Selective production of GF(4)-fructooligosaccharide from sucrose by a new transfructosylating enzyme

A new fructosyltransferase produced by a new isolate of Bacillus macerans E G-6 showed mainly hydrolyzing activity at 10 g sucrose/l, while both hydrol yzing and transfructosylating activity were observed at 100 g sucrose/l. In contrast, the new enzyme catalyzed an almost exclusively fructosyl transfe r reaction with 500 g sucrose/l, producing selectively 42% of fructooligosa ccharide (GF(4)) without forming other fructooligosaccharides. The reaction was optimal at pH 6.0 and 37 degrees C.