Biosynthesis of nutraceutical iso-oligosaccharides by multiple forms of transferase produced by Aspergillus foetidus

Isomalto-oligosaccharide and isofructo-oligosaccharide production was attempted using enzymes produced by Aspergillus foetidus. Four fractions having transferase enzyme activity were obtained from the fermentation broth of Aspergillus foetidus by ammonium sulfate precipitation and DEAE-cellulose chromatography. The optimum temperature was 60 degrees C and pH stability in the range 4 to 6 for various fractions. The pH optima, heat sensitivity and kinetic parameters for the four fractions were however not the same. All four enzyme fractions could not utilize lactose and cellobiose to synthesize isooligosaccharide and showed different transferase activity for maltose and sucrose for synthesis of isooligosaccharides. The HPLC isooligosaccharide product analysis of these transferase enzymes reveal that the four forms of enzymes are distinct and produce oligosaccharides like panose, kestose and nystose or act as hydrolytic enzymes, depending on reaction conditions.