Conversion of sucrose into isomaltulose by Enterobacter sp. FMB1, an isomaltulose-producing microorganism isolated from traditional Korean food

Analyzing Current Trends and Possible Strategies to Improve Sucrose Isomerases' Thermostability

Due to their ability to produce isomaltulose, sucrose isomerases are enzymes that have caught the attention of researchers and entrepreneurs since the 1950s. However, their low activity and stability at temperatures above 40 °C have been a bottleneck for their industrial application. Specifically, the instability of these enzymes has been a challenge when it comes to their use for the synthesis and manufacturing of chemicals on a practical scale. This is because industrial processes often require biocatalysts that can withstand harsh reaction conditions, like high temperatures. Since the 1980s, there have been significant advancements in the thermal stabilization engineering of enzymes. Based on the literature from the past few decades and the latest achievements in protein engineering, this article systematically describes the strategies used to enhance the thermal stability of sucrose isomerases. Additionally, from a theoretical perspective, we discuss other potential mechanisms that could be used for this purpose.

Thermostability improvement of sucrose isomerase PalI NX-5: a comprehensive strategy

OBJECTIVE

To increase the thermal stability of sucrose isomerase from Erwinia rhapontici NX-5, we designed a comprehensive strategy that combines different thermostabilizing elements.

RESULTS

We identified 19 high B value amino acid residues for site-directed mutagenesis. An in silico evaluation of the influence of post-translational modifications on the thermostability was also carried out. The sucrose isomerase variants were expressed in Pichia pastoris X33. Thus, for the first time, we report the expression and characterization of glycosylated sucrose isomerases. The designed mutants K174Q, L202E and K174Q/L202E, showed an increase in their optimal temperature of 5 °C, while their half-lives increased 2.21, 1.73 and 2.89 times, respectively. The mutants showed an increase in activity of 20.3% up to 25.3%. The Km values for the K174Q, L202E, and K174Q/L202E mutants decreased by 5.1%, 7.9%, and 9.4%, respectively; furthermore, the catalytic efficiency increased by up to 16%.

CONCLUSIONS

With the comprehensive strategy followed, we successfully obtain engineered mutants more suitable for industrial applications than their counterparts: native (this research) and wild-type from E. rhapontici NX-5, without compromising the catalytic activity of the molecule.

Engineering cyanobacteria for converting carbon dioxide into isomaltulose

Isomaltulose is a promising functional sweetener with broad application prospects in the food industry. Currently, isomaltulose is mainly produced through bioconversion processes based on the isomerization of sucrose, the economic feasibility of which is influenced by the cost of sucrose feedstocks, the biocatalyst preparation, and product purification. Cyanobacterial photosynthetic production utilizing solar energy and carbon dioxide represents a promising route for the supply of sugar products, which can promote both carbon reduction and green production. Previously, some cyanobacteria strains have been successfully engineered for synthesis of sucrose, the main feedstock for isomaltulose production. In this work, we introduced different sucrose isomerases into Synechococcus elongatus PCC 7942 and successfully achieved the isomaltulose synthesis and accumulation in the recombinant strains. Combinatory expression of an Escherichia coli sourced sucrose permease CscB with the sucrose isomerases led to efficient secretion of isomaltulose and significantly elevated the final titer. During a 6-day cultivation, 777 mg/L of isomaltulose was produced by the engineered Synechococcus cell factory. This work demonstrated a new route for isomaltulose biosynthesis utilizing carbon dioxide as the substrate, and provided novel understandings for the plasticity of cyanobacterial photosynthetic metabolism network.

Characterization of a recombinant sucrose isomerase and its application to enzymatic production of isomaltulose

OBJECTIVE

To characterize a recombinant isomerase that can catalyze the isomerization of sucrose into isomaltulose and investigate its application for the enzymatic production of isomaltulose.

RESULTS

A sucrose isomerase gene from Erwinia sp. Ejp617 was synthesized and expressed in Escherichia coli BL21(DE3). The enzymatic characterization revealed that the optimal pH and temperature of the purified sucrose isomerase were 6.0 and 40 °C, respectively. The enzyme activity was slightly activated by Mn²⁺and Mg²⁺, but partially inhibited by Ca²⁺, Ba²⁺, Cu²⁺, Zn²⁺ and EDTA. The kinetic parameters of K_m and V_max for sucrose were 69.28 mM and 118.87 U/mg, respectively. The time course showed that 240.9 g/L of isomaltulose was produced from 300 g/L of sucrose, and the yield reached 80.3% after bioreaction for 180 min.

CONCLUSIONS

This recombinant enzyme showed excellent capability for biotransforming sucrose to isomaltulose at the substrate concentration of 300 g/L. Further investigations should be carried out focusing on selection of suitable heterologous expression system with the aim to improve its expression level.

Sucrose isomers as alternative sweeteners: properties, production, and applications

In the daily diet, sweeteners play an indispensable role. Among them, sucrose, a widely occurring disaccharide in nature, is a commonly used sweetener. However, the intake of sucrose can cause a rapid increase in blood glucose, which leads to a number of health problems. Therefore, there is an urgent need for possible alternatives to sucrose. Currently, four naturally occurring sucrose isomers, trehalulose, turanose, leucrose, and isomaltulose are considered to be possible alternatives to sucrose due to their suitable sweetness, potential physiological benefits, and feasible production processes. This review covers the properties of these alternative sweeteners, including their structure, sweetness, hydrolysis rate, toxicology, and cariogenicity, and exhibits their potential applications in chronic diseases management, anti-inflammatory supplement, prebiotic dietary supplement, and stabilizing agent. The biosynthesis of these sucrose isomers using carbohydrate-active enzymes and their industrial production processes are also systematically summarized.

Whole Conversion of Soybean Molasses into Isomaltulose and Ethanol by Combining Enzymatic Hydrolysis and Successive Selective Fermentations

Isomaltulose is mainly produced from sucrose by microbial fermentation, when the utilization of sucrose contributes a high production cost. To achieve a low-cost isomaltulose production, soy molasses was introduced as an alternative substrate. Firstly, α-galactosidase gene from Rhizomucor miehei was expressed in Yarrowia lipolytica, which then showed a galactosidase activity of 121.6 U/mL. Under the effects of the recombinant α-galactosidase, most of the raffinose-family oligosaccharides in soy molasses were hydrolyzed into sucrose. Then the soy molasses hydrolysate with high sucrose content (22.04%, w/w) was supplemented into the medium, with an isomaltulose production of 209.4 g/L, and the yield of 0.95 g/g. Finally, by virtue of the bioremoval process using Pichia stipitis, sugar byproducts in broth were transformed into ethanol at the end of fermentation, thus resulting in high isomaltulose purity (97.8%). The bioprocess employed in this study provides a novel strategy for low-cost and efficient isomaltulose production from soybean molasses.

Improved production of isomaltulose by a newly isolated mutant of Serratia sp. cells immobilized in calcium alginate

Isomaltulose, also known as palatinose, is produced by sucrose isomerase and has been highlighted as a sugar substitute due to a number of advantageous properties. For the massive production of isomaltulose, high resistance to sucrose and stability of sucrose isomerase as well as sucrose conversion yields would be critical factors. We describe a series of screening procedures to isolate the mutant strain of Serratia sp. possessing enhanced isomaltulose production with improved stability. The new Serratia sp. isolated from a series of screening procedures allowed us to produce isomaltulose from 60% sucrose solution, with over 90% conversion yield. Moreover, when this strain was immobilized in calcium alginate beads and placed in a medium containing 60% sucrose, it showed over 70% sucrose conversion yields for 30 cycles of repeated-batch reactions. Thus, improved conversion activity and stability of the newly isolated Serratia sp. strain in the present study would be highly valuable for industries related to isomaltulose production.

The structural basis of Erwinia rhapontici isomaltulose synthase

Sucrose isomerase NX-5 from Erwiniarhapontici efficiently catalyzes the isomerization of sucrose to isomaltulose (main product) and trehalulose (by-product). To investigate the molecular mechanism controlling sucrose isomer formation, we determined the crystal structures of native NX-5 and its mutant complexes E295Q/sucrose and D241A/glucose at 1.70 Å, 1.70 Å and 2.00 Å, respectively. The overall structure and active site architecture of NX-5 resemble those of other reported sucrose isomerases. Strikingly, the substrate binding mode of NX-5 is also similar to that of trehalulose synthase from Pseudomonasmesoacidophila MX-45 (MutB). Detailed structural analysis revealed the catalytic RXDRX motif and the adjacent 10-residue loop of NX-5 and isomaltulose synthase PalI from Klebsiella sp. LX3 adopt a distinct orientation from those of trehalulose synthases. Mutations of the loop region of NX-5 resulted in significant changes of the product ratio between isomaltulose and trehalulose. The molecular dynamics simulation data supported the product specificity of NX-5 towards isomaltulose and the role of the loop^330-339 in NX-5 catalysis. This work should prove useful for the engineering of sucrose isomerase for industrial carbohydrate biotransformations.

The effect of lactose-isomaltulose-containing growing-up milks on cognitive performance of Indonesian children: a cross-over study

Glycaemic response to dietary carbohydrates might have an impact on cognitive performance. The present study investigated the effects of growing-up milks (GUM) with isomaltulose and extra minerals and vitamins or lower protein content on cognitive parameters in children aged 5–6 years. In a blinded, partly randomised, controlled, cross-over study, four GUM were provided, each taken over 14 d (2 × 200 ml/d): standard (Std) GUM; Std GUM+5 g isomaltulose (Iso-5 GUM); Iso-5 GUM with 26 % less protein (Iso-5 LP GUM); Std GUM with 2·5 g isomaltulose and extra Mg, Zn, Se, D3, B1, B2, B12, folic acid and choline (Iso-2·5 GUM). At test days, when GUM replaced breakfast, repeated (0, 60, 120 and 180 min post-dose) cognitive tasks were performed (picture presentation, simple reaction time, digit vigilance, choice reaction time, spatial and numeric working memory and picture recognition). Task performance of all subjects (n 50) worsened over the morning. Best performance was seen on isomaltulose GUM, most notably at 180 min. Iso-2·5 GUM showed best performance on several parameters of attention and memory, Iso-5 GUM performed best on parameters of memory and Iso-5 LP GUM was positively associated with parameters of attention but less with memory. Std GUM showed only a benefit on one attention and one memory task. Thus, isomaltulose-enriched GUM positively affected parameters of attention and memory at 180 min post-dose when compared with Std GUM. Extra minerals and vitamins seem beneficial, whereas lowering protein content might improve attention in particular.

Isomaltulose production via yeast surface display of sucrose isomerase from Enterobacter sp. FMB-1 on Saccharomyces cerevisiae

The gene encoding sucrose isomerase from Enterobacter sp. FMB-1 species (ESI) was displayed on the cell surface of Saccharomyces cerevisiae EBY100 using a glycosylphosphatidylinositol (GPI) anchor attachment signal sequence. Fluorescence activated cell sorting (FACS) analysis and immunofluorescence microscopy confirmed the localization of ESI on the yeast cell surface. The displayed ESI (dESI) was stable at a broad range of temperatures (35-55 °C) and pHs (pH 5-7) with optimal temperature and pH at 45 °C and pH 7.0, respectively. In addition, the thermostability of the dESI was significantly enhanced compared with the recombinant ESI expressed in Escherichia coli. Biotransformation of sucrose to isomaltulose was observed in various ranges of substrate concentrations (50-250 mM) with a 6.4-7.4% conversion yield. It suggested that the bioconversion of sucrose to isomaltulose can be successfully performed by the dESI on the surface of host S. cerevisiae.

The effect of high lactose-isomaltulose on cognitive performance of young children. A double blind cross-over design study

Changes in blood glucose are hypothesized to influence cognitive performance and these changes can be affected by certain nutrients. This double-blind 4-period cross-over study evaluated the effects of a slow-release modified sucrose (isomaltulose) in combination with a high concentration of lactose on cognitive performance of 5-6 year old children. Thirty children received a standard growing upmilk (Std GUM), reformulated growing up milk (Reform GUM), standard growing up milk with lactose-isomaltulose (Iso GUM), and a standard glucose drink (Glucose). The CDR System, a computerised cognitive assessment system, was used to assess various measures of attention and memory of the children at baseline (T=0), 60 (T=1), 120 (T=2), and 180 (T=3) minutes following the intake of test products. Overall, there was a decline in performance over the morning on almost every cognitive task. Children showed better attention following consumption of Iso GUM compared to Std GUM but attention was not significantly different than Reform GUM and glucose. Also, Iso GUM conferred a beneficial effect over both Reform GUM and glucose on sensitivity index of numeric working memory with no difference observed between Iso GUM and Std GUM. Surprisingly, glucose group showed lowest decline in the sensitivity index of spatial working memory and highest speed in picture recognition, although the latter was significantly better than Reform GUM only. For speed of spatial working memory, Reform GUM had the lowest decline but was significantly different only with Std GUM. There was, however, no significant difference among conditions for continuity of attention, speed of numeric working memory and picture recognition sensitivity. Despite the small sample size, the findings are intriguing as carbohydrate composition seems to influence some aspects of cognitive performance such as attention and memory. However, further studies are needed to confirm these findings.

Microbial production of palatinose through extracellular expression of a sucrose isomerase from Enterobacter sp. FMB-1 in Lactococcus lactis MG1363

Sucrose isomerase (SIase) has been used to produce palatinose, a structural isomer of sucrose, which has many beneficial health properties, such as low-glycemic and low-insulinemic indices. A gene corresponding to SIase from Enterobacter sp. FMB-1 was expressed in Lactococcus lactis MG1363 using the P170 expression system. The autoinducible promoter (P170) and an optimized signal peptide (SP310mut2) were used to induce and secrete SIase in L. lactis. One-step Ni-NTA affinity chromatography and Western blot analysis demonstrated that SIase was successfully secreted to the culture supernatant, although 60% of the recombinant enzymes were retained inside the cells. The production of the recombinant SIase was highly correlated with pH (pH 6) and glucose concentration (30g/L) of the medium. The extracellularly produced recombinant SIase was functionally active, effectively transforming 50g/L sucrose to 36g/L palatinose, with a conversion rate of 72% in the culture supernatant.

Gene cloning, protein characterization, and alteration of product selectivity for the trehalulose hydrolase and trehalulose synthase from "Pseudomonas mesoacidophila" MX-45

The naturally occurring structural isomer of sucrose, trehalulose, is produced by sucrose isomerase (SI). Screening of chromosomal DNA from "Pseudomonas mesoacidophila" MX-45 with an SI-specific probe facilitated the cloning of two adjacent gene homologs, mutA and mutB. Both genes were expressed separately in Escherichia coli, and their enzyme products were characterized. MutA hydrolyzed the substrates trehalulose, isomaltulose, and sucrose into glucose and fructose. Due to its highest activity on trehalulose, MutA was referred to as trehalulase. mutB encodes the SI (trehalulose synthase) and catalyzes the isomerization of sucrose to mainly trehalulose. From Northern blot analysis it is apparent that the mutB gene is not transcribed as part of an operon and was transcriptionally upregulated when P. mesoacidophila MX-45 cells were grown in sucrose medium, whereas under investigated conditions no transcript for mutA was detected. Mutants of mutB were created by a random mutagenesis approach in order to alter the product specificity of MutB. Two types of mutants have emerged, one type that prefers the hydrolytic reaction on sucrose and another type that still acts as an SI but with a significant shift in the product from trehalulose to isomaltulose. The hydrolytic character of MutB R311C was demonstrated through its higher catalytic efficiency for glucose production over trehalulose production. MutB D442N favored the transfer reaction, with an isomer preference for isomaltulose.