Methods for the Enzymatic Modification of Steviol Glycosides, Modified Steviol Glycosides Obtainable Thereby, and the Use Thereof as Sweeteners

Abstract

The present invention relates generally to the production of steviol glycosides. Provided is a method for enzymatically providing a modified steviol glycoside, comprising incubating a steviol glycoside substrate in the presence of sucrose and the glucansucrase GTF180 of Lactobacillus reuteri strain 180, or a mutant thereof having the desired transglycosylation activity. Also provided are modified steviol glycosides obtainable by a method of the invention, and the use thereof as low-glycemic sweetener.

1 - 12 . (canceled) 
     
     
         13 . A modified steviol glycoside obtainable by incubating a steviol glycoside substrate in the presence of sucrose as a glucose donor and the glucansucrase GTF180 of  Lactobacillus reuteri  strain 180, or a mutant thereof having the desired transglycosylation activity. 
     
     
         14 . A modified steviol glycoside selected from the group consisting of
 (i) 13-({β-D-glucopyranosyl-(1→2)-[β-D-glucopyranosyl-(1→3)-]β-D-glucopyranosyl}oxy)ent-kaur-16-en-19-oic acid α-D-glucopyranosyl-(1→6)-β-D-glucopyranosyl ester;   (ii) 13-({β-D-glucopyranosyl-(1→2)-[β-D-glucopyranosyl-(1→3)-]β-D-glucopyranosyl}oxy)ent-kaur-16-en-19-oic acid α-D-glucopyranosyl-(1→6)-α-D-glucopyranosyl-(1→6)-β-D-glucopyranosyl ester; and   (iii) 13-({β-D-glucopyranosyl-(1→2)-[β-D-glucopyranosyl-(1→3)-]β-D-glucopyranosyl}oxy)ent-kaur-16-en-19-oic acid α-D-glucopyranosyl-(1→3)-α-D-glucopyranosyl-(1→6)-β-D-glucopyranosyl ester.   
     
     
         15 . (canceled) 
     
     
         16 . A sweetening composition comprising at least one modified steviol glycoside according to  claim 13 . 
     
     
         17 . A consumable comprising at least one modified steviol glycoside according to  claim 13 , optionally combined with other sweetener and/or sweetness enhancer. 
     
     
         18 . The consumable according to  claim 17 , selected from the group consisting of beverages, foodstuff, an oral care product, a tobacco product, a pharmaceutical products and nutraceutical products. 
     
     
         19 .- 22 . (canceled) 
     
     
         23 . A sweetening composition comprising at least one modified steviol glycoside according to  claim 14 . 
     
     
         24 . A consumable comprising at least one modified steviol glycoside according to  claim 14 , optionally combined with other sweetener and/or sweetness enhancer.