Production of a novel transfructosylating enzyme from Bacillus macerans EG-6

A new bacterium producing a novel transfructosylating enzyme was isolated f rom soil and designated as Bacillus macerans EG-6. Various culture conditio ns for enzyme production were optimized in a flask culture. 10io (w/v) sucr ose as a carbon source and a mixed nitrogen source (1% yeast extract, 1% po lypeptone, and 0.5% ammonium chloride) gave the best enzyme production. Add ition of phosphate and magnesium ion into the medium enhanced the enzyme yi eld. Optimum culture pH and temperature were 7.0 and 37 degrees C, respecti vely. Under optimal culture conditions, transfructosylating enzyme was rapi dly produced in the early growth period, thereafter invertase activity was predominant as the culture proceeded. Using the culture filtrate, productio n of fructooligosaccharides from sucrose was preliminarily carried out. In a low sucrose concentration (200 g/l), transfructosylating activity compete s with invertase activity in sucrose utilization. Subsequently, low fructoo ligosaccharide yield (20%) was achieved due to liberation of high amounts o f glucose and fructose. The best oligosaccharide yield (43%) was achieved w hen 500 g/l sucrose was utilized.