alpha-Amylase

Description

Alpha-amylase is a kind of enzyme being able to hydrolyzes alpha bonds of large alpha-linked polysaccharides including starch and glycogen. It is a very small, stable enzyme which is resistant to many unfavorable conditions. It can hydrolyzes starch and glycogen to maltose and glucose, respectively so that providing energy for human beings and animals. Alpha-amylase is present in almost all kinds of plants, animals and microbes. It has many industrial applications. For example, it can be used in the production of ethanol through breaking starches in grains into fermentable sugars. It can also be used during the production of high-fructose corn syrup. In addition, it can be used in some dishwashing and starch-removing detergents.

References

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Alpha-amylase
http://pdb101.rcsb.org/motm/74
http://science.marshall.edu/murraye/alpha_amylase.htm

Chemical Properties

Nearly white to light brownish yellow amorphous powder, or light brownish yellow to dark brown liquid. Almost insoluble in ethanol, chloroform and ether. Soluble in water, the aqueous solution is pale yellow to dark brown. The main acting enzymes of those made with Aspergillus niger var. niger include: (1) α-amylase (liquefying enzyme); (2) pectinase (generally a mixture of pectin methylesterase, polygalacturonase, and pectic acid cleaving enzyme); (3) cellulase; (4) glucan converting enzyme (amyloglucosidase); (5) hemicellulase; (6) lactase; and (7) β-glucanase. Those prepared from Aspergillus oryzae variants are mainly: (1) α-amylase; (2) glucoamylase (amyloglucosidase); and (3) lactase. For those made from yeast, the main enzymes are (1) invertase and (2) lactase. The main enzyme is cellulase when it is made by Aspergillus Mucor. The main enzymes made by Aspergillus oryzae are (1) α-amylase (liquefying enzyme), (2) pectinase, and (3) glucoamylase (starch glucosidase).

Uses

α-Amylase from Bacillus sp. has been used:

• as a dispersal enzyme to test degradation ofS. aureusbiofilms,
• in the enzymatic hydrolysis of tapioca starch
• in the enzymolysisof plant-based native and the amorphous granular starches

Uses

α-Amylase has been used in various plant studies, such as metabolism studies in Arabidopsis . 1 α-Amylase from human pancreas has been used to test interference for enzymatic methods of assaying calcium in serum and urine. 2 α-Amylase, from Sigma, has been used to get a standard calibration curve during the evaluation of an automated amylase detection system using forensic samples.

Uses

α-Amylase is to hydrolyze α bonds of α-linked polysaccharides, such as starch and glycogen. Product A1031 is from human saliva, is type IIA, and is supplied as a lyophilized powder. α-Amylase has been used in various plant studies, such as metabolism studies in Arabidopsis 1 . α-Amylase from human saliva has been used to study the development of nutraceuticals, which may aid the treatment of diabetes and obesity.

brand name

Fortizyme (Sterling Winthrop).

Biotechnological Production

a-Amylases (4-a-D-glucan glucanohydrolase, EC 3.2.1.1) degrade starch and similar carbohydrates by endohydrolysis of their (1→4)-a-D-glucosidic bonds. The majority of a-amylases belong to the group of metalloenzymes and require calcium ions (Ca2+). By means of direct evolution, the performance of several amylases was further maximized and adapted to the needs of the starch processing industry. The enhancement of the thermostability of amylase was achieved by DNA-shuffling techniques. The baking industry and consumers might benefit from genetically optimized starch-modifying enzymes. Based on the improved thermal stability of an a-amylase in the acidic pH range, the retrogradation of sourdough breads ("staling") can be delayed.

General Description

This product has been enhanced for energy efficiency and waste prevention when used in starch ethanol research.

Biochem/physiol Actions

α-amylase catalyses the hydrolysis of α-1,4 glycosidic linkage in oligosaccharides. It plays a crucial role in the initial digestion of starch, glycogen and polysaccharides. Elevated levels of amylase in serum is linked to acute pancreatitis.

Toxics Screening Level

The initial threshold screening level (ITSL) for subtilisins is 0.0006 μg/m3 (1-hour averaging time).