In the rapidly evolving landscape of functional ingredients, Oligofructose (also known as fructo-oligosaccharides, FOS) has emerged as a cornerstone of the modern health and wellness industry. As a non-digestible oligosaccharide consisting of fructose units linked by β(2→1) glycosidic bonds, it functions as both a powerful prebiotic and a high-quality low-calorie sweetener. At CD BioGlyco, we leverage our world-leading expertise in synthetic glycobiology to revolutionize how these complex glycans are produced. Traditional extraction methods often struggle with yield consistency and purity. To address these challenges, CD BioGlyco provides a sophisticated oligofructose production service that integrates microbial chassis development with high-efficiency enzymatic synthesis. Our platform is designed to meet the rigorous demands of the pharmaceutical and nutraceutical industries, ensuring that our clients receive tailored oligosaccharide profiles with an optimized degree of polymerization (DP) for their specific applications.
Key Technologies
Microbial Chassis Refactoring
We utilize synthetic biology to engineer robust microbial hosts, such as Saccharomyces cerevisiae and Escherichia coli, specifically optimized for the heterologous expression of high-activity fructosyltransferases. By rewiring central carbon metabolism, we maximize the flux toward sucrose-to-FOS conversion while minimizing the formation of unwanted by-products like glucose or excess fructose.
Enzymatic Tailoring & Biotransformation
Our platform features a proprietary library of optimized enzymes, including β-fructofuranosidases and endo-inulinases. We utilize directed evolution to enhance the thermal stability and substrate specificity of these enzymes, allowing for the precise synthesis of short-chain FOS (scFOS) from sucrose or specific DP fractions through the controlled hydrolysis of inulin.
High-Resolution Glycan Purification
Utilizing advanced chromatography and membrane filtration techniques, we ensure the final product meets the highest purity standards, free from residual monosaccharides and microbial contaminants.
Engineering the Future of Sweetness: High-Efficiency Prebiotic Oligofructose Production
At CD BioGlyco, our oligofructose production service is a solution situated within our broader chassis development and sweetener production service tiers. We recognize that the industrial utility of oligofructose depends heavily on its molecular weight distribution and chemical purity. Our service scope covers the entire development lifecycle, from initial strain design to the pilot-scale production of high-purity oligofructose. We provide two primary pathways for production:
The enzymatic synthesis pathway, which utilizes sucrose as a raw material and employs transfructosylation reactions to create 1-kestose (GF2), nystose (GF3), and 1f-fructofuranosylnystose (GF4).
The inulin hydrolysis pathway, which uses endo-inulinases to break down poly-fructose chains into specific oligomeric fractions. Our expertise allows us to fine-tune the ratio of these components to match the specific solubility and prebiotic requirements of our clients.
Beyond simple synthesis, our service includes the development of customized microbial cell factories. We address the common "low-titer" bottleneck by implementing "chassis-refactoring-compartmentalization" strategies. This ensures that the fructosyltransferase (FTase) activity is maximized within the host, leading to higher yields and reduced downstream processing costs. Whether you are looking to develop a novel functional beverage or a prebiotic supplement, CD BioGlyco provides the technical depth and manufacturing agility required to bring your product to market.
Workflow
Custom Strategy and Chassis Selection
We begin by analyzing the client's target DP profile and application needs. Based on this, we select the optimal microbial chassis (e.g., Bacillus subtilis or Aspergillus niger derivatives) and define the genetic engineering strategy.
Genetic Engineering and Enzyme Optimization
Our scientists perform codon optimization and gene synthesis for target FTase or inulinase enzymes. We utilize precision gene editing tools to integrate these pathways into the host genome, ensuring stable and high-level expression.
Fermentation and Process Optimization
We conduct high-throughput screening of engineered strains in bioreactors. During this stage, we optimize fermentation parameters such as pH, temperature, and feeding strategies to maximize the titer of the target oligofructose.
Biotransformation and Conversion
For enzymatic routes, the concentrated enzyme or whole-cell catalyst is reacted with high-concentration sucrose or inulin. We monitor the reaction kinetics in real-time to ensure the conversion reaches the theoretical maximum yield.
Downstream Processing (DSP)
The raw product undergoes a series of purification steps, including centrifugation, decoloring with activated carbon, and ion exchange chromatography to remove minerals and organic acids. Nanofiltration is often employed to concentrate the FOS and remove glucose.
Analytical Validation and Quality Control (QC)
The final product is subjected to rigorous QC, including high-performance liquid chromatography (HPLC) and mass spectrometry (MS) to verify the carbohydrate profile, purity, and absence of impurities.
Publication Data
DoI: 10.3390/fermentation9110968
Journal: Fermentation
IF: 3.3
Published: 2023
Results: This review focuses on microbial production of FOS, high‑demand prebiotics with multiple health benefits. FOS are short‑chain fructans synthesized by microbial fructosyltransferases, including levansucrases, inulosucrases, and β‑fructofuranosidases, which outperform chemical methods in purity and yield. These enzymes, from bacteria, fungi, yeast, and archaea, generate FOS with distinct glycosidic linkages. Strategies like physical/chemical mutagenesis, genetic engineering, and synthetic biology boost enzyme activity and FOS yield. Optimizing culture conditions and developing efficient microbial chassis further enhance industrial production. The review summarizes current advances, enzyme mechanisms, and future directions to meet the growing global FOS market.
Fig.1 Microbial enzymes with fructosyltransferase activity and chemical structures were drawn. (Belmonte-Izquierdo, et al., 2023)
Applications
Infant Nutrition
As a key component in replicating the prebiotic effects of human milk oligosaccharides (HMOs), our high-purity FOS is essential for developing premium infant formulas that support early-stage gut microbiome development.
Nutraceuticals & Supplements
We provide concentrated oligofructose for use in prebiotic capsules and synbiotic formulations, designed to selectively stimulate the growth of beneficial Bifidobacteria and Lactobacilli in the human gut.
Pharmaceutical Excipients
Due to its stability and biocompatibility, our pharmaceutical-grade oligofructose is used as a functional filler and stabilizer in specialized drug delivery systems and nutrition products.
Animal Nutrition & Feed
Our oligofructose is utilized as a high-efficiency feed additive to improve gut health in livestock and pets. By modulating intestinal microbiota and enhancing immune responses, it serves as a sustainable antibiotic alternative in modern animal husbandry.
Advantages
Tailored Oligosaccharide Profiles
Unlike off-the-shelf products, our service allows for the precise control of the DP, ensuring the FOS meets your specific functional requirements.
Integrated Analytical Service
With state-of-the-art HPLC, GC-MS, and NMR capabilities, we provide comprehensive characterization of every batch, ensuring 100% compliance with international safety and quality standards.
Scalable Solutions
Our process development is designed for seamless transition from lab-scale discovery to industrial-scale manufacturing, maintaining consistency in product quality across all volumes.
Expert Scientific Consultancy
Clients work directly with PhD-level scientists who possess deep expertise in glycan biosynthesis and metabolic engineering, providing insights that go beyond simple contract manufacturing.
Frequently Asked Questions
Customer Review
"The team at CD BioGlyco provided us with a customized oligofructose profile that significantly improved the texture of our reduced-sugar dairy line. Their expertise in metabolic engineering was evident throughout the process."
– A.W., Director of R&D, Food & Beverage Corp.
"Working with CD BioGlyco on our prebiotic supplement was a seamless experience. The purity of the nystose fraction they delivered exceeded our expectations and requirements."
– K.T., Principal Scientist, Nutraceutical Brand.
"We needed a highly stable fructosyltransferase for our internal production. CD BioGlyco not only delivered the enzyme but optimized the entire biotransformation process for us."
– S.T., Head of Bio-process, European Biotech Firm.
CD BioGlyco stands at the forefront of synthetic glycobiology, offering unparalleled expertise in oligofructose production. By combining advanced chassis engineering with precision enzymatic synthesis, we empower our clients to create the next generation of functional sweeteners and prebiotics. Our commitment to quality, scalability, and scientific innovation makes us the ideal partner for your most ambitious glycan projects. Please feel free to contact us to accelerate your research project.
Reference
Belmonte-Izquierdo, Y.; et al. Fructooligosaccharides (FOS) production by microorganisms with fructosyltransferase activity. Fermentation. 2023, 9(11): 968. (Open Access)
For research use only. Not intended for any clinical use.
Fig.1 Microbial enzymes with fructosyltransferase activity and chemical structures were drawn. (Belmonte-Izquierdo, et al., 2023)
