Purification, characterization, immunolocalization and structural analysis of the abundant cytoplasmic beta-amylase from Calystegia sepium (hedge bindweed) rhizomes

Β-amylase from starchless seeds of Trigonella foenum-graecum and its localization in germinating seeds

Fenugreek (Trigonella foenum-graecum) seeds do not contain starch as carbohydrate reserve. Synthesis of starch is initiated after germination. A β-amylase from ungerminated fenugreek seeds was purified to apparent electrophoretic homogeneity. The enzyme was purified 210 fold with specific activity of 732.59 units/mg. M_r of the denatured enzyme as determined from SDS-PAGE was 58 kD while that of native enzyme calculated from size exclusion chromatography was 56 kD. Furthermore, its identity was confirmed to be β-amylase from MALDI-TOF analysis. The optimum pH and temperature was found to be 5.0 and 50°C, respectively. Starch was hydrolyzed at highest rate and enzyme showed a K_m of 1.58 mg/mL with it. Antibodies against purified Fenugreek β-amylase were generated in rabbits. These antibodies were used for localization of enzyme in the cotyledon during different stages of germination using fluorescence and confocal microscopy. Fenugreek β-amylase was found to be the major starch degrading enzyme depending on the high amount of enzyme present as compared to α-amylase and also its localization at the periphery of amyloplasts. A new finding in terms of its association with protophloem was observed. Thus, this enzyme appears to be important for germination of seeds.

Beta-amylases from various fungal strains. A review

An overview presentation is made on the current global status of fungal beta3-amylases, their characteristics and applications in various industries. Among the few available report on beta-amylase producing fungal strains, many showed a preference for a cultivation temperature of 28 degrees C, acidic pH and soluble starch as an inducer of enzyme synthesis. In some fungal strains, alpha-amylase and alpha-glucosidases were found to be present as major contaminating enzymes. Although the existence of a few starch digesting and raw starch adsorbing fungal strains were reported, detailed study on molecular biology of corresponding fungal genes was not available.

Beta-amylase in germinating millet seeds

Beta-amylase (EC 3.2.1.2) was isolated from germinating millet (Panicum miliaceum L.) seeds by a procedure that included ammonium sulfate fractionation, chromatography on DEAE-cellulofine and CM-cellulofine, and preparative isoelectric focusing. The enzyme was homogeneous by SDS-PAGE. The M(r) of the enzyme was estimated to be 58,000 based on its mobility on SDS-PAGE and gel filtration with TSKgel G4000SW(XL), which showed that it is composed of a single unit. The isoelectric point of the enzyme was 4.62. The enzyme hydrolyzed malto-oligosaccharides more readily as their degree of polymerization increased, this being strongest for malto-oligosaccharides larger than 13 glucose residues and very weakly for maltotriose. Amylose, amylopectin and soluble starch were the most suitable substrates for the enzyme. While the enzyme showed some activity against native starch by itself, starch digestion was accelerated 2.5-fold using alpha-amylase, pullulanase and alpha-glucosidase. This enzyme appears to be very important for the germination of millet seeds.