Inulinase

Uses

Inulinase is an important hydrolyzing enzyme which specifically act on β-2, 1 linkages of inulin to produce fructose or fructooligosaccharides.

Biochem/physiol Actions

Inulinase hydrolyses inulin to produce oligosaccharides and liberate fructose. It also splits terminal fructose units in sucrose and raffinose.

Biotechnological Applications

Inulinase (EC. 3.2.1.7) hydrolyzes inulin that is in high demand for the production of high fructose syrups and fuel ethanol. A marine Y. lipolytica isolate OUC2 secreted 62.85 U/mL of inulinase. The enzyme has optimal pH and temperature at 5.0 and 60 ℃, respectively.
However, no monosaccharides and disaccharides were detected after inulin hydrolysis by the crude inulinase produced by Y. lipolytica OUC2, suggesting that the crude inulinase had no exoinulinase activity (Gao et al. 2007).