What is Fructosyltransferase?
Fructosyltransferases (FTs) are an important group of enzymes involved in the biosynthesis of fructans in some plants and in a large number of microorganisms. Several studies have shown that FTs play a key role in regulating the levels of fructan molecules during abiotic stress tolerance of certain plant species. Because of their diverse range of functional characteristics, efforts have increased to improve fructans applications in food quality and in added health benefits of plants. For these reasons, interest on the search for more direct and cost-effective routes to producing fructans have also increased. In this paper, we review recent research on plant FTs and summarize their role in the regulation of fructan biosynthesis and their use in producing fructans at an industrial scale. We also present the challenges and opportunities that FTs will present in the future.
Everything You Need to Know
What is the function of Fructooligosaccharides?
Among these, fructooligosaccharides (FOS) play a crucial role as substrates within the digestive system, aiding in producing of short-chain fatty acids by beneficial microorganisms, thus promoting their growth.
What is invertase enzyme used for?
Invertase is one of the secret ingredients in the candy-making industry. It is an enzyme that is commonly used to make candy liquid centers, chocolate-covered cherries, fondant candies, creme eggs, and other cordials. Invertase is usually derived from yeast, either from bread factories or beer breweries.
How is fos made?
The production of FOS at a commercial scale is achieved by chemical or enzymatic hydrolysis mediated by inulin or sucrose transfructosylation.
What enzyme breaks down fructose in the body?
Digestion of fructose in the body Fructose is absorbed into the bloodstream in the small intestine with the help of a transport protein. The digestive enzyme Xylose Isomerase converts free fructose into glucose, ensuring a 1:1 ratio of glucose and fructose, allowing both to be properly absorbed in the small intestine.
Main Details:
Fructooligosaccharides (FOS) also sometimes called oligofructose or oligofructan, are oligosaccharide fructans, used as an alternative sweetener. FOS exhibits sweetness levels between 30 and 50 percent of sugar in commercially prepared syrups.
The enzyme that converts sugar (sucrose) into glucose and fructose is Invertase. This process is known as the hydrolysis of sucrose and is catalyzed by invertase, which is also called sucrase or beta-fructofuranosidase.
People with digestive disorders such as irritable bowel syndrome (IBS) may want to avoid using FOS, as their digestive system may not respond well to the effects.
Function: FTase catalyzes the hydrolysis of sucrose and the transfer of fructose residues to form FOS (like 1-kestose), acting as a biocatalyst in food industries.
Applications: Used to produce high-value prebiotic FOS, which are increasingly demanded in the food and nutraceutical sectors.
ANALYTICAL RESULTS
| Test Item | Method / Ref. | Specification | Result | Conclusion |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Identification | In-house ID / label claim | Fructosyltransferase (EC 2.4.1.9) | Conforms | Pass |
| Appearance | Visual | White to off-white powder | Off-white powder | Pass |
| Enzyme Activity | Fructosyltransferase assay / supplier method | NLT 5,000 U/g | 5,100 U/g | Pass |
| Activity Unit Definition | Supplier-defined unit | Report only | U/g reported | Pass |
| pH (1% solution) | pH meter | 4.5 – 6.5 | 5.3 | Pass |
| Loss on Drying | Gravimetric / USP 731 | ≤ 8.0% | 4.2% | Pass |
| Lead (Pb) | ICP-MS / ICP-OES | ≤ 5.0 mg/kg | 0.18 mg/kg | Pass |
| Arsenic (As) | ICP-MS / ICP-OES | ≤ 3.0 mg/kg | 0.09 mg/kg | Pass |
| Cadmium (Cd) | ICP-MS / ICP-OES | ≤ 0.5 mg/kg | < 0.05 mg/kg | Pass |
| Mercury (Hg) | ICP-MS / ICP-OES | ≤ 0.5 mg/kg | < 0.01 mg/kg | Pass |
| Total Plate Count | Plate count | ≤ 50,000 CFU/g | 2.0 × 10³ CFU/g | Pass |
| Coliforms | Plate count | ≤ 30 CFU/g | < 10 CFU/g | Pass |
| E. coli | Absence Test | Negative / 25g | Not Detected | Pass |
| Salmonella | Absence Test | Negative / 25g | Not Detected | Pass |
Production Process
