Conversion of sucrose to isomaltulose by Klebsiella planticola CCRC 19112

An isomaltulose-producing bacterium was isolated and taxonomically characterized. Its morphological and biochemical properties conform best to those described for Klebsiella planticola. When cultured under optimal conditions, the organism simultaneously converted sucrose into both isomaltulose (α-D-glucopyranosyl-1,6-fructose) and trehalulose (α-D-glucopyranosyl-1,1-fructose) with substrate conversion rates of 80% and 15%, respectively. Sucrose and Bacto-tryptone were the most effective carbon and supplemental nitrogen sources, respectively, for producing cells of high isomaltulose-forming ability. None of several inorganic salts tested had any significant effect. The major product formed in the reaction mixture was verified to be isomaltulose by co-chromatography and IR spectroscopy. Received 21 April 1998/ Accepted in revised form 7 July 1998