Glycoside hydrolase family 70 (GH70) glucansucrases produce α-D-glucan polysaccharides (e.g. dextran), which have different linkage composition, branching degree and size distribution, and hold potential applications in food, cosmetic and medicine industry. In addition, GH70 branching sucrases add single α-(1→2) or α-(1→3) branches onto dextran, resulting in highly branched polysaccharides with “comb-like” structure. The physico-chemical properties of these α-D-glucans are highly influenced by their linkage compositions, branching degrees and sizes. Among these α-D-glucans, dextran is commercially applied as plasma expander and separation matrix based on extensive studies of its structure and physico-chemical properties. However, such detailed information is lacking for the other type of α-D-glucans. Aiming to stimulate the application of α-D-glucans produced by glucansucrases, we present an overview of the structures, production, physico-chemical properties and (potential) applications of these sucrose-derived α-D-glucan polysaccharides. We also discuss bottlenecks and future perspectives for the application of these α-D-glucan polysaccharides.

糖苷水解酶家族70（GH70）葡聚糖酶产生的α-D-葡聚糖多糖（例如葡聚糖）具有不同的键合组成，分支程度和大小分布，在食品，化妆品和医药行业中具有潜在的应用前景。此外，GH70分支糖蔗糖在葡聚糖上添加了单个α-（1→2）或α-（1→3）分支，从而产生了具有“梳子状”结构的高度分支多糖。这些α-D-葡聚糖的物理化学性质受其键合组成，支化度和大小的很大影响。在这些α-D-葡聚糖中，基于对葡聚糖的结构和理化性质的广泛研究，右旋糖酐在商业上被用作血浆膨胀剂和分离基质。然而，对于其他类型的α-D-葡聚糖，缺乏此类详细信息。为了刺激由葡聚糖产生的α-D-葡聚糖的应用，我们概述了这些蔗糖衍生的α-D-葡聚糖多糖的结构，产量，理化性质和（潜在）应用。我们还讨论了这些α-D-葡聚糖多糖的应用瓶颈和未来前景。