Inulinase-expressing microorganisms and applications of inulinases.

In this review article, inulinase-expressing microorganisms and its potential applications in transformation of inulin into very-high-fructose syrup, bioethanol, and inulooligosaccharides are overviewed. In the past 10 years, many new inulinase producers have been obtained and many genes encoding inulinases from different microorganisms have been cloned and characterized. Some novel processes for exoinulinase overproduction have been developed for bioethanol production and ultra-high-fructose syrup. The endoinulinases have also been used for production of inulooligosaccharides from inulin and inulin-containing materials.