone]; fax: [phone]; email: [e-mail].