• Microbiology and Biotechnology Letters
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• v.26 no.1
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• pp.40-44
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• 1998

A Penicillium strain which produces $eta$-galactosidase with high transgalactosylation activity, was isolated from soil and registered as Penicillium sp, KFCC 10888. When $eta$-galactosidase from Penicillium sp. KFCC 10855 reacted with 40% lactose, transgalactosylation ratio reached up to 70% at the 73% conversion of initial lactose. The biosynthesis of the enzyme in Penicillium sp. KFCC 10888 was not induced by lactose. The soybean meal was an effective component of the culture medium. The optimum pH and temperature for transgalactosylation were 4.0 and 55$^{\circ}C$, respectively. The production of galactooligosaccharides was in proportion to the initial lactose concentration. When the enzyme reacted with 40% lactose (pH 4.0) at 55$^{\circ}C$, the concentration of galactooligosaccharides increased up to 40% of total solid concentration.