Levanase

Levanase is a generic term referring to an enzyme that catalyzes the hydrolysis of levan, a fructose polymer. More specifically, levanases are glycoside hydrolases that break down the β-2,6-fructosidic linkages in levan. They are typically found in various microorganisms, including bacteria and fungi.

Levanases can be classified based on their mechanism of action, such as endo-levanases and exo-levanases. Endo-levanases cleave the levan polymer internally, producing a mixture of oligosaccharides. Exo-levanases, on the other hand, remove single fructose units from the non-reducing end of the levan chain.

The products of levanase activity are mainly fructose and fructooligosaccharides (FOS). These products have potential applications in the food industry, particularly as prebiotics, which promote the growth of beneficial bacteria in the gut. Levanases are also used in research settings for the structural analysis of levan and other fructose-containing polysaccharides.

The production of levanase can be influenced by factors such as the presence of levan in the growth medium, pH, temperature, and the specific microbial strain used. Several purification methods, including precipitation, chromatography, and ultrafiltration, can be employed to isolate and characterize levanases.