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Levansucrase (EC 2.4.1.10.) of Zymomonas mobilis 113S can perform the polymerisation of fructose moiety from raffinose to levan concomitantly with a release of non-catabolised melibiose into the medium. The kinetic parameters of the levansucrase-catalysed reaction provide even higher reaction velocities on raffinose as compared to sucrose, particularly at low substrate concentrations. A decreased value in the number of the average molecular mass (M n = 1693 kDa), an increased intrinsic viscosity (g = 49.47 cm 3 /g), and a diminished Huggin's constant (K ' = 0.67) are intrinsic to the levan synthesis from raffinose, indicating certain structural peculiarities compared to a polysaccharide obtained from sucrose (M n = 1851 kDa, [g] = 42.47 cm 3 /g, K' = 1.21).

In this study we have found, that the values of cell surface hydrophobicity (CSH) ofL. acidophilusLA5 andB. lactisBb12 cells change in response to varied growth conditions – phase of growth, concentration or type of carbon source, presence of oxygen. An evaluation of FT-IR spectra using cluster and quantitative analyses revealed substantial changes of the chemical composition depending on the CSH level ofL. acidophilusLA5 andB. lactisBb12 cells. Decrease of the carbohydrate level was observed in proportion to the increased CSH values alongside with the elevated protein content of more hydrophobic cells of both cultures. The results of present study could help to specify the appropriate physiological state and environment forL. acidophilusLA5 andB. lactisBb12 to ensure their probiotic properties.

Bacterial fructans, known as levans, have extensive options for practical usage, however, actually limited due to high production costs. Therefore, the searches for efficient producer strains should be an urgent task to reduce costs. This study is the first report on the formation of fructans by a novel strain of acetic acid bacteria (AAB) Gluconobacter nephelii P1464. Characteristics obtained at different cultivation conditions confirmed the operation of a competitive and perspective producer strain. Isolated extracellular fructans are characterized by a lower molecular weight as compared with other AAB which could promote their physiological activity, including the prebiotic effects.

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