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

Abstract

Over 500 microorganisms isolated from Korean traditional foods, Maeju (source of soybean paste) and Nuruk (Korean koji), were screened to obtain an isomaltulose-producing microorganism. It was identified as Enterobacter sp. FMB-1 by 16S rRNA sequencing and the API 20E system. It had a greater than 90% conversion of sucrose (as 4 g/l) to isomaltulose in 2 days. Small amounts of trehalulose, glucose, and fructose were produced as byproducts, implying that this strain could be possibly employed in the production of isomaltulose in industry.