Maltohexaose and maltoheptaose-forming amylase, and its preparation and uses

A process for producing a saccharide composition containing maltohexaitol and/or maltoheptaitol, comprising:

• (a) reacting starch with a maltohexaose- and maltoheptaose-forming amylase to form maltohexaose and/or maltoheptaose in the presence of calcium ion, said amylase having an activity of throughout the enzymatic reaction;
• forming primarily maltohexaose and maltoheptaose as main end products from starch in the absence of a starch debranching enzyme, and hydrolyzing pullulan, maltohexaose and lower molecular oligosaccharides than maltohexaose wherein the reacting with starch is promoted by calcium ion and said enzyme is stabilized by calcium ion;
• and
• (b) hydrogenating the resultant saccharide composition containing maltohexaose and/or maltoheptaose to form maltohexaitol and/or maltoheptaitol;
• and
• (c) collecting the resulting maltohexaitol and/or maltoheptaitol.

A process for producing a saccharide composition containing maltohexaose and/or maltoheptaose, comprising:

• (a) reacting starch with a maltohexaose- and maltoheptaose-forming amylase with a starch debranching enzyme in the presence of calcium ion to form maltohexaose and/or maltoheptaose, said amylase having an activity of throughout the enzymatic reaction;
• forming primarily maltohexaose and maltoheptaose as main end products from starch in the absence of a starch debranching enzyme, and not hydrolyzing pullulan maltohexaose and lower molecular oligosaccharides than maltohexaose;
• and
• (b) collecting the resultant saccharide composition containing maltohexaose and/or maltoheptaose.

A process for producing a saccharide composition containing maltohexaitol and/or maltoheptaitol, comprising:

• (a) reacting starch with a maltohexaose- and maltoheptaose-forming amylase with starch debranching enzyme in the presence of calcium ion to form maltohexaose and/or maltoheptaose, said amylase having an activity of throughout the enzymatic reaction forming primarily maltohexaose and matoheptaose as main end products from starch in the absence of a starch debranching enzyme, and not hydrolyzing pullulan, maltohexaose and lower molecular oligosaccharides than than maltohexaose;
• and
• (b) hydrogenating the resultant saccharide composition containing matohexaose and/or maltoheptaose to form maltohexaitol and/or maltoheptaitol;
• and
• (c) collecting the resulting maltohexaitol and/or maltoheptaitol.