β‐galactosidase: Biotechnological applications in food processing

Abstractβ‐Galactosidases produced by microorganisms are being used in food technology for hydrolysis of lactose in milk and milk by‐products. The enzyme has attracted much attention in view of lactose intolerance in human population and due to importance of milk in human diet. β‐Galactosidase hydrol yze β‐galactopyranosides, that is, lactose, and form a range of trans‐galactosylation products or galactooligosaccharides (GOS) capable of providing several health benefits as prebiotics. In addition, the enzyme also finds applications in production of lactose based sweeteners from high lactose containing effluents of cheese manufacturing industries. Currently, the enzyme is mainly obtained fromAspergillus niger andKluyveromyces lactis, however, they are thermolabile with optimum pH between 4.0 and 6.0 accompanied by low chemical resistance and high product inhibition properties. Thermostable enzymes are suitable to perform the hydrolytic process at relatively high temperatures, minimizing pathogen contamination, psychrophilic β‐galactosidases are preferred for treatment of milk under refrigerated conditions (<15 °C), without heating and maintenance of temperature. Lactic acid bacteria (LAB) are a potential source of food grade enzymes and other metabolites. Although reports on the use of β‐galactosidase of LAB in pure form is reported for hydrolysis of lactose in milk and production of fermented milk pr oducts for reduced lactose content, methods of immobil...
Source: Journal of Food Biochemistry - Category: Food Science Authors: Tags: REVIEW Source Type: research