5-98: Induction of α-and β-Galactosidases in Lactobacillus reuteri by Different Metal Ions

Probiotics are food grade bacteria that could be used safely and directly as food supplements. Probiotics have many health benefits to the host such as better digestibility of sugars mainly lactose and raffinose, antimicrobial activity and decrease blood cholesterol of the host. Health benefits of probiotics are strain specific and L. reuteri has been shown to have good potential for the production of digestive enzymes (α-and β-galactosidases). Bacterial media could be an important factor in over producing these enzymes. The induction of α-and β-galactosidases in probiotic bacteria is one of the interesting areas in food science. The objective of was test the induction of α-and β-galactosidases by metal ions. 0.1 M of six metal ions (Na⁺, K⁺, Fe⁺², Cu⁺², Mn⁺², and Mg⁺² sulfates) were are added to the growth media and tested to induce the production of α-and β-galactosidases in six strains (CF2-7F, DSM20016, MF14-C, MM2-3, MM7 and SD2112) of Lactobacillus reuteri (L. reuteri). Results showed that Na⁺, Fe⁺² and Mn⁺² lead to up to 3 times induction of α-and β-galactosidase in L. reuteri than the control group (MRS media). Media contained Mn⁺² showed that highest induction capability among metal ions studied to induce the production and relative activity of α-and β-galactosidase enzymes in L. reuteri.