This disclosure provides methods and compositions for the promotion of enzymatic activity of Target Enzymes, including but not limited to oligosaccharide/polysaccharide enzymes, protein enzymes, polynucleotide enzymes. The methods involve use of a non-naturally occurring polysaccharide (including but not limited HES) for promoting the enzymatic activity of an enzyme in liquid milieu, wherein the concentration of the polysaccharide in the composition comprising the Target Enzyme is from about 0.01% to about 55% w/v.