Modelling of oligosaccharide synthesis by dextransucrase

Dextransucrase catalyses the formation of dextran, but also of numerous oli gosaccharides from sucrose and different accepters, if appropriate conditio ns are chosen. Much experimental work has been carried out and a scheme of reactions and a mathematical model have been developed to describe the comp lex kinetic behaviour of the enzyme. A computer program was used to calcula te the parameters of the model from a broad range of experimental data, inv estigating a large number of kinetic tests with the accepters maltose and f ructose. The results lead to design considerations for a continuous reactor system with immobilized dextransucrase to produce leucrose, a disaccharide of industrial interest. (C) 1999 John Wiley & Sons, Inc.