Description
β-Amylase hydrolyzes the α-(1,4) glucan linkages in polysaccharides of three or more α-(1,4) linked D-glucose units. Natural substrates such as starch and glycogen are broken down into glucose and maltose. Pure, crystalline β-amylase preparation consists of four isoenzymes with different isoelectric points. The enzyme polymerizes very rapidly through the sulfhydryl groups in the absence of reducing agents. p-Chloromercuribenzoate inhibits the polymerization and the enzymatic activity. The reducing agents mercaptoethanol or dithiothreitol can completely restore the activity.
Abbr
β-Amylase, Native (Barley)
Applications
β-Amylase is used to hydrolyze α bonds of α-linked polysaccharides, such as starch and glycogen. β-Amylase, has been used in various plant studies, such as carbon starvation studies in Populus tremuloides. β-Amylase, from barley, has been used to study how pressure and temperature affect catalytic activity.
Enzyme Commission Number
EC 3.2.1.2
Activity
20-80 units/mg protein (biuret)
Unit Definition
One unit will liberate 1.0 mg of maltose from starch in 3 min at pH 4.8 at 20°C.
Synonyms
saccharogen amylase; glycogenase; β amylase, β-amylase; 1,4-α-D-glucan maltohydrolase; EC 3.2.1.2; 9000-91-3
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