NONREDUCING SUGAR FORMING ENZYME, TREHALOSE LIBERATING ENZYME, AND PRODUCTION OF SUGAR USING THE ENZYMES

摘要

PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To obtain a new nonreducing sugar forming enzyme having an activity for forming a nonreducing sugar having a trehalose structure at its terminal from a reductive partially decomposed product of starch, having an optimal temperature in a medium temperature region and capable of giving trehalose for foods, cosmetics, pharmaceuticals or the like at a low cost. SOLUTION: A new nonreducing sugar forming enzyme having an activity for forming a nonreducing sugar having a trehalose structure at its terminal from a reductive partially decomposed product of starch and having the optimal temperature in a medium temperature region. This enzyme is effectively used in the production of a trehalose structure-having nonreducing sugar including trehalose in a medium temperature and acidic region. The nonreducing sugar exhibits no reducing activity, has water holding property and can be compounded in a food and drink, a cosmetic, a pharmaceutical or the like. The enzyme can be produced by culturing a microorganism having a nonreducing sugar forming enzyme-producing activity [e.g. Arthrobacter sp. S34 (FERM BP-6450)] to produce the enzyme in the culture mixture, and subsequently collecting it from the culture mixture.