STRUCTURE-FUNCTION INVESTIGATIONS ON CAPSULAR POLYMERS AS A NECESSARYSTEP FOR NEW BIOTECHNOLOGICAL APPLICATIONS - THE CASE OF THE CYANOBACTERIUM MASTIGOCLADUS-LAMINOSUS

This review deals with the composition and structure of the exocellula r polysaccharides produced by cyanobacteria. The present data. the str ategies and problems related to the elucidation of the structure of th e exocellular polysaccharides, the most interesting type of polymers f rom the technological point of view, are reviewed. Their biotechnologi cal use in the sequestering of metals is illustrated in the case of th e thermophilic cyanobacterium Mastigocladus laminosus. Genetic and mol ecular perspectives in the improvement of the potential of exocellular polysaccharides for biotechnological applications are discussed.