amylase

Alpha amylases ([alpha]-amylases) ([alpha]-1,4-glucanohydrolase; E.C 3.2.1.1), are endohydrolases that catalyze hydrolysis of starch at [alpha]-1,4-glycosidic linkages and yield monomers of glucose, maltose and oligosaccharides (Omemum et al., 2005; Bhanja et al., 2007: Leman et al., 2009).

To best of our knowledge this is the highest activity among the reported recombinant amylases from genus Geobacillus.

Microbial sources of amylases are preferred because of several reasons like easy cultivation, genetic manipulation, better strain selection and optimization of culture conditions for enhanced production of amylases (Konsoula and Liakopoulou-Kyriakides, 2007).

Amylases are ubiquitous enzymes found in prokaryotes, plants, animals, fungi and unicellular eukaryotes (Zaferanloo, Bhattacharjee, Ghorbani, Mahon, & Palombo, 2014).

The aim of the present study is the characterization of some thermophilic bacteria isolated from hot springs in Jazan, KSA in addition to the investigation of the optimum conditions for amylases and proteases production.

(2011) Production of alpha amylases by Aspergillus niger using cheaper substrates employing solid state fermentation.

The effects of metal ions have been well studied on several amylases from bacteria and fungi.

Even though its extensive applications in industries, amylases obtained from mesophilic organisms failed to cope up with the industrial processes that are carried out in the presence of salt solutions, organic solvents, heavy metals, high temperature and extremes of pH that would be inhibit the enzymatic activity (Saxena et al., 2007).

Bernfeld, Amylases a and ss, Methods Enzymol, 1, 149 (1955).

Amylases are one of the most widely used commercial enzymes whose range of application has broadened in numerous areas such as food, medicinal, clinical and analytical chemistry.

.In human physiology, both the salivary and pancreatic amylases are a-amylase.