Endo-inulinase involved in utilization of the plant storage polymer inulin, consisting of fructooligosaccharides with a degree of polymerization (DP) value from 2 to 60. Endohydrolysis of (2->1)-beta-D-fructosidic linkages in inulin. Expression is induced in presence of sucrose or inulin and controlled by the catabolite repressor creA and by the inulinolytic genes regulator inuR. Plays an important role in biofuel production. Pure nonhydrolyzed inulin can be directly converted to ethanol in a simultaneous saccharification and fermentation process when combining A.niger and S.cerevisiae. Endoinulinase can digest fructooligosaccharides with high degree of polymerization (DP) values (>20) into short molecules that may be readily hydrolyzed by S.cerevisiae SUC2. Thus, introduction of an endoinulinase gene into S.cerevisiae will improve its inulin utilization and ethanol fermentation through collaboration between the heterologous endoinulinase and the invertase SUC2. Belongs to the glycosyl hydrolase 32 family. Strain CBS 513.88 / FGSC A1513 contains only one gene encoding for an extracellular endo-inulinase (inuA), contrary to other strains containing two genes (inuA and inuB). Driving on fumes - Issue 164 of September 2014