Biotechnological potential of inulin for bioprocesses.
Inulin consists of linear chains of β-2,1-linked D-fructofuranose molecules terminated by a glucose residue through a sucrose-type linkage at the reducing end. In this review article, inulin and its applications in bioprocesses are overviewed. The tubers of many plants, such as Jerusalem artichoke, chicory, dahlia, and yacon contain a large amount of inulin. Inulin can be actively hydrolyzed by microbial inulinases to produce fructose, glucose and inulooligosaccharides (IOS). The fructose and glucose formed can be further transformed into ethanol, single-cell protein, single cell oil and other useful products by different microorganisms. IOS formed have many functions. Therefore, inulin can be widely used in food, feed, pharmaceutical, chemical and biofuels industries.
Unesco Chinese Center of Marine Biotechnology, Ocean University of China, Yushan Road, No. 5, Qingdao 266003, China. chi@ouc.edu.cn
Zhen-Ming
ZM
Chi
Tong
T
Zhang
Tian-Shu
TS
Cao
Xiao-Yan
XY
Liu
Wei
W
Cui
Chun-Hai
CH
Zhao
D056804:Biofuels / Q000032:analysis; D001709:Biotechnology / Q000379:methods*; D019343:Citric Acid / Q000378:metabolism; D004044:Dietary Proteins / Q000378:metabolism; D007444:Inulin / Q000096:biosynthesis*; D010944:Plants / Q000378:metabolism
D056804:Biofuels; D004044:Dietary Proteins; C012551:single cell proteins; D019343:Citric Acid; D007444:Inulin