Production of a transfructosylating enzymatic activity associated to fructooligosaccharides

Abstract

Biotransformation of sucrose to fructooligosaccharides (FOS) was investigated using the catalytic action of fructosyltransferase (FFase) originated from solid-state fermentation of agro-industrial wastes (sugarcane bagasse, sotol bagasse, Agave fibers, and polyurethane) using four fungal strains (Aspergillus niger GH1, A. niger PSH, Penicillium citrinum, and Penicillium purpurogenum) which have demonstrated ability to produce great diversity of metabolites of industrial interest. Microorganisms and supports were selected based on transfructosylating activity and FOS production. Agave fibers were the best support material since permitted the highest amounts of FOS and FFase, with a FOS productivity of 10.88 g/L * h and yield of 2.70 g/g based on total substrate. Moreover, the At/Ah ratio of FFase was higher for cells cultivated on Agave fibers than those values obtained for the other wastes. Such results showed that Agave fibers can be successfully used as support of A. niger PSH strain for FOS and FTase production.