[Purification and properties of inulinase from Aspergillus niger]

The main component of inulinase was purified from fermentation broth of Aspergillus niger 319 to homogeneity by using ammonium sulfate fraction, ion-exchange chromatography on DEAE-cellulose column and Sephadex G-100 gel filtration. The specific activity was as 67 folds at the fermentation broth, and the yield was 25.5%. The inulinase, containing 13.92% of carbohydrate, was a monomer protein with a molecular weight of 28,000 Dalton; and its isoelectric point was pH 5.4. The optimal pH and temperature of the inulinase was pH 5.0 and 60 degrees C, respectively. The enzyme was strongly inhibited by heavy metal ions of Hg2+, Pb2+ and Cu2+. The optimal substrate for the enzyme was inulin and the product was only fructose, but it also had invertase activity with the I/S of 0.348. The Km and Vm of the inulinase was 6.25 mmol/L and 67.11 mumol.mg-1.min-1, respectively.