MECHANISMS OF ACTION OF THE MALTOGENIC ALPHA-AMYLASE OF BYSSOCHLAMYS-FULVA

Byssochlamys fulva CMI 40021 produced an alpha-amylase and low levels of an amyloglucosidase extracellularly. The purified alpha-amylase cat alyzed the conversion of starch to maltose (55%, w/w) as the predomina nt end product. It would appear that the high levels of maltose produc ed by the B. fulva alpha-amylase are not due to direct hydrolysis but can be attributed to transglycosylation reactions using short chain sa ccharides that accumulate during the early stages of starch hydrolysis . In particular maltotriose and maltotetraose readily undergo transgly cosylation reactions at high substrate concentrations. The products of these reactions are subsequently hydrolyzed to give high levels of ma ltose. (C) 1998 Elsevier Science Inc.