title: Critical Importance of alpha-glucosidase contained in rice kernel for alcohol fermentation of rice polish.
abstract: In our previous study, we proposed a new alcoholic beverage called nuka-sake, which is made from uncooked rice polish without any enzyme source such as koji. In nuka-sake brewing, the uncooked rice polish serves not only as the fermentation material but also as the enzyme source. In the present study, the results of both laboratory-scale nuka-sake brewing runs with various grades of rice polish and analysis of amylolitic enzyme distribution in rice polish suggested that alpha-glucosidase (EC 3.2.1.20) is a key enzyme of parallel fermentation in nuka-sake brewing. Miglitol, a specific inhibitor of alpha-glucosidase, strongly inhibited glucose production from rice polish. To obtain further evidence regarding the contribution of alpha-glucosidase, this enzyme was purified from rice grain kernels (Yamadanishiki cultivar) and supplied for both rice polish saccharification and nuka-sake brewing. The purified alpha-glucosidase promoted both glucose production from rice polish and alcohol fermentation in nuka-sake brewing. Based on these results, it was considered that the alpha-glucosidase contained in rice polish plays an important role in glucose production. This role may be a rate-limiting factor for parallel fermentation in nuka-sake brewing. Moreover, oligosaccarides accumulated during the saccharification of uncooked rice polish, implying the contribution of not only alpha-glucosidase but also alpha-amylase (EC 3.2.1.1). Through this result, it can be speculated that the starch contained in rice polish will be decomposed to glucose as a result of the action of alpha-glucosidase and alpha-amylase contained in rice polish.
authors.affiliation: National Research Institute of Brewing, 3-7-1 Kagamiyama, Higashi-Hiroshima 739-0046, Japan. iwata_h@nrib.go.jp
authors.forename: Hiroshi
authors.initials: H
authors.lastname: Iwata
authors.forename: Toshiaki
authors.initials: T
authors.lastname: Suzuki
authors.forename: Kazuhide
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Takahashi
authors.forename: Isao
authors.initials: I
authors.lastname: Aramaki