ABSTRACT
Bacterial exopolysaccharides (EPS) are high molecular weight (101000 kDa) carbohydrate polymers produced by bacteria as secondary metabolites [1]. Exopolysaccharides have critical physiological function in bacterial cells ranging from cell adhesion to imparting adaptive response to environmental adversities such as, extreme temperature, pH, salinity etc. [2]. Most bacterial EPS are synthesized intra cellularly and exported to the extracellular environment as macromolecules. But, a few polysaccharides such as, levans and dextrans are synthesized and polymerized outside the cells by the action of secreted enzymes that convert the substrate into the polymer in the extracellular environment [3]. Secreted EPS separated from the bacterial cell serves as an intact biopolymer that can be processed and leveraged for various commercial applications.
