The N-terminal signal sequence and the last 98 amino acids are not essential for the secretion of Bacillus sp TS-23 alpha-amylase in Escherichia coli

A truncated Bacillus sp. TS-23 alpha -amylase gene lacking 96 and 294 bp at its 5' and 3' end respectively was prepared by polymerase chain reaction a nd cloned into Escherichia coli expression vector, pQE-30, under the contro l of T5 promoter. SDS-PAGE and activity staining analyses showed that the H is(6)-tagged amylase had a molecular mass of approximately 54 kDa. Isopropy l-beta -D-thiogalactopyranoside (IPTG) induction of E. coli M15 cells beari ng the recombinant plasmid resulted in the extracellular production of acti ve amylase. Western blot analysis also revealed that the truncated amylase was present in the periplasmic space and culture medium.