Background: Inulinases have been extracted and characterized from
inulin-storing tissues; however, production of microbial inulinases
have recently draw much attention as they offer several industrial
advantages. Many microorganisms, including filamentous fungi, yeast and
bacteria have been claimed as inulinase producers. These hydrolases are
usually inducible and their exo-acting forms may hydrolyze fructose
polymers (inulin) and oligosaccharides such as sucrose and raffinose.
Fungal inulinase extracts are often produced as stable mixture of
highly active fructanhydrolases. From a practical prospective, the best
known inulinases to date are those produced by species of Penicillium,
Aspergillus and Kluyveromyces. Results: The production of extracellular
inulinase by A. kawachii in liquid cultures, using either inulin or
yacon derived materials as CES as well as inulinase inducers, is
reported. In addition, a partial characterization of the enzyme
activity is included. Conclusions: Yacon derived products, particularly
yacon juice, added to the culture medium proved to be a good CES for
fungal growth as well as an inducer of enzyme synthesis. Partial
characterization of the enzyme revealed that it is quite stable in a
wide range of pH and temperature. In addition, characterization of the
reaction products revealed that this enzyme corresponds to an exo-type.
These facts are promising considering its potential application in
inulin hydrolysis for the production of high fructose syrups