Sahar Sorkhabi-Abdolmaleki, Arash Zibaee, Hassan Hoda, Mahmoud Fazeli-Dinan
Journal of Insect Science 14 (65), 1-13, (1 May 2014) https://doi.org/10.1673/031.014.65
KEYWORDS: amylolytic activity, biochemical property, inhibitor
α-Amylases are widespread enzymes that catalyze endohydrolysis of long α-1,4-glucan chains such as starch and glycogen. The highest amylolytic activity was found in 5th instar nymphs and midgut of the predatory bug, Andrallus spinidens F. (Hemiptera: Pentatomidae). The α-amylase was purified following a three-step procedure. The purified α-amylase had a specific activity of 13.46 U/mg protein, recovery of 4.21, purification fold of 13.87, and molecular weight of 21.3 kDa. The enzyme had optimal pH and temperature of 7 and 45°C, respectively. Na , Mn , Mg2 , and Zn2 significantly decreased activity of the purified α-amylase, but some concentrations of K , Ca2 , and Cu2 had the opposite effect. EDTA, EGTA, and DTC significantly decreased enzymatic activity, showing the presence of metal ions in the catalytic site of the enzyme. Kinetic parameters of the purified α-amylase showed a Km of 3.71% in starch and 4.96% for glycogen, suggesting that the enzyme had a higher affinity for starch.