Raffinose is produced by allowing a raffinose synthase having the
following properties to act on sucrose and galactinol: (1) action and
substrate specificity: produces raffinose from sucrose and galactinol;
(2) optimum pH: about 6 to 8; (3) optimum temperature: about 35 to
40.degree. C.; (4) molecular weight: (i) about 75 kDa to 95 kDa estimated
by gel filtration chromatography; (ii) about 90 kDa to 100 kDa estimated
by polyacrylamide gel electrophoresis (Native PAGE); and (iii) about 90
kDa to 100 kDa estimated by SDS-polyacrylamide gel electrophoresis under
a reduced condition (SDS-PAGE); and (5) inhibition: inhibited by
iodoacetamide, N-ethylmaleimide, and myo-inositol.