Enzymatic Synthesis of β-Glucosylglycerol and Its Unnatural Glycosides Via β-Glycosidase and Amylosucrase

${\beta}$-Glucosylglycerol (${\beta}-GG$) and their derivatives have potential applications in food, cosmetics and the healthcare industry, including antitumor medications. In this study, ${\beta}-GG$ and its unnatural glycosides were synthesized through the transglycosylation of two enzymes, Sulfolobus shibatae ${\beta}$-glycosidase (SSG) and Deinococcus geothermalis amylosucrase (DGAS). SSG catalyzed a transglycosylation reaction with glycerol as an acceptor and cellobiose as a donor to produce 56% of ${\beta}-GGs$ [${\beta}$-$\text\tiny{D}$-glucopyranosyl-($1{\rightarrow}1/3$)-$\text\tiny{D}$-glycerol and ${\beta}$-$\text\tiny{D}$-glucopyranosyl-($1{\rightarrow}2$)-$\text\tiny{D}$-glycerol]. In the second transglycosylation reaction, ${\beta}$-$\text\tiny{D}$-glucopyranosyl-($1{\rightarrow}1/3$)-$\text\tiny{D}$-glycerol was used as acceptor molecules of the DGAS reaction. As a result, 61% of ${\alpha}$-$\text\tiny{D}$-glucopyranosyl-($1{\rightarrow}4$)-${\beta}$-$\text\tiny{D}$-glucopyranosyl-($1{\rightarrow}1/3$)-$\text\tiny{D}$-glycerol and 28% of ${\alpha}$-$\text\tiny{D}$-maltopyranosyl-($1{\rightarrow}4$)-${\beta}$-$\text\tiny{D}$-glucopyranosyl-($1{\rightarrow}1/3$)-$\text\tiny{D}$-glycerol were synthesized as unnatural glucosylglycerols. In conclusion, the combined enzymatic synthesis of the unnatural glycosides of ${\beta}-GG$ was established. The synthesis of these unnatural glycosides may provide an opportunity to discover new applications in the biotechnological industry.