Two Pantoea anthophila bacterial strains were isolated from “tejuino”, a traditional Mexican beverage, and studied as β-galactosidase producers for galactooligosaccharides synthesis. Using 400 g/L of lactose, 50 °C, and 15 U/mL of β-galactosidase activity with ethanol-permeabilized cells, the maximum galactooligosaccharides (GOS) yield determined by High performance anion exchange chromatography with pulse amperometric detection (HPAEC-PAD) was 136 g/L (34% w/w of total sugars) at 96% of lactose conversion for Bac 55.2 and 145 g/L (36% w/w of total sugars) at 94% of lactose conversion for Bac 69.1. The β-galactosidases present in both strains showed a high transgalactosylation activity and formed principally β(1 → 3) and β(1 → 6) linkages. Considering the stability and bifidogenic properties of GOS containing such types of bonds, P. anthophila strains Bac 55.2 and Bac 69.1 possess a high potential as novel biocatalysts for prebiotic industrial production
Reference: C.V. Yañez-Ñeco, B. Rodriguez-Colinas, L. Amaya-Delgado, A.O. Ballesteros, A.Gschaedler, F.J. Plou, J. Arrizon. "Galactooligosaccharide production from Pantoea anthophila strains isolated from “Tejuino”, a Mexican traditional fermented beverage". Catalysts 7(8), 242 (2017), doi:10.3390/catal7080242
