Substrate induction of isomaltulose synthase in a newly isolated Klebsiella sp. LX3.

AIMS

Production of isomaltulose by newly isolated Klebsiella sp. LX3.

METHODS AND RESULTS

The bacterial isolate LX3, which transforms sucrose to isomaltulose and trehalulose, has been isolated from a soil sample in Singapore. Morphological and biochemical analysis, as well as 16s rRNA sequence demonstrated that the isolate could represent a new member of genus Klebsiella. The strain has several interesting features. The immobilized cells of Klebsiella sp. LX3 convert more than 99% of sucrose to products that consist of more than 87% of isomaltulose, 11.6% of trehalulose, and <1% of glucose.

CONCLUSIONS

The production of isomaltulose synthase in isolate LX3 is inducible by its substrate sucrose and the sugars containing a fructofuranosyl group.

SIGNIFICANCE AND IMPACT OF STUDY

It would be useful for future biotechnological applications to understand the structural features or motifs of the isomaltulose synthases that determine the sucrose conversion efficiency and the ratio of the conversion products.