• Journal of Microbiology and Biotechnology
• /
• v.17 no.1
• /
• pp.37-43
• /
• 2007

A gene encoding inulin fructotransferase (di-D-fructofuranose 1,2': 2,3' dianhydride [DFA III]-producing IFTase, EC 4.2.2.18) from Bacillus sp. snu-7 was cloned. This gene was composed of a single, 1,353-bp open reading frame encoding a protein composed of a 40-amino acid signal peptide and a 410-amino acid mature protein. The deduced amino acid sequence was 98% identical to Arthrobacter globiformis C11-1 IFTase (DFA III-producing). The enzyme was successfully expressed in E. coli as a functionally active, His-tagged protein, and it was purified in a single step using immobilized metal affinity chromatography. The purified enzyme showed much higher specific activity (1,276 units/mg protein) than other DFA III-producing IFTases. The recombinant and native enzymes were optimally active in very similar pH and temperature conditions. With a 103-min half-life at $60^{\circ}C$, the recombinant enzyme was as stable as the native enzyme. Acidic residues and cysteines potentially involved in the catalytic mechanism are proposed based on an alignment with other IFTases and a DFA IIIase.

• Microbiology and Biotechnology Letters
• /
• v.27 no.6
• /
• pp.471-476
• /
• 1999

Inulin fructotransferase(depolymerizing)(EC 2.4.1.93)(inulaseII) which converts inulin into di-D-fructofuranose-1,2':2,3'-dianhydride (DFAIII) was purified from Arthrobacter ureafaciens KCTC 3387 using column chromatography on DEAE-Toyopearl 650M and gel filtration of Sephadex G-200. The enzyme was purified 7-fold with a yield of 11% from a culture supernatant. The purified enzyme gave a single band on polyacrylamide gel electrophoresis, and the molecular weight of the enzyme was estimated to be 45,000 by SDS-polyacrylamide gel electrophoresis. The optimum pH and temperature for the enzyme reaction were pH6.5~7.0 and $55{\circ}C$, respectively. The enzyme was stable within a pH range of 5.0 to 10.6 and up to $60^{\circ}C$. The Km of this enzyme for DFAIII production was 11.9mM. The enzyme was inactivated by $Hg^{2+}$ and after exhaustive digestion of inulin by this enzyme, 1-kestose and nystose were produced in addition of DFAIII.

• Microbiology and Biotechnology Letters
• /
• v.24 no.5
• /
• pp.619-623
• /
• 1996

Some physical and physiological properties of di-D-fructofuranose dianhydrideIII (DFAIII), as a new sweetener, were investigated via in vitro experiments. The disaccharide was prepared by decomposing inulin with inulin fructotransferase (depolymerizing) from Arthrobacter sp. A-6. DFAIII had more excellent heat and acid stability than sucrose. This was one of the most desirable properties especially for the oligomer types of sweetener. DFAIII showed the least pH drop in the Streptococcus mutans culture, compared with the other saccharides examined. This indicates that the sugar will be fairly effective for preventing dental caries. The saccharide also had a selective Bifidus growth-promoting effect in PYF medium. Whereas, E. coli did not show growth promotion in the DFAIII-containing medium. In the co-culture of Bifidus longum and E. coli in the BL medium, Bifidus longum had a selective growth while the growth of E. coli appeared rather to be inhibited.

• Journal of Life Science
• /
• v.19 no.9
• /
• pp.1218-1225
• /
• 2009

Difractose anhydrides (DFAs) is studied as a sweetener for diabetics because of its structural property. DFAs have four types: DFA I, III, IV (degradation of levan) and V (degradation of inulin). Especially, DFA IV has been shown to enhance the absorption of calcium in experiments using rats. Levan fructotransferase is an enzyme for producing di-d-fructose-2,6':6,2-dianhydride (DFA IV). To identify structural characterization, we purified wild-type and mutants (D63A, D195N and N85S) of levan fructotransferase (LFTase) from Microbacterium sp. AL-210. These proteins were purified to apparent homogeneity by Ni-NTA affinity column, Q-sepharose ion exchange and gel filtration chromatography and detected by SDS-PAGE. They were also analyzed by circular dichroism (CD) measurements, JNET secondary structure prediction, activity measurements at various temperatures, and pH analysis. The optimum pH for the enzyme-catalyzed reaction was pH 7.5 and optimum temperature was observed at $55^{\circ}C$. Along with wild-type LFTase, mutants were analyzed by CD measurement, fluorescence analysis and differential scanning calorimetry (DSC). N85S showed less $\alpha$-helix and more $\beta$ strand than others. Also, N85S showed almost the same curve as wild-type in their steady-state fluorescence spectra, whereas mutant D63A and D195N showed higher intensity than wild-type. The amino acid sequence of wild-type LFTase was compared to the sequences of exo-inulinase from Aspergillus awamori, a plant fructan 1-exohydrolase from Cichorium intybus, and Thermotogo maritime (Tm) invertase and showed a high identity with Exo-inulinase from Aspergillus awamori.