Biochemical characterization of a raw starch degrading alpha-amylase from the Indonesian marine bacterium Bacillus sp ALSHL3

An Indonesian marine bacterial isolate, which belongs to genus of Bacillus sp. based on 16S rDNA analysis and was identified as Bacillus filicolonicus according to its morphology and physiology, produced a raw starch degrading alpha-amylase. The partially purified alpha-amylase using a maize starch affinity method exhibited an optimum pH and temperature of 6.0 and 60A degrees C, respectively. The enzyme retained 72% of its activity in the presence of 1.5 M NaCl. Scanning electron micrographs showed that the alpha-amylase was capable of degrading starch granules of rice and maize. This alpha-amylase from Bacillus sp. ALSHL3 was classified as a saccharifying enzyme since its major final degradation product was glucose, maltose, and maltotriose.