Abstract

OVERVIEW ON INVERTASE

Michele Vitolo*

ABSTRACT

Invertase (E.C.3.2.1.26) hydrolyses sucrose into glucose and fructose (inverted sugar). The main source of invertase is Saccharomyces cerevisiae, which is located at the cell wall. It is also found in plants (in the cell wall, cytoplasm, and vacuoles) and humans (in the mouth and small intestine). Invertase may be used in the soluble form (in the food and healthcare industries, for molasses conservation, in FOS production, and in basic biochemistry studies) and in the immobilized form (in biosensors and inverted sugar syrup production). It is also used in gluconic acid production (in association with glucose oxidase and catalase) and in biosensors designed to detect natural biomarkers in humans (for instance, abnormal DNA-methyltransferase activity  a key epigenetic enzyme  may be related to the pathogenesis of several human diseases, as well as it may be a therapeutic target in the treatment of illnesses).

Keywords: Invertase, Sucrose, Fructofuranosidase.