Research Progress and Prospects for Fructosyltransferases

Fructosyltransferases can be used to produce fructooligosaccharides from sucrose and are obtained from different sources, mostly microorganisms and plants. Heterologous expression and several mutagenesis methods were applied to improve the production of fructosyltransferases. The structures and characteristics of fructosyltransferases were investigated. Immobilization and protein engineering can improve their characteristics. In this review, screening and mutagenesis of microorganisms, heterologous expression, purification, characterization, structural analysis, immobilization, and protein engineering of fructosyltransferases are discussed. Future prospects in this field are also considered. Fructosyltransferases are mainly produced industrially by microorganisms including fungi and bacteria. Various approaches were applied to improve the production of fructosyltransferases. Advances in screening and mutagenesis of microorganisms, heterologous expression, purification, characterization, structural analysis, immobilization, and protein engineering of fructosyltransferases are reviewed.