The Cloned Bacillus Subtilis Levanase Gene as a Potent System for the Exploitation of Inulin in Biotechnological Processes

ABSTRACT The levanase enzyme of Bacillus subtilis is able to hydrolyse sucrose as well as the fructans levan and inulin. The levanase gene was used to construct recombinant Escherichia coli strains for overexpression of levanase. From lysates of such clones showing high levanase activity, the levanase protein was purified to near-homogeneity in a few steps. Cloning the levanase gene into Saccharomyces cerevisiae resulted in yeast clones being able to grow on inulin as the sole carbon source. Levanase was shown to be secreted from yeast clones into the culture medium. Preliminary results indicate that the B. subtilis levanase gene can also be cloned and expressed in filamentous fungi ( e.g. Penicillium chrysogenum ).