Application of response surface methodology for glucosyltransferase production and conversion of sucrose into isomaltulose using free Erwinia sp. cells

Isomaltulose is a structural isomer of sucrose commercially used in food industries. Glucosyltransferase produced by Erwinia sp. D12 catalyses an intramolecular transglucosylation of sucrose giving isomaltulose. The Experimental design and response surface methodology were applied for the optimization of the nutrient concentration in the culture medium for the enzyme production in shaken flasks at 200 rpm and 30°C. The three variables involved in this study were sugar cane molasses, bacteriological peptone and yeast extract Prodex Lac SD®. The statistical analysis of the results showed that, in the range studied, all the factors had a significant effect (p < 0.05) on glucosyltransferase production and the highest enzyme activity was observed in culture medium containing sugar cane molasses (160 g/L), bacteriological peptone (20 g/L) and yeast extract Prodex Lac SD® (15 g/L). Maximum glucosyltransferase activity of 29.88 U/mL was achieved in a 6.6-L fermenter using the optimized medium. Free Erwinia sp. D12 cells were used for isomaltulose production from sucrose during fifteen successive batches. The final isomaltulose concentration of 75.6 percent obtained in the first batch increased to 77.21 percent (mean value) in the other fourteen batches and the productivity of 1.1 g/L x hr was obtained in batch process.

Production of glucosyltransferase by Erwinia sp. using experimental design and response surface methodology

A glicosiltransferase obtida pela linhagem Erwinia sp. é uma enzima intracelular que catalisa a conversão de sacarose em isomaltulose. A isomaltulose é um dissacarídeo redutor, não cariogênico e comercialmente utilizado em alimentos como substituto da sacarose. A metodologia de superfície de resposta e planejamento fatorial composto central-23 foram utilizados para otimizar o meio de cultivo para a producão de glicosiltransferase de Erwinia sp. em frascos sob agitacão a 200 rpm e 30ºC. As três variáveis independentes envolvidas no estudo foram o melaco de cana de acúcar, a água de maceracão de milho e o extrato de levedura Prodex Lac SD. As análises estatísticas dos resultados mostraram que, dentro da faixa estudada das concentracões dos componentes de meio de cultivo, todas as variáveis apresentaram efeito significativo na producão de glicosiltransferase. O meio de cultivo otimizado foi composto de 100 gL-1 de melaco de cana de acúcar, 60 gL-1 de água de maceracão de milho e 8 gL-1 de extrato de levedura Prodex Lac SD, apresentando atividade de glicosiltransferase de 6.65 U mL-1.