Biotransformation of Sucrose by Using Thermostable and Alkaline Fructosyltransferase Enzyme Isolated from Marine Aspergillus Niger

The biotransformation of sucrose to fructooligosaccharides was investigated using the catalytic action of fructosyltransferase originated from marine Aspergillus niger, using whole cell immobilization. The biomass production and enzymatic reaction were carried out in shake flask. A fructosyltransferase enzyme producing fungi locally isolated from sea water from South East cost of India, by using potato dextrose broth medium and identified as Aspergillus niger. To evaluate the fructosyltransferase activity two biomass concentrations (6 and 9.5 g L-1) of Aspergillus niger mycelia were used. Cultural and physiological characteristics of the isolate were studied. Aspergillus niger produced an inducible intracellular FTFase enzyme in a high yield (37.04U/ml). Hydrolysis and subsequent analysis showed that the product consisted entirely of D-fructose. The result shows the enzyme reaction reached its maximal activity when the reaction was conducted at 65 oC, pH 8.0 in 16 hrs.