Studies on Sugar-isomerizing Enzyme

Produciton and Utilization of Glucose Isomerase from Streptomyces sp

Abstract

A glucose isomerase which reversibly catalyzes the reaction between D-glucose and D-fructose was demonstrated in the cell-free extracts of a strain of Streptomyces sp. isolated from soil. The enzyme was produced when the strain was grown in the medium con-taining xylan or xylan-containing material such as wheat bran. A medium which consists of 3% of wheat bran, 2% of corn steep liquor and 0.024% of C_oCI₂•6H₂O is recommendable for the production of the glucose isomerase enzyme with the strain. With the enzyme, some conditions for the conversion of D-glucose to D-fructose were also studied. The method is very useful for the production of invert sugar from D-glucose and is now on the way to be applied to the practical use.