PRODUCTION OF ALPHA-AMYLASE BY MYXOCOCCUS-CORALLOIDES-D

Myxococcus coralloides D secreted amylase into a liquid growth medium containing 1 % starch. Amylase activity was highest at the end of the exponential growth phase. Of the nitrogen sources tested, the greatest growth and amylase production were obtained with trypticase peptone, casitone, probion L and probion F. When starch was replaced by other carbon sources, amylase production was reduced; trisaccharide produced better results than disaccharide while monosaccharide reduced amylase production to basal levels. Maltose repressed amylase production. Amylase production was greater in stirred flasks, at pH between 6-5 and 7.5, and at temperatures from 28-degrees-C to 33-degrees-C. The activity of partially purified M. coralloides D amylase was used to determine the products released from the hydrolysis of starch with thin-layer chromatography, paper chromatography and nuclear magnetic resonance. These products were maltose and glucose and limit dextrins.