A team of Japanese researchers led by Associate Professor Masahiro Nakajima from the Tokyo University of Science (TUS) has identified a new β-galactosidase enzyme in the gut bacterium Bacteroides xylanisolvens. They believe this discovery could pave the way for prebiotic science and food technology advancements. Carbohydrate chains, or glycans, are essential sugar-like compounds that contribute to various biological functions in humans, plants, and microorganisms. Among them, galactosides — found in plant cell walls and prebiotic oligosaccharides — play a crucial role in gut health.
