Alpha Amylase Research Paper

Abstract

Amylases are enzymes capable of hydrolysing starch and related saccharides. The best known are alpha-amylase, beta-amylase and glucoamylase. Starch degrading enzymes like amylase has received attention of their biotechnological significance and economic benefits. Alpha amylases are one of the important and widely used enzymes whose spectrum of applications has widened in many sectors such as clinical, medicinal and analytical chemistry.The fungal isolates include Aspergillus species, Mucor species and Rhizopus species. The parameters such as optimal incubation period, pH and starch concentrations were considered in the study. Overall result showed maximum activity at acidic Ph 6 at concentration of 3% and 5% with 4 days of incubation

b-Amylase is an exo-acting enzyme It hydrolyses alternate glycosidic linkages, yielding maltose. Some of the microorganisms reported to produce b-amylases include Bacillus polymyxa, B. cereus, B. megatarium, Streptomyces sp., Pseudomonas sp. and Rhizopus japonicas

The fungal amylases are preferred over other microbial sources because of their more acceptable acceptable GRAS (generally regarded as safe) status.

PH: Earlier reports suggest that amylases are produced by fungal organisms maximally in acidic medium,Enzyme production started at pH 3.0 and cease at pH 8.0[4].

STARCH CONCENTRATIONS:There was progressive increase in the productivity of α-amylase and glucoamylase by the isolates as the starch concentration increased.

INCUBATION PERIOD:Increase in the incubation period resulted in a decrease in the production of enzyme,byproducts form result in the depletion of nutrients inhibited the growth of fungi and hence enzyme formation.[4]

BIOFUEL PRODUCTION :-Amylase is used in ethanol production to break starches in grains into fermentable

Optimization of parametres was done for profound production of enzyme. A number of studies have been conducted regarding the effects of various cultural and environmental conditions such as incubation period, pH, temperature, carbon sources and carbon source concentrations on the production of amylases by fungal strains. Environmental factors such as temperatures and pH has been reported to have some important influences on enzyme productivity by fungal organisms. [6]The effect of pH on the production of amylase enzymes in this study revealed that the amylase productivity by the isolates was at their maximum at pH 4.5 and 6. This supports the earlier report that amylases are produced by fungal organisms maximally in acidic medium The Optimum ph for amylase activity ranges from 2-12 but mainly found active around acidic ph. It also showed amylase activity by an isolate at 4.5 and 8.5. [1] .Successful production of amylase enzymes depends on the maintenance of initial pH of the production medium. The enzymatic activities of the isolates were tested from cultures of different starch concentrations. Our findings showed high amylase activity in 3% and 5% whereas less in 2 % .This supports the report that carbon sources like starch may have some inducing effects on amylase enzymes