PRODUCTION OF AMYLOLYTIC ENZYMES BY SEVERAL YEAST SPECIES

Abstract

Several amylolytic yeast species, endomycopsis spp, schwanniomyces spp, pichia spp and saccharomyces spp have been compared for their ability to synthesise α‐amylase (E.C. 3.2.1.1), glucoamylase (E.C. 3.2.1.3) and pullulanase (E.C. 3.2.1.9). Endomycopsis fibuligera strain 240 possessed the highest glucoamylase activity (208 nmoles glucose/min) and second highest α‐amylase activity (128 nmoles maltose/min) and produced the largest amount of biomass. Schwanniomyces spp were the only yeast species studied which exhibited significant debranching activity. It was found that in endomycopsis spp, schwanniomyces spp and pichia spp, glucose, at a concentration above 3.0 × 10−3 m, appeared to repress α‐amylase activity. However, glucoamylase activity was not repressed at that glucose concentration. 1982 The Institute of Brewing & Distilling