Production, properties, and applications of fructosyltransferase: a current appraisal

Abstract

Background

Fructosyltransferases (FTases) are drawing increasing attention due to their application in prebiotic fructooligosaccharide (FOS) generation. FTases have been reported to occur in a variety of microorganisms but are predominantly found in filamentous fungi. These are employed at the industrial scale for generating FOS which make the key ingredient in functional food supplements and nutraceuticals due to their bifidogenic and various other health-promoting properties.

Scope and approach

This review is aimed to discuss recent developments made in the area of FTase production, characterization, and application in order to present a comprehensive account of their present status to the reader. Structural features, catalytic mechanisms, and FTase improvement strategies have also been discussed in order to provide insight into these aspects.

Key findings and conclusions

Although FTases occur in several plants and microorganisms, fungal FTases are being exploited commercially for industrial-scale FOS generation. Several fungal FTases have been characterized and heterologously expressed. However, considerable scope exists for improved production and application of FTases for cost-effective production of prebiotic FOS.

HIGHLIGHTS

• Fructosyltrasferase (FTase) is a key enzyme in fructo-oligosaccharide (FOS) generation

• Developments in the production, properties, and functional aspects of FTases

• Molecular modification and immobilization strategies for improved FOS generation

• Fructosyltransferases are innovation hotspots in the food and nutraceutical industries

Keywords:

• Fructosyltransferase
• fructooligosaccharides
• fructan
• fungi
• prebiotic

Acknowledgements

RC is thankful to UGC, New Delhi for research fellowship. The authors thank DST-PURSE (II) scheme at Dr. HS Gour Vishwavidyalaya, Sagar for providing infrastructural facilities for carrying out the review.

Disclosure statement

The authors declare that they have no known competing financial interests or personal relationships that could have appeared to influence the work reported in this paper.