Tagatose Production via Fructose Epimerization

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Solution Overview

Problem

The existing methods for producing tagatose are limited by the unstable supply of lactose, a key raw material, and there is a need for a method to produce tagatose from commonly used sugars like sucrose or glucose.

Innovation Solution

The use of tagatose-6-phosphate kinase, a microorganism expressing this enzyme, or its culture to convert fructose into tagatose through fructose-4-epimerization, providing a stable and efficient production method.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Reliability

If conventional methods using galactose as raw material are used, then tagatose production is achieved, but the supply stability is limited due to unstable lactose availability

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvesupply stabilityVSAvoidraw material flexibility

Core Design Contradiction:

ReliabilityVSAdaptability or versatility

Solution Approach 1:

The patent changes the raw material parameter from galactose/lactose to fructose, which is a commonly available sugar. This parameter change resolves the contradiction by maintaining tagatose production capability while improving supply stability through the use of widely available fructose as the starting material.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #35Parameter changes

Solution Approach 2:

The patent makes the production method more universal by using fructose, a commonly used sugar with wide availability, instead of the more specialized galactose pathway. This allows the process to adapt to various sugar sources and improves both supply stability and raw material flexibility simultaneously.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #6Universality (Multi-functionality)

2Adaptability or versatility

If new production methods from common sugars are developed, then raw material availability improves, but the conversion efficiency needs to be optimized

Engineering Contradiction:

Improveraw material availabilityVSAvoidconversion efficiency

Core Design Contradiction:

Adaptability or versatilityVSProductivity

Solution Approach 1:

The patent replaces chemical conversion methods with enzymatic conversion using fructose-4-epimerase. This substitution maintains high conversion efficiency while enabling the use of common sugars like fructose as raw materials, thus resolving the contradiction between raw material availability and conversion efficiency.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #28Mechanics substitution (Replace mechanical system)

Solution Approach 2:

The patent changes the conversion mechanism parameter from chemical catalysis to enzymatic catalysis. This parameter change allows the process to maintain high productivity through efficient enzymatic conversion while utilizing widely available fructose, thereby improving both raw material availability and conversion efficiency.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #35Parameter changes

Applied Scientific Principles

This section explains which scientific principles are used to turn an abstract innovation direction into a practical engineering solution.

Function Achieved in This Case

This method enables the production of tagatose with high yield and stability, utilizing fructose as a common sugar substrate, thus overcoming the supply limitations of traditional methods.

Implementation Method 1

converting fructose into tagatose by epimerization at C4 position of fructose

Methodology Applied

Scientific EffectEpimerization: Chemical Bonding

Implementation Method 2

contacting fructose with fructose-4-epimerase to convert fructose into tagatose

Methodology Applied

Scientific EffectEnzyme catalysis: Enzyme

Data Source

PatentUS11408017B2Composition for producing tagatose and method of producing tagatose using the same

Publication Date: 2022.08.09 CJ CHEILJEDANG CORP

AI summary

Provided are a composition for producing tagatose, comprising fructose-4-epimerase, and a method of producing tagatose using the same.