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Studies on the substrate specificity of alpha- and beta-amylase of Entamoeba histolytica.

From the supernatant fraction of cell homogenates of Entamoeba histolytica alpha-amylase (1,4-alpha-D-glucan glucanohydrolase, EC 3.2.1.1) and beta-amylase (1,4-alpha-D-glucan maltohydrolase, EC 3.2.1.2) were separated and purified by gel filtration and isoelectric focusing, followed by DEAE- and CM-chromatography, respectively. Both enzymes catalyzed the degradation of amylose, amylopectin and glycogen. Hydrolysis of polysaccharides by alpha-amylase yielded as reaction products maltose, maltotriose, maltopentaose and maltohexaose, but no free glucose. beta-Amylase produced as main degradation product of glucopolysaccharides maltose and to a minor extend maltotriose, but no glucose. alpha- and beta-amylase were able to hydrolyze 4-nitrophenyl-alpha-D-glucooligosaccharides (Gn-pNP) containing more than two glucose units per molecule. Under identical conditions G6-pNP was cleaved at highest velocity by alpha-amylase, while beta-amylase exhibited the highest activity with G4-pNP as substrate. alpha-Amylase hydrolyzed G4-pNP, G5-pNP and G6-pNP yielding as main reaction product G2-pNP, but also the formation of G1-pNP and G3-pNP from G4-pNP, of G1-pNP, G3-pNP and G4-pNP from G5-pNP, of G1-pNP, G3-pNP, G4-pNP and G5-pNP from G6-pNP was observed. alpha-Amylase as endo-glucohydrolase attacked all glycosidic bonds in G6-pNP, G5-pNP and G4-pNP, while beta-amylase successively removed maltose units from the non-reducing ends of the glycosides.

Amylases↗

A rapid response of beta-amylase to nitric oxide but not gibberellin in wheat seeds during the early stage of germination.

The effects of nitric oxide (NO) and gibberellic acid (GA(3)) on the responses of amylases in wheat (Triticum aestivum L.) seeds (caryopses) were investigated during the first 12 h of germination. GA(3) had no effects on the activities of alpha-amylase (EC 3.2.1.1) or beta-amylase (EC 3.2.1.2), either in intact seeds or embryoless halves within 12 h. In contrast, addition of sodium nitroprusside (SNP), an NO donor, was able to induce a rapid increase in beta-amylase activity without affecting alpha-amylase. Furthermore, the rapid response of beta-amylase to SNP in wheat seeds could be attributed to NO and was approximately dose-dependent. Some other aspects of SNP induction of amylase isozymes were also characterized. Further investigations showed that SNP might play an interesting role in the dissociation of free beta-amylase from small homopolymers or heteropolymers. Furthermore, SNP also directly induced the release of bound beta-amylase from glutenin and its crude enzyme preparation. However, the slight increase in protease also induced by SNP might not be responsible for this action. Interestingly, based on the fact that the rapid response of beta-amylase to NO also existed in seeds of other species, such as barley, soybean, rice and watermelon, it might be a universal event in early seed germination.

Benzoates↗

Molecular cloning of alpha-amylase gene from Bacillus amyloliquefaciens and its expression in B. subtilis.

The gene coding for alpha-amylase from Bacillus amyloliquefaciens was isolated by direct shotgun cloning using B. subtilis as a host. The genome of B. amyloliquefaciens was partially digested with the restriction endonuclease MboI and 2- to 5-kb fragments were isolated and joined to plasmid pUB110. Competent B. subtilis amylase-negative cells were transformed with the hybrid plasmids and kanamycin-resistant transformants were screened for the production of alpha-amylase. One of the transformants producing high amounts of alpha-amylase was characterized further. The alpha-amylase gene was shown to be present in a 2.3-kb insert. The alpha-amylase production of the transformed B. subtilis could be prevented by inserting lambda DNA fragments into unique sites of EcoRI, HindIII and KpnI in the insert. Foreign DNA inserted into a unique ClaI site failed to affect the alpha-amylase production. The amount of alpha-amylase activity produced by this transformed B. subtilis was about 2500-fold higher than that for the wild-type B. subtilis Marburg strain, and about 5 times higher than the activity produced by the donor B. amyloliquefaciens strain. Virtually all of the alpha-amylase was secreted into the culture medium. The secreted alpha-amylase was shown to be indistinguishable from that of B. amyloliquefaciens as based on immunological and biochemical criteria.

Amylases↗

Biochemistry of human alpha amylase isoenzymes.

The purpose of this article is to review recent literature on the isoenzymes of alpha amylase. Although some studies are cited from the literature of fields other than clinical biochemistry, the aim is to bring together findings that may be of interest to clinical laboratory physicians and scientists. It is hoped that this will be useful in suggesting further studies of amylase. To this end, the review is more selective than exhaustive. The review will discuss the history and chemistry alpha amylases, the measurement of amylase and amylase isoenzymes, posttranslational modifications of human amylases, and the genetics of human pancreatic and salivary amylases. Finally, we will discuss other tissue sources of amylase with emphasis on "genital" amylases and their relationship to the amylase found in serous ovarian tumors.

Adolescent↗

Biochemical genetics of alpha-amylase isozymes of the chicken pancreas.

In the chicken population at large, three electrophoretically distinct pancreatic alpha-amylase isozymes were discovered. The isozymes were designated Pa 1, Pa 2, and Pa 3. The local population of chickens, however, possessed only isozymes Pa 2 and Pa 3 present as three phenotypes: Amy-2 B, consisting of isozyme Pa2; Amy2 BC, consisting of isozymes Pa 2 plus Pa 3; and Amy2 C, consisting of isozyme Pa 3. Pancreatic biopsy permitted the establishment of a breeding flock with defined amylase phenotypes. Matings of this flock established that amylases are inherited as codominant alleles at a single genetic locus. Further, there was no evidence of ontogenetic modification of the amylase isozymes. It was observed that amylase isozymes Pa 2 and Pa 3 each generated a family of at least three faster-migrating amylolytic proteins. These post-translationally modified amylases were designated Pa Xa, Pa Xb, and Pa Xc, where X represents the number of the progenitor amylase. Structural analyses of purified amylases demonstrated that all amylase isozymes are nonglycosidated, monomeric molecules of molecular weight 55,000. In addition, the data are consistent with the hypothesis that the faster-migrating amylases are produced by deamidation of asparagine and/or glutamine residues.

Alleles↗

P amylase is always greater than S in spot urine of normal subjects. Diagnostic implications.

Single random samples of urine were collected from 50 control subjects; 27 patients with chronic pancreatitis; 19 with acute pancreatitis; 6 with acute on chronic pancreatitis; five in the recovery phase of acute attack; four patients with pseudocysts. Salivary (S) and pancreatic (P) amylase values were measured by cellulose acetate electrophoresis. The P amylase values always exceeded those of S amylase in the control specimens. In acute pancreatitis, both the lower and upper levels of total and P amylase were considerably higher than in the controls, and these high values tended to return to normal during the recovery phase of acute pancreatitis. The S amylase values were often very low or undetectable during the acute phase. Values for P amylase exceeded control values in patients with pseudocysts even in the presence of chronic pancreatitis. In chronic calcific pancreatitis, S amylase was higher than P amylase. We conclude that P amylase is always greater than S amylase in normal urine specimens, and a change in this pattern may be helpful in diagnosing various forms of pancreatitis.

Amylases↗

Close evolutionary relatedness of alpha-amylases from Archaea and plants.

The amino acid sequences of 22 alpha-amylases from family 13 of glycosyl hydrolases were analyzed with the aim of revealing the evolutionary relationships between the archaeal alpha-amylases and their eubacterial and eukaryotic counterparts. Two evolutionary distance trees were constructed: (i) the first one based on the alignment of extracted best-conserved sequence regions (58 residues) comprising beta2, beta3, beta4, beta5, beta7, and beta8 strand segments of the catalytic (alpha/beta)8-barrel and a short conserved stretch in domain B protruding out of the barrel in the beta3 --> alpha3 loop, and (ii) the second one based on the alignment of the substantial continuous part of the (alpha/beta)8-barrel involving the entire domain B (consensus length: 386 residues). With regard to archaeal alpha-amylases, both trees compared brought, in fact, the same results; i.e., all family 13 alpha-amylases from domain Archaea were clustered with barley pI isozymes, which represent all plant alpha-amylases. The enzymes from Bacillus licheniformis and Escherichia coli, representing liquefying and cytoplasmic alpha-amylases, respectively, seem to be the further closest relatives to archaeal alpha-amylases. This evolutionary relatedness clearly reflects the discussed similarities in the amino acid sequences of these alpha-amylases, especially in the best-conserved sequence regions. Since the results for alpha-amylases belonging to all three domains (Eucarya, Eubacteria, Archaea) offered by both evolutionary trees are very similar, it is proposed that the investigated conserved sequence regions may indeed constitute the "sequence fingerprints" of a given alpha-amylase.

Amino Acid Sequence↗

Isomaltose formed by alpha-glucosidases triggers amylase induction in Aspergillus nidulans.

Among various alpha-glucobioses examined, isomaltose was the most effective inducer for amylase synthesis in Aspergillus nidulans. Amylase induction by maltose was completely inhibited by addition of castanospermine or cycloheximide, while induction by isomaltose was not affected by the inhibitors, suggesting that amylase induction by maltose requires inducible alpha-glucosidases. Disruption of the alpha-glucosidase A gene ( agdA), the alpha-glucosidase B gene ( agdB), or both genes did not abolish maltose-dependent induction, although amylase production induced by maltose decreased about 2-fold in the agdA/ agdB double disruptant, compared with that in the agdB disruptant at all concentrations tested. Upon induction by isomaltose, amylase synthesis was enhanced considerably in the agdB and agdA/ agdB disruptants. Even at 3 nM, isomaltose induced amylase production in the double disruptant, supporting the suggestion that isomaltose is a physiological inducer for amylase. Therefore, maltose must be converted to isomaltose by alpha-glucosidases prior to triggering amylase synthesis, but no specific alpha-glucosidase is required for amylase induction by maltose. Probably any alpha-glucosidases having isomaltose-forming activity, including AgdA and AgdB, may participate in amylase induction by maltose.

Aspergillus nidulans↗

Evidence that nitric oxide does not directly contribute to methacholine-induced amylase secretion in rabbit parotid acinar cells.

Nitric oxide (NO) is a short-lived free radical and is a widespread intra- and intercellular messenger molecule involved in various physiological functions. We have demonstrated previously that the muscarinic agonist methacholine induces endogenous generation of NO in rabbit parotid acinar cells. Since methacholine also simultaneously evokes amylase secretion, we investigated the effect of NO on the methacholine-induced exocytotic amylase secretion in rabbit parotid acinar cells. Methacholine-evoked amylase secretion was clearly reduced in the absence of extracellular Ca(2+). The Ca(2+)-mobilizing reagents A23187 and thapsigargin, which stimulate NO generation, also evoked amylase secretion. This response seemed to be caused by NO generated by the activation of endogenous Ca(2+)-regulated NO synthase. However, N(G)-nitro-L-arginine methyl ester (L-NAME), a specific NOS inhibitor, and the NO scavenger haemoglobin had no effect on methacholine-induced amylase secretion. The NO generator sodium nitroprusside (SNP) failed to evoke amylase release. We further studied the effects of L-NAME and SNP on methacholine-induced amylase secretion in crudely dispersed parotid gland cell clusters containing nerve tissue. In this preparation, L-NAME inhibited methacholine-induced amylase secretion and SNP evoked amylase secretion. It is thus unlikely that NO contributes directly to methacholine-induced amylase secretion in rabbit parotid acinar cells. NO appears rather to affect to nerve tissues in the cell suspension.

Amylases↗

Models for the action of barley alpha-amylase isozymes on linear substrates.

The formation of maltodextrins, G1 to G12, during the hydrolysis of amylose by alpha-amylases 1 and 2 from barley malt was followed by HPLC. Similar, but not identical, distributions of products were obtained with the two alpha-amylase components. Maltose, G6, and G7 were major products, but G7 was degraded as hydrolysis proceeded. alpha-Amylase 1 produced more G1 and G3 than did alpha-amylase 2 at all stages of hydrolysis. Products formed during the hydrolysis of G9, G10, G11, and G12 by the two alpha-amylases were also determined. A different spectrum of products was observed with each substrate and small differences were observed in the action pattern of the two alpha-amylases, e.g., G3 and G7 were the major products formed during the hydrolysis of G10 by alpha-amylase 1, whereas G2 and G8 were the major products formed by alpha-amylase 2 on the same substrate. These results were used to develop a model of the active site of barley malt alpha-amylases. This site contains ten contiguous subsites with the catalytic site situated between subsites 7 and 8. The model can be used to predict hydrolysis patterns of amylose and maltodextrins by cereal alpha-amylases.

Carbohydrate Sequence↗

Effect of modifying histidine residues on the action of Bacillus amyloliquefaciens and barley-malt alpha-amylases.

Modification of porcine pancreatic alpha-amylase (PPA) and Taka-amylase A(TAA) with diethyl pyrocarbonate (DEP) causes activation of the release of p-nitrophenol from p-nitrophenol alpha-maltoside (G2PNP), and a decrease in amylase activity (hydrolysis of alpha-1,4 glucosidic bonds in starch). Among the possible sites of modification, attention focuses on three histidine residues present around the active site of alpha-amylases of many different origins. In PPA these are His 101, His 201, and His 299, with His 101 and His 299 being very close to the site of catalysis and thus perhaps directly or indirectly involved in the catalysis. On the other hand, His 201 is located on the aglycon side of the catalytic site, and we have suggested that it is involved in the increase of PNP release after chemical modification. Investigations of site-directed mutagenesis of the histidine residues of human pancreatic alpha-amylase support this identification. Although the degree of sequence similarity among alpha-amylases of different origins is low, there are several conserved short regions. Most belong to the structural components of the active site in PPA and TAA. Furthermore, there is a close similarity in the three-dimensional structures of PPA and TAA. The conserved residues around the active site in all alpha-amylases suggest some universal structural similarities in these active sites. Therefore, we examined the effects of the chemical modification of histidine residues in Bacillus amyloliquefaciens alpha-amylase(BLA) with DEP and made a comparison with modification of barley alpha-amylase isoenzyme II(BAII), using identical substrate systems. These two alpha-amylases have more substrate binding subsites than PPA and TAA, and have similar action patterns with malto-oligosaccharides.

Bacillus↗

Properties of amylase-linked immunoglobulins.

In this report, the properties of eight cases of amylase-linked immunoglobulins were gel filtration using Sephadex G-200 superfine. The class of heavy chain of amylase-linked immunoglobulins was proved to be gamma in four cases and alpha in three cases by immunoelectrophoresis followed by amylase activity staining. In one of the cases, the precipitin line against light chain lambda could be visualized only after treatment with 0.1 M 2-mercaptoethanol. Then, the type of light chain was determined to be exclusively lambda irrespective of heavy chain classes. In two cases, the immunoglobulin complexes were partially dissociated into normal amylase and immunoglobulin G at pH 8.6, and completely dissociated at pH 9.0. In three cases, the complexes were completely dissociated at pH 8.6. The precipitin line of papain treated amylase-linked immunoglobulin G against anti-Fc was not. This fact suggests that the binding site of amylase-linked immunoglobulins G was located in the Fab portion of immunoglobulin molecule and that the complexes are specific antigen-antibody complexes. Treatment with Con-A Sepharose caused the dissociation of the amylase-immunoglobulin complexes. It is suggested that the changes in the conformation of amylase-linked immunoglobulin causes the dissociation of this immuno-complex. Thus, it is elucidated that the complexes of amylase and immunoglobulins are specific antigen-antibody complexes, and that these complexes must be recognized as one of the circulating autoantibodies in plasma, and must be clearly distinguished from the other unknown macromolecular amylase complexes.

Amylases↗

Relation of electrophoretic pattern of amylase isoenzymes to severity of pancreatic disease.

Serum and urinary amylase isoenzymes were studied in an attempt to evaluate the usefulness of isoamylase analysis in the diagnosis of pancreatic diseases. The amylase in human serum and urine was separated into 4 to 5 distinct isoenzymes, which have mobilities consistent with those of the pancreatic isoamylases (Amylase-1, -2, -4 and -6) and the salivary isoamylases (Amylase-3, -5 and -7). The normal isoamylase pattern was Amylase-1, -2, -3 and -5. Amylase-4 and -6 could not be found in normal serum and urine. Amylase activity in Amylase-1 and/or -2 increased remarkably, having the normal isoamylase pattern, in the patients with elevated serum amylase activity after stimulation with pancreozymin-secretin or after endoscopic retrograde cholangiopancreatography. However, in the patients with acute pancreatitis, salivary type isoamylases disappeared and only the pancreatic type components were identified. It seems that the appearance of Amylase-4 and disappearance of the salivary components indicate severe pancreatic inflammation and that the apparent specificity of this isoenzyme pattern affords a mean for conforming the diagnosis of acute pancreatitis. However, the occurrence of an inherited trait in the pancreatic isoamylases of healthy individuals suggests that a rise in the pancreatic components may not necessarily indicate pancreatic disorders.

Amylases↗

Estrogens influence cholecystokinin stimulated pancreatic amylase release and acinar cell membrane cholecystokinin receptors in rat.

This study examines the influence of ovariectomy and administration of a pharmacologic dose of estradiol on amylase release from isolated-dispersed rat pancreatic acini and cholecystokinin receptors on rat acinar cell membranes. Rats were sham ovariectomized (intact) or ovariectomized (Ovx) and 21 day timed release pellets containing either estradiol (2.5 mg) or vehicle, were implanted subcutaneously. Eighteen days later, pancreatic acini were isolated from rats by collagenase digestion and differential centrifugation. Total cellular amylase, basal and cholecystokinin octapeptide (CCK8) stimulated amylase release and CCK membrane receptors were measured. Acini isolated from estradiol treated Ovx rats had significantly greater total cellular amylase, compared to acini isolated from either intact or Ovx rats. The amplitude of both total stimulated amylase release and percent total stimulated amylase release were significantly greater for acini isolated from vehicle treated Ovx rats, than acini isolated from either intact or estradiol treated Ovx rats. The magnitude of percent total amylase release of acini isolated from estradiol treated Ovx rats was significantly lower than that of acini isolated from intact rats. Cholecystokinin receptor concentration was significantly greater on membranes prepared from vehicle treated Ovx rats, compared to membranes prepared from either intact or estradiol treated Ovx rats. These data indicate that ovariectomy is associated with increased responsiveness of pancreatic acini to CCK stimulation, while chronic estradiol treatment of ovariectomized rats is associated with increased total cellular amylase and decreased acinar cell responsiveness to CCK8. Estrogen mediated alterations in acinar cell amylase content and amylase release may play a role in estrogen related pancreatitis.

Amylases↗

Rat parotid gland amylase: evidence for alterations in an exocrine protein with increased age.

The content of alpha-amylase, the major exocrine secretory protein from rat parotid glands, was studied in young adult and aged rat tissue. alpha-Amylase protein was determined with an enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay. This employed antisera, produced against alpha-amylase purified from young adult rats, but which recognized and precipitated alpha-amylase enzyme activity equally well from both age groups. The parotid gland content of alpha-amylase was reduced about 50% in aged rats. Furthermore, the percentage of total gland protein which was alpha-amylase was decreased about 40% in aged animals. The data suggest that a somewhat specific alteration in alpha-amylase production (synthesis and/or degradation) occurs in parotid glands from aged rats. In addition, alpha-amylase functional activity was followed. The specific enzyme activity (U amylase activity per mg immunoreactive amylase) was about 35% higher in extracts from aged rat parotid glands compared to that of young adult glands.

Aging↗

Immobilisation and activity of human alpha-amylase in the acquired enamel pellicle.

UNLABELLED: Amylase is an important salivary component and structural element of the acquired enamel pellicle. Aim of the study was to establish a method for precise and direct determination of pellicle bound amylase activity in order to analyse kinetics and activity of the immobilised enzyme. Six bovine enamel slabs (5mm diameter) were fixed on individual maxillary trays and worn by five subjects for different times (3, 30 and 120 min) on buccal and palatal sites on different days. Slabs were removed from the trays and rinsed with aqua dest. Afterwards, pellicle bound amylase activity was determined directly with a photometric method using 2-chloro-4-nitrophenyl-4-O-beta-D-galactopyranosylmaltotriosid (GalG2CNP) as substrate yielding the coloured product chloronitrophenolate (CNP). All investigated pellicles exhibited immobilised amylase activity. Mean activity was 1.39 +/- 187 mU/cm(2) (n=87, range 0.14-11.5 mU/cm(2)). Product formation of CNP by immobilised amylase was linear over time. Pellicle bound amylase showed a Michaelis type kinetic (Km = 3.3 x 10(-3) M). Immobilised activity on buccal surfaces ranged between 0.25 and 11.1 mU/cm(2) (palatal slabs: 0.14-3.06 mU/cm(2)). Thirty minutes pellicles formed on buccal sites exhibited significantly higher immobilised amylase activity (2.85 +/- 3.65 mU/cm(2)) than palatal ones (0.63 +/- 0.32 mU/cm(2)). Amylase activity showed great intraindividual variability when comparing same positions on different days. CONCLUSION: Pellicle bound amylase activity can be determined directly with GalG2CNP and shows a Michaelis Menten kinetic. Enzyme activity of the amylase immobilised in the in situ pellicle reveals great intra- and interindividual differences.

Analysis of Variance↗

Multiple myeloma associated with sialyl salivary-type amylase.

BACKGROUND: There have been several reports describing a notable hyperamylasaemia in patients with multiple myeloma. Such amylase-producing myelomas have been mainly described in the context of concomitant salivary-type hyperamylasaemia, with sialyl salivary-type amylase identified in a portion of those cases. We investigated the incidence of the production of sialyl salivary-type amylase in serum of multiple myeloma patients. METHODS: Eleven patients (6 male and 5 female) who had been diagnosed as having multiple myeloma were enrolled in this study. Sialyl salivary-type amylase was detected by isoamylase electrophoresis and HPLC analysis, and identified by detecting either abnormal neuraminidase-sensitive band through isoamylase electrophoresis or abnormal extra-elution peak of amylase by means of HPLC analysis. RESULTS: Sialyl salivary-type amylase was detected in 7 out of 11 (63.6%) patients. Median total amylase activity was 154 U/l (range 109-43020). Isoamylase electrophoretic patterns of patients' serum were normal in 5 patients (71.4%) out of 7 patients and salivary-dominant in 2 (50.0%) out of 4 patients. CONCLUSIONS: We consider that there is no significant relationship between total serum amylase level and amylase isoenzyme pattern in the incidence of production of sialyl salivary-type amylase with multiple myeloma.

Aged↗

The role of alpha-amylase in the perception of oral texture and flavour in custards.

The role of salivary alpha-amylase in odour, flavour, and oral texture sensations was investigated in two studies in which the activity of salivary amylase present in the mouth of human subjects was either increased by presenting custards with added alpha-amylase or decreased by presenting custards with added acarbose, an amylase inhibitor. For starch-based vanilla custard desserts, amylase resulted in increased melting and decreased thickness sensations, whereas acarbose had the opposite effect, i.e., decreased melting and increased thickness. Other affected attributes included creamy mouth feel, creamy after feel, and fatty after feel. Creaminess, which is considered to be a highly desirable food quality, decreased by as much as 25% with added amylase and increased by as much as 59% with added acarbose. Neither additional amylase nor acarbose affected sensations for a nonstarch-based carboxy methylcellulose (CMC) vanilla custard dessert. This indicates that the effects of amylase on viscosity-related sensations of starch-based custards, such as perceived melting and thickness, are caused by amylase-induced breakdown of starch. Partial Least Square (PLS) analysis indicated that the effects of amylase and acarbose on perceived creaminess are not only driven by their effects on perceived melting and thickness, but also by their effects on perceived flavour.

Acarbose↗