Enhanced conversion of sucrose to isomaltulose by a mutant of Erwinia rhapontici

Mutagenesis of Erwinia rhapontici was performed to enhance the production of isomaltulose from sucrose. A mutant strain, BN 68089, was obtained through a screening process involving automated and miniaturized cultivation in Bioscreen C. This high-throughput, miniaturized screening system was optimized to identify the mutant strain, which had a conversion yield (90%) and productivity (194 g l(-1) h(-1)). The BN 68089 mutant cells were immobilized in sodium alginate and when operated in a packed bed reactor gave a yield of 89% and a productivity of 144 g l(-1) h(-1) of at 30 degrees C, the optimal temperature. Immobilized BN 68089 cells exhibited 8% and 15% higher yield and productivity, respectively, than those of the wild-type strain.