BIOCONVERSION OF LACTOSE WHEY TO FRUCTOSE DIPHOSPHATE WITH RECOMBINANT SACCHAROMYCES-CEREVISIAE CELLS

Genetically engineered Saccharomyces cerevisiae strains that express E scherichia coli beta-galactosidase gene are able to bioconvert lactose or whey into fructose-1,6-diphosphate (FDP). High FDP yields from whe y were obtained with an appropriate ratio between cell concentration a nd inorganic phosphate. The biomass of transformed cells can be obtain ed from different carbon sources, according to the expression vector b earing the lacZ gene. We showed that whey can be used as the carbon so urce for S. cerevisiae growth and as the substrate for bioconversion t o fructose diphosphate.