Research Projects

Objective: Optimize fermentation process at 100 Liters for a-glucosidase production using fungal isolate; Standardization of simultaneous saccharification and transglucosylation process for IMO production using starch at 50-100 Liters

Summary: Under FSSAI’s Nutraceuticals Regulations (2016), Isomalto-oligosaccharides (IMO) are considered as prebiotic compounds. From our earlier studies at CSIR-CFTRI, a fungal strain producing tranglucosylating a-glucosidase has been isolated from soil which was used for synthesis of IMO using enzyme-substrate (maltose) reaction. Comprehensive studies have been conducted on characterization of the organism, optimal cultivation for a-glucosidase in bench scale bioreactor (10 L) and optimization of IMO production in a one pot procedure (0.5 L) a . Presently, there is no Indian company for either IMO or transglucosylating a-glucosidase production. The present work intends to continue potential results obtained from earlier studies and demonstrate the viability of IMO production commercially using starch-derived wastes.