Thermostable alpha-amylase production by an extreme thermophile Bacillus thermooleovorans.
OBJECTIVE
alpha-Amylase production by a newly isolated thermophile, Bacillus thermooleovorans, was studied under different cultivation conditions.


RESULTS
The influence of various carbon and nitrogen sources on alpha-amylase production was quantified in batch fermentation in shake flasks. Starch and tryptone were observed to be the ideal carbon and nitrogen sources, respectively. Cultivation of the organism in a chemically defined medium consisting of glucose, riboflavin, cysteine, MgSO4, K2HPO4 and NaCl led to a near twofold increase in the production of alpha-amylase in comparison with that in the complex medium. The increase in enzyme production was achieved using vitamins and amino acids. When the organism was grown in a laboratory fermenter in the optimized complex medium, the noticeable effects were the near abolition of the lag phase, a 2.2-fold increase in enzyme production and a reduction in optimal production time from 12 to 4-5 h.


CONCLUSIONS
Enhancement of amylase production was achieved under various cultivation conditions.


CONCLUSIONS
Bacillus thermooleovorans produces a calcium-independent and thermostable amylase which can find use in starch saccharification.
Narang
S
S
Department of Microbiology, University of Delhi, South Campus, New Delhi, India.
Satyanarayana
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T
D001407:Bacillus / Q000201:enzymology* / Q000254:growth & development; D002244:Carbon / Q000378:metabolism; D003470:Culture Media / Q000737:chemistry; D004795:Enzyme Stability; D005285:Fermentation; D006358:Hot Temperature; D009584:Nitrogen / Q000378:metabolism; D013213:Starch / Q000378:metabolism; D000516:alpha-Amylases / Q000096:biosynthesis*
D003470:Culture Media; D002244:Carbon; D013213:Starch; D000516:alpha-Amylases; D009584:Nitrogen