Abstract:
The present invention provides the use of an alginate Io inhibit pancreatic lipase. The use may be directed to the control of weight in animals including human beings. Preferably the fraction of guluronate dimers in the alginate is at least 0.5.

Description:
THE FIELD OF THE INVENTION 
       [0001]    This invention relates to the inhibition of pancreatic lipase and includes compounds, compositions and processes for so doing. 
       BACKGROUND TO THE INVENTION 
       [0002]    Alginate is an unbranched polysaccharide containing two epimers of uronic acid [1]. Mannuronic acid (M) and its C-5-epimer guluronic acid (G) are linked by α and β (1→4) glycosidic bonds [2]. The composition of an alginate can be calculated by nearest neighbour diad frequency using  13 C nuclear magnetic resonance (NMR) spectroscopy [3]. Brown seaweed is a major commercial source of alginate, where it occurs as a structural component of the cell wall. The arrangements of the acid residues are of great importance as they confer specific characteristics. Higher levels of M residues give an increase in flexibility of that section of seaweed. For example, the highest level of M residues of  Laminaria hyperboria  is found in the leaf tissue whereas the stipe is much lower in M residues, with the outer cortex even lower [4]. Alginates are not only exploited by algae, but also by bacteria. In the soil bacteria,  Azotobacter vinlandii , alginates are the major constituents of the vegetative capsule and of the rigid and desiccation-resistant walls of the metabolically dormant cysts [5]. The alginates produced by many bacteria, for example  Pseudomonas  spp. appear to have multiple roles in environmental protection whereas both bacterial and seaweed alginates can stimulate the human immune system [5]. 
         [0003]    Enzymes that possess the ability to epimerise M residues to G residues have been isolated and purified from bacterial strains that utilise alginates. A family of seven epimerase enzymes (AlgE1-7) have been purified from  A. vinlandii  and their activity described. Each enzyme is likely to produce a distinct monomer distributions pattern, for example AlgE1 is the only double epimerasic enzyme creating two consecutive G residues whereas the other epimerase enzymes can only affect one residue at a time. Bacterial alginates can be created as homopolymeric M residue polymers and can then be processed by the enzymes to their desired characteristics. Epimerase negative stains of  Pseudomonas fluorescens  have been developed which allows alginates of purely M residues to be harvested when the bacteria are grown on media containing a high concentration of D-fructose-6-phosphate [6]. 
         [0004]    A varying range of lipases are produced within the human body as well as by bacteria, all of which are responsible for the catalysis of hydrolysis of ester bonds in triacylglycerols. With the exception of pancreatic lipase, all lipases are single domain enzymes. Pancreatic lipase requires another protein (colipase) for activity in the presence of bile salts or detergents [7]. Colipase (11000 Da) is involved with the activity of the enzyme, prevention of denaturation at the water-lipid interface and reverses the inhibitory effect of bile salts at the same interface. There are two conformations of pancreatic lipase, the open (active) form and the closed (inactive) form [8]. The conformation is changed via the movement of two loops of amino acids uncovering the hydrophobic active site. The binding of the colipase does not initiate activity of the enzyme nor does it initiate the movement of the loops but, when the colipase is bound at the lipid-water interface, the loops make multiple contacts with the colipase when in the open conformation [8]. There is a common fold throughout all the lipases termed the α/β hydrolase fold due to the orientation of the α-helices and the arrangement of the β-strands. The active site of the pancreatic lipase is composed of a catalytic serine-histadine-aspartate triad and this triad is well conserved throughout the lipase family [8]. The lipid substrate is likely to enter the active site in a ‘tuning fork’ orientation [9] with one acyl chain (one prong) in the active site and the second acyl chain (second prong) running along the outside of the lipase molecule in a groove created by two phenylalanine residues [10]. 
         [0005]    Some pharmacological obesity treatments, e.g. Orlistat (Trade Mark), function through specific, irreversible inhibition of gastrointestinal lipases, of which pancreatic lipase is the most biologically active and important in healthy humans [11]. A number of adverse effects are commonly reported for Orlistat, including steatorrhoea, bloating, oily spotting, faecal urgency and faecal incontinence that can affect up to 40% of patients [12]. This leads to high attrition rates and tolerability problems. A product which retains the level of lipase inhibition but reduces or eliminates the adverse effects of current treatment would be of considerable benefit to patients. 
       STATEMENTS OF THE INVENTION 
       [0006]    According to the present invention there is provided a use of an alginate to inhibit pancreatic lipase. The alginate may be derived from any suitable source, including seaweed. It may be a bacterial alginate, in particular, an alginate that has not been epimerised (i.e. alginate 1:PAG) It may alternatively be a synthetic alginate. 
         [0007]    Preferably the fraction of the guluronate residues in the alginate is at least 0.5. 
         [0008]    Preferably the fraction of the guluronate dimers in the alginate is at least 0.3. 
         [0009]    Preferably the fraction of guluronate trimers in the alginate is at least 0.25. 
         [0010]    Preferably the fraction of MGM blocks in the alginate is less than 0.2. 
         [0011]    The inhibition of pancreatic lipase may be directed, wholly or partly, to the control of weight in animals, including human beings. 
         [0012]    The present invention also provides a method of inhibiting pancreatic lipase in an animal, including a human being, comprising administration of an effective amount of an alginate. 
         [0013]    Preferably the amount of alginate administered is from 0.1 to 10 g as a daily dosage, more preferably 0.5 to 10 g as a daily dosage and most preferably 0.5 g to 8 g as a daily dosage 
         [0014]    The present invention also provides a weight control composition comprising an alginate in admixture with one or more adjuvants, diluents or carriers which are acceptable for consumption by animals, including human beings. 
     
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION 
       [0015]    The invention will now be described, by way of examples only: 
       Example 1 
     Experimental Section 
     Materials 
       [0016]    All alginate samples were kindly provided by Technostics (Hull, UK and FMC BioPolymer, Norway). The tris(hydroxymethyl)-methylamine and calcium chloride were purchased from BDH (Poole, UK). Bile acids (deoxycholic acid sodium salt and taurodeoxycholic acid sodium salt) were both purchased from Fluka (Buchs, Switzerland), whereas the 1,2 Di-o-lauryl-rac-glycero-3-(glutaric acid 6-methyl resorufin ester) (DGGR), sodium acetate, colipase, lipase and Orlistat (tetrahydrolipstatin) were all purchased from Sigma-Aldrich (Poole, UK). 
       Equipment 
       [0017]    Absorbance was measured at 580 nm using an ATI Unicam 8625 UV/VIS spectrophotometer with semi-micro cuvettes (10 mm light path) (Fisher, UK FB55147) or a 96 well microplate spectrophotometer using a 575 nm filter (EL808 BioTek, Bedfordshire UK) 
       Preparation 
       [0018]    The lipase activity assay is a modified version of the method developed by Panteghini et al. [13]. The assay requires three solutions, Solution 1, Solution 2 and the Lipase solution. Solution 1 contains 1 mg/l of colipase and 1.8 mmol/l deoxycholic acid sodium salt in Tris buffer (50 mmol/l pH 8.4 at 25° C.). Solution 2 contains 72 mmol/l taurodeoxycholic acid sodium salt, 0.1 mmol/l calcium chloride and 0.24 mmol/l DGGR in acetate buffer (18 mmol/l, pH 4.0 at 25° C.). Solution 2 was mixed on a magnetic stirrer at 500 rpm and 4° C. overnight. The lipase solution contains 1 g/l of porcine pancreatic lipase in deionised water, where 1 mg contains 60 U of lipase activity. 
         [0019]    For all alginate polymer samples, a stock solution containing 4 g/l polymer was prepared by slowly adding dry polymer powder to a vortexing mixture of Solution 1. The stock solution was then diluted with buffer to produce polymer test samples containing 0.25, 1 and 4 g/l polymer. When the three polymer test samples were added to the reaction mixture, the alginate concentration in the reaction mixture was 0.21, 0.86 and 3.43 g/l respectively. As a positive control, 0.025 g/l Orlistat was added to Solution 1. All solutions were stored at 4° C. until use. 
       Procedure 
     Lipase Activity Assay 
       [0020]    The activity of lipase was assessed under three conditions. Firstly, lipase activity was determined under optimum assay conditions where 100% activity is achievable. These conditions are referred to as Lipase Control conditions. 
         [0021]    1.5 ml of Solution 1 was mixed with 100 μl of Lipase Solution and incubated at 37° C. for 60 minutes. In tandem, 150 μl of Solution 2 was also incubated at 37° C. for 60 minutes before being combined with the Solution 1: Lipase Solution mixture and then incubated for a further 35 minutes. Once Solution 2 had been added to the enzyme mixture a two minute lag phase was observed and then the absorbance was read at five minute intervals for 35 minutes at either 575 nm for the plate assay or 580 nm for the cuvette assay. Reagent blanks were also run to eliminate the effect that additional chemicals have on the absorbance. To achieve this 100 μl of deionised water replaced the 100 μl of lipase solution added to the test condition. The respective reagent blanks were subtracted from their control or test condition. 
         [0022]    The second condition under which lipase activity was assessed was in the presence of a known covalent inhibitor, tetrahydrolipstatin (Orlistat). Under these conditions 0.025 g/l of Orlistat was added to Solution 1 prior to incubation and the assay methodology above was followed. Orlistat completely inhibits lipase and was used as a positive control for inhibition. These conditions are referred to as Inhibition Control conditions 
         [0023]    The final condition in which lipase activity was assessed was in the presence of alginate polymer. Polymers were added to Solution 1 (0.25-4 g/l) prior to incubation and the assay methodology above followed. These conditions are referred to as Test Condition. 
         [0024]    To calculate the percentage of lipase inhibition by alginates, the absorbance values under Test Conditions, Inhibition Control conditions and Lipase Control conditions were used and the following formula applied. 
         [0000]    
       
         
           
             
               Percentage 
                
               
                   
               
                
               of 
                
               
                   
               
                
               Lipase 
                
               
                   
               
                
               inhibition 
             
             = 
             
               1 
               - 
               
                 
                   
                     
                       Test 
                        
                       
                           
                       
                        
                       Condition 
                     
                     - 
                     
                       Inhibition 
                        
                       
                           
                       
                        
                       Control 
                     
                   
                   
                     
                       Lipase 
                        
                       
                           
                       
                        
                       Control 
                     
                     - 
                     
                       Inhibition 
                        
                       
                           
                       
                        
                       Control 
                     
                   
                 
                 × 
                 100 
               
             
           
         
       
     
         [0025]    The absorbance values used for the enzyme inhibition calculation were measurements taken after Solutions 1, 2 and lipase solution has been incubated for 12 minutes. At this stage the reaction was still in its linear phase. 
         [0026]    All lipase activity assays were repeated six times. 
         [0027]    Lipase will cleave the DGGR substrate to form 1,2 Di-o-lauryl-rac-glycerol and glutaric acid a 6-methyl resorufin ester compound. The ester will then spontaneously hydrolyses under alkaline conditions to glutaric acid and produce a purple chromophore (methyl resorufin). The increase in absorbance at 575-580 nm is a measure of lipase activity. The Cuvette assay was adapeted for a 96 well microplate assay. The procedure and method remained the same, however a tenfold reduction in volume was applied to allow the volumes to fit on a plate. 
       Statistical Analysis 
       [0028]    All statistical analysis and graph drawing were performed using standard functions of the analysis software Prism version 4 (GraphPad, San Diego, USA). 
       Example 2 
     Alginate XP3663 
     Method 
       [0029]    The lipase activity assay is a modified version of the method developed by Panteghini et al. [13]. The assay is comprised of three solutions, solution 1, solution 2 and the lipase solution. Solution 1 contains per litre of Tris buffer (50 mmol/l pH 8.4 at 23° C.), 1 mg of colipase and 1.8 mmol deoxycholic acid sodium salt. Solution 2 contains per litre of acetate buffer (18 mmol/1, pH 4.0 at 23° C.) 72 mmol taurodeoxycholic acid sodium salt, 0.1 mmol calcium chloride, and 0.24 mmol DGGR. Solution 2 was mixed with a magnetic stirrer at 500 rpm and 4° C. overnight. The lipase solution contains 1 g/l of porcine pancreatic lipase in deionised water, where 1 mg contains 60 U of lipase activity. 
         [0030]    Alginate polymer (either XP3663 or LFR5/60) was added slowly to a vortexing solution 1, achieving a concentration of 4 g/l which was in turn diluted to 1 g/l and 0.25 g/l. This achieved a concentration of 3.43 g/l, 0.86 g/l and 0.21 g/l respectively in the reaction mixture. To achieve 100% inhibition in the assay system 0.025 g/l Orlistat was added to solution 1. All solutions were stored at 4° C. until use. 
         [0031]    12 μl of lipase solution was added to either 180 μl solution 1, 180 μl the test polymer in solution 1 or 180 μl orlistat in solution 1. The test polymer in solution 1 (either XP3663 and LFR5/60) was present at the following concentrations (4, 1, or 0.25 g/l). Once incubated for one hour at 37° C., 160 μl of the above solutions were added to the substrate solution (15 μl of solution 2), thereby initiating the reaction. As a blank, the above procedure was repeated using 12 μl of deionised water instead of 12 μl of lipase solution. The absorbance of the reaction was measured at 575 nm every five minutes for 35 minutes after an initial two minute lag phase. To calculate the percentage of lipase inhibition, the reagent blanks were subtracted from the corresponding controls or samples and the following equation was applied: 
         [0000]    
       
         
           
             
               Percentage 
                
               
                   
               
                
               of 
                
               
                   
               
                
               Lipase 
                
               
                   
               
                
               inhibition 
             
             = 
             
               1 
               - 
               
                 
                   
                     
                       Polymer 
                        
                       
                           
                       
                        
                       Sample 
                     
                     - 
                     
                       Inhibition 
                        
                       
                           
                       
                        
                       Control 
                     
                   
                   
                     
                       Lipase 
                        
                       
                           
                       
                        
                       Control 
                     
                     - 
                     
                       Inhibition 
                        
                       
                           
                       
                        
                       Control 
                     
                   
                 
                 × 
                 100 
               
             
           
         
       
     
         [0032]    As an example, if biopolymer x achieved an absorbance measurement of 0.6 absorbance units, with its respective blank containing the biopolymer and no enzyme achieved 0.19 absorbance units, then the overall value used in the above equation would be 0.41 absorbance units. If the inhibition control achieved a reading of 0.3 absorbance units, with its blank achieving 0.25 absorbance units, then the value used in the equation above would be 0.05 absorbance units. The value that would be used for the lipase control would be 0.85 absorbance units after the blank of 0.12 had been subtracted if the reaction achieves an absorbance reading of 0.97 absorbance units. Therefore the equation would read; 
         [0000]    
       
         
           
             
               Percentage 
                
               
                   
               
                
               of 
                
               
                   
               
                
               Lipase 
                
               
                   
               
                
               inhibition 
             
             = 
             
               1 
               - 
               
                 
                   0.41 
                   - 
                   0.05 
                 
                 
                   0.85 
                   - 
                   0.05 
                 
               
             
           
         
       
     
         [0033]    Therefore biopolymer x would have inhibited pancreatic lipase by 55% 
         [0034]    There were two biopolymers tested in this assay system, alginates XP3663 and LFR5/60. The two alginates were tested at the same time on the same plate using the same solutions. The two alginates were tested six times using fresh solutions each time. 
       Results 
       [0035]      FIG. 1  illustrates how the activity of lipase (shown as an increase in absorbance over time) varied under the three conditions described above. Under the Lipase Control conditions (100% lipase activity) absorbance increased linearly up to 12 minutes before plateauing to a maximal value.  FIG. 1  also shows that Orlistat (0.025 mg/ml), an effective inhibitor of lipase provided a positive control for inhibition in the assay. The Orlistat positive control showed no inhibition and yielded the maximum rate of the reaction ( FIG. 1 : Inhibition control). Finally,  FIG. 1  highlights how a polymer (alginate SF200) can inhibit lipase, as shown by a reduction in the level of absorbance with time compared to the Lipase Control conditions. 
         [0036]      FIG. 2 , shows the percentage lipase inhibition achieved by eight brown seaweed alginates (four extracted from  Laminaria  and four extracted from  Lessonia ). All the alginates reduced the activity of lipase; however, there was a significant difference in the level of inhibition dependent on the seaweed source of alginate. The alginates extracted from  Laminaria  seaweed inhibited pancreatic lipase to a significantly higher degree (p&gt;0.001) than the alginates extracted from  Lessonia.    
         [0037]      FIG. 3  illustrates that the inhibition of lipase by alginates was concentration dependent. Although  FIG. 3  only shows alginates from  Laminaria , for all alginates tested increasing the dose of alginate achieved a higher level of pancreatic lipase inhibition. 
         [0038]      FIGS. 2 and 3  both show that not all alginates inhibit lipase to the same extent, even those from the same genus. A possible explanation is there are variations in the chemical composition of alginates. More specifically, there are distinct differences in the content and arrangement of constituent guluronic and mannuronic acid blocks. 
         [0039]    The structural characteristics of alginates tested in this study are listed in Table 1. Polymer 1 as listed in the table is a homopolymeric mannuronate alginate from a bacterial source, polymers 2-15 are from either a bacterial or seaweed source and have had their initial structure altered using one or a combination of epimerase enzymes. For example the bacterial alginate PAB has been enzymatically altered from a homopolymeric M block alginate (PAG) via incubation with an alternating epimerase enzyme until completion, creating a polymer of mainly alternating MG blocks. The alginate PAT was only treated with the same epimerase enzyme for 2 hours, therefore only increasing the MG content from 0 to 17%. Polymers 16-19 are from the  Laminaria  seaweed source whereas the final polymers listed (20-23) are from  Lessonia  seaweed sources. 
         [0000]    
       
         
               
             
               
               
               
               
               
               
               
               
               
               
               
               
               
             
               
               
               
               
               
               
               
               
               
               
               
               
               
             
           
               
                 TABLE 1 
               
             
             
               
                   
               
               
                 Sources, code and characteristics of the alginates used in the study 
               
             
          
           
               
                   
                   
                   
                 Molec- 
                   
                   
                   
                   
                   
                   
                   
                   
                   
               
               
                   
                   
                 Sample 
                 ular 
                   
                   
                   
                 F(GM) = 
                   
                 F(MGG) = 
                   
                   
                 N(G &gt; 
               
               
                   
                 Alginate Source 
                 Code 
                 Wt 
                 F(G) 
                 F(M) 
                 F(GG) 
                 F(MG) 
                 F(MM) 
                 F(GGM) 
                 F(MGM) 
                 F(GGG) 
                 1) 
               
               
                   
                   
               
             
          
           
               
                 1 
                 Bacterial 
                 PAG 
                 584400 
                 0 
                 1 
                 0 
                 0 
                 1 
                 0 
                 0 
                 0 
                 0 
               
               
                 2 
                 Bacterial (treated with epimerase) 
                 PAB 
                 456733 
                 0.47 
                 0.53 
                 0 
                 0.47 
                 0.059 
                 0 
                 0.47 
                 0 
                 0 
               
               
                 3 
                 Bacterial (treated with epimerase) 
                 PAE 
                 436767 
                 0.52 
                 0.48 
                 0.38 
                 0.14 
                 0.34 
                 0.037 
                 0.12 
                 0.34 
                 11 
               
               
                 4 
                 Bacterial (treated with epimerase) 
                 PAF 
                 442367 
                 0.44 
                 0.56 
                 0.31 
                 0.12 
                 0.44 
                 0.04 
                 0.1 
                 0.27 
                 8 
               
               
                 5 
                 Bacterial (treated with epimerase) 
                 PAA 
                 423767 
                 0.8 
                 0.2 
                 0.7 
                 0.1 
                 0.1 
                 0.016 
                 0.094 
                 0.68 
                 44 
               
               
                 6 
                 Seaweed (treated with epimerase) 
                 PAD 
                 194833 
                 0.54 
                 0.46 
                 0.28 
                 0.26 
                 0.2 
                 0.084 
                 0.21 
                 0.19 
                 4 
               
               
                 7 
                 Seaweed (treated with epimerase) 
                 PAC 
                 262400 
                 0.7 
                 0.3 
                 0.55 
                 0.15 
                 0.15 
                 0.083 
                 0.086 
                 0.47 
                 7 
               
               
                 8 
                 Bacterial (treated with epimerase) 
                 PAI 
                 374800 
                 0.68 
                 0.32 
                 0.59 
                 0.09 
                 0.23 
                 0.028 
                 0.077 
                 0.56 
                 22 
               
               
                 9 
                 Seaweed (treated with epimerase) 
                 PAJ 
                 211833 
                 0.62 
                 0.38 
                 0.44 
                 0.18 
                 0.2 
                 0.067 
                 0.115 
                 0.37 
                 8 
               
               
                 10 
                 Seaweed (treated with epimerase) 
                 PAK 
                 202000 
                 0.62 
                 0.38 
                 0.45 
                 0.17 
                 0.21 
                 0.115 
                 0.091 
                 0.34 
                 5 
               
               
                 11 
                 Seaweed  Durvillea potatorum   
                 PAL 
                 241067 
                 0.35 
                 0.65 
                 0.19 
                 0.16 
                 0.49 
                 0.05 
                 0.13 
                 0.13 
                 4 
               
               
                 12 
                 Seaweed (treated with epimerase) 
                 PAM 
                 251220 
                 0.68 
                 0.32 
                 0.53 
                 0.15 
                 0.16 
                 0.064 
                 0.118 
                 0.47 
                 9 
               
               
                 13 
                 Seaweed (treated with epimerase) 
                 PAN 
                 226550 
                 0.67 
                 0.33 
                 0.52 
                 0.15 
                 0.18 
                 0.063 
                 0.081 
                 0.46 
                 9 
               
               
                 14 
                 Seaweed  Laminaria hyperborea   
                 PAO 
                 260600 
                 0.49 
                 0.51 
                 0.33 
                 0.16 
                 0.35 
                 0.04 
                 0.12 
                 0.29 
                 9 
               
               
                 15 
                 Bacterial (treated with epimerase) 
                 PAT 
                 438733 
                 0.17 
                 0.83 
                 0 
                 0.17 
                 0.66 
                 0 
                 0.17 
                 0 
                 0 
               
               
                 16 
                 Seaweed  Laminaria   
                 LFR5/60 
                 34700 
                 0.633 
                 0.367 
                 0.505 
                 0.128 
                 0.239 
                 0.054 
                 0.096 
                 0.45 
                 9.9 
               
               
                 17 
                 Seaweed  Laminaria   
                 SF120 
                 195000 
                 0.664 
                 0.336 
                 0.545 
                 0.119 
                 0.218 
                 0.061 
                 0.083 
                 0.484 
                 9.6 
               
               
                 18 
                 Seaweed  Laminaria   
                 SF/LF 
                 295000 
                 0.66 
                 0.336 
                 0.548 
                 0.116 
                 0.22 
                 0.042 
                 0.081 
                 0.506 
                 13.8 
               
               
                 19 
                 Seaweed  Laminaria   
                 SF200 
                 387000 
                 0.68 
                 0.322 
                 0.573 
                 0.105 
                 0.218 
                 0.036 
                 0.079 
                 0.537 
                 16.7 
               
               
                 20 
                 Seaweed  Lessonia   
                 LF10L 
                 75000 
                 0.45 
                 0.553 
                 0.275 
                 0.19 
                 0.362 
                 0.068 
                 0.153 
                 0.19 
                 4.4 
               
               
                 21 
                 Seaweed  Lessonia   
                 LF120L 
                 221000 
                 0.424 
                 0.576 
                 0.24 
                 0.185 
                 0.392 
                 0.057 
                 0.156 
                 0.183 
                 4.7 
               
               
                 22 
                 Seaweed  Lessonia   
                 SF60 
                 325000 
                 0.411 
                 0.589 
                 0.219 
                 0.195 
                 0.393 
                 0.077 
                 0.155 
                 0.139 
                 3.3 
               
               
                 23 
                 Seaweed  Lessonia   
                 H120L 
                 397000 
                 0.45 
                 0.551 
                 0.276 
                 0.173 
                 0.379 
                 0.051 
                 0.15 
                 0.22 
                 5.9 
               
               
                 24 
                 Seaweed  Laminaria   
                 XP3663 
                 150000 
                 0.60 
                 0.40 
                 NA 
                 NA 
                 NA 
                 NA 
                 NA 
                 NA 
                 NA 
               
               
                   
               
             
          
         
       
     
         [0040]      FIGS. 4 and 5  show that the fraction of mannuronic (M) or guluronic (G) acid residues (F(M) or F(G)) in an alginate had an impact on the ability of that alginate to reduce the level of pancreatic lipase activity. The Spearman rank correlation coefficient (r) in  FIG. 4  is 0.502 showing that there is a positive relationship between the fraction of guluronate in an alginate and its ability to inhibit lipase. This indicates that increasing the fraction of guluronate increases the level of lipase inhibition (p=0.01). Conversely increasing the fraction of mannuronate in an alginate ( FIG. 5 ) decreases the level of lipase inhibition (r=−0.506 and p=0.01). This would be expected, because increasing the content of one uronic acid unit automatically decreases the fraction of the other. 
         [0041]      FIGS. 6 and 7  show that similar significant relationships are observed when comparing the fraction of guluronic acid dimers (F(GG)) or trimers (F(GGG)) with the level of inhibition. Increasing the fraction of GG blocks ( FIG. 6 ) and increasing the fraction of GGG blocks ( FIG. 7 ) in an alginate increases the inhibition of lipase. The correlations in  FIGS. 6 and 7  are positive and significant, confirmed with Spearman r values of 0.583 and 0.578 and p values of 0.004 
         [0042]    Furthermore,  FIG. 8  identifies a correlation between the size of the guluronic acid block length (N(G&gt;1)) and the ability of the alginate to inhibit lipase. It is clear that the larger the guluronic acid block length the greater the ability of alginate to inhibit lipase. The Spearman r value is 0.586 and the p value for the correlation is 0.003. 
         [0043]      FIG. 9  shows a further relationship between alginate composition and lipase inhibition. There appears to be an inverse relationship between the fraction of MG or GM blocks in alginate and lipase inhibition. The correlation in  FIG. 9  is negative and has a Spearman r value of −0.505 and a p value of 0.01. It would appear the correlation may be distorted by the value showing negative inhibition with a F(MG) of 0.47. This value was generated from the unique bacterial alginate that is an almost entirely alternating M and G residue polymer after treatment with an epimerase enzyme. However, when this point is removed from the correlation calculation there is still a significant negative correlation with a Spearman value of −0.434 and a p value of 0.04. 
         [0044]    Similarly,  FIG. 10  shows that when the fraction of MGM blocks in the alginate polymer F(MGM) is compared to the percentage of lipase inhibition there is negative correlation. The correlation of F(MGM) to lipase inhibition has a Spearman r value of −0.494 and a p value of 0.017. The correlation again may appear to be distorted by the extreme example of the poly-alternating bacterial alginate (F(MGM)=0.47). However in this case, when the result of the unique bacterial alginate is removed from the correlation calculation there is no significant correlation. 
         [0045]    The fractions of MM blocks ( FIG. 11 ) as well as MGG/GGM blocks ( FIG. 12 ) in alginates were also compared against the level of lipase inhibition achieved. There was no statistically significant correlation between the values for either of the two block fractions. That is not to say, however, that there is no correlation in either of the figures, but that there are not enough data to suggest a significant correlation either positive or negative. In the two figures ( FIGS. 11 and 12 ) the general tendency of the lines of best fit follows the trend of the data outlined above. 
         [0046]      FIG. 13  shows that alginate XP3663 was able to inhibit pancreatic lipase. The maximum level of lipase inhibition achieved by XP3663 was 56.6% (±6.4) at 3.43 g/l compared to LFR5/60 at the same concentration which achieved 47.6% (±11.4). At 0.86 g/l of alginate XP3663 achieved 31.0% (±6.4) whereas ‘LFR5/60 achieved 19.3% (±16.7) and at 0.21 g/l of alginate XP3663 and ‘LFR5/60 achieved 3.1% (±54.6) and 0.1% (±31.5) respectively. There is no significant difference between the two alginates at the same concentration using a two way ANOVA test. 
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