Expression of a functional barley sucrose‐fructan 6‐fructosyltransferase in the methylotrophic yeast Pichia pastoris

Abstract
The cDNA encoding sucrose‐fructan 6‐fructosyltransferase (6‐SFT) from barley (Hordeum vulgare) has been expressed in the methylotrophic yeast Pichia pastoris, using a translational fusion into vector pPICZαC, containing the N‐terminal signal sequence of Saccharomyces cerevisiae α‐factor to allow entry into the secretory pathway. Transformed Pichia produced and secreted a functional 6‐SFT which had characteristics similar to the barley enzyme, but had a pronounced additional 1‐SST activity when incubated with sucrose.