Isolation, characterization, and identification of Geobacillus thermodenitrificans HRO10, an alpha-amylase and alpha-glucosidase producing thermophile

Thermophilic and amylolytic aerobic bacteria were isolated from soil through a selective enrichment procedure at 60 degrees C with starch as the carbon source. One of the isolates designated as HRO10 produced glucose aside from limit dextrin as the only hydrolysis product from starch and was characterized in detail. The starch-degrading enzymes produced by strain HRO10 were determined to be alpha-amylase and alpha-glucosidase. Whereas the alpha-amylase activity was detected exclusively in the culture supernatant, alpha-glucosidase occurred intracellular, extracellular, or on the surface of the bacteria depending on the growth phase. The optimum temperature and pH required for the growth of strain HRO10 were about 50 degrees C and pH 6.5 to 7.5. The strain used different carbohydrates as the carbon source, but the maximum production of alpha-amylase occurred when 1.0% (w/v) starch or dextrin was used. The use of organic vs. inorganic nitrogen favored the production of alpha-amylase in strain HRO10. The metal ions Li+, Mg2+, and Mn2+ stimulated the production of both enzymes. Identification of strain HRO10 by physiological and molecular methods including sequencing of the 16S rDNA showed that this strain belongs to the species Geobacillus thermodenitrificans. Biochemically, strain HRO10 differs from the type strain DSM 465 only in its ability to hydrolyze starch.     

Studies on a thermostable alpha-amylase from the thermophilic fungus Scytalidium thermophilum

An alpha-amylase produced by Scytalidium thermophilum was purified using DEAE-cellulose and CM-cellulose ion exchange chromatography and Sepharose 6B gel filtration. The purified protein migrated as a single band in 6% PAGE and 7% SDS-PAGE. The estimated molecular mass was 36 kDa (SDS-PAGE) and 49 kDa (Sepharose 6B). Optima of pH and temperature were 6.0 and 60 degrees C, respectively. In the absence of substrate the purified alpha-amylase was stable for 1 h at 50 degrees C and had a half-life of 12 min at 60 degrees C, but was fully stable in the presence of starch. The enzyme was not activated by several metal ions tested, including Ca(2+) (up to 10 mM), but HgCl(2 )and CuCl(2) inhibited its activity. The alpha-amylase produced by S. thermophilum preferentially hydrolyzed starch, and to a lesser extent amylopectin, maltose, amylose and glycogen in that order. The products of starch hydrolysis (up to 6 h of reaction) analyzed by thin layer chromatography, showed oligosaccharides such as maltotrioses, maltotetraoses and maltopentaoses. Maltose and traces of glucose were formed only after 3 h of reaction. These results confirm the character of the enzyme studied to be an alpha-amylase (1,4-alpha-glucan glucanohydrolase).     

A novel raw starch digesting alpha-amylase from a newly isolated Bacillus sp. YX-1: purification and characterization

This study reports the purification and characterization of a novel raw starch digesting alpha-amylase from a newly isolated Bacillus sp. YX-1. Maximum alpha-amylase activity (53 U mL(-1)) was obtained at 45 degrees C after 44 h of incubation. The enzyme was purified using ammonium sulfate precipitation, ion exchange and gel filtration chromatography, and showed a molecular weight of 56 kDa by SDS-PAGE. This enzyme exhibited maximum activity at pH 5.0, performed stability over a broad range of pH 4.5-11.0, and was optimally active at 40-50 degrees C. The enzyme preparation had a strong digesting ability towards various raw starches and efficiently hydrolyzed raw corn starch at a concentration of 20% and pH 5.0, which were normally used in the starch industries, in a period of 12h. By analyzing its partial amino acid sequences, the enzyme was proposed to be a novel alpha-amylase.     

Carbohydrases in camel (Camelus dromedarius) pancreas. Purification and characterization of glucoamylase

The present study analyzed the existence of carbohydrases in camel pancreas compared to some other ruminants. Disaccharidases (maltase, cellobiase, lactase, trehalase and sucrase), glucoamylase and alpha-amylase were detected in pancreas of camel, sheep, cow and buffalo. Enzyme levels in sheep were lower than in the other ruminants. The highest level was detected for alpha-amylase (EC 3.2.1.2). Moderate activity levels were detected for glucoamylase (EC 3.2.1.3) and maltase (EC 3.2.1.20), while other disaccharidases showed very low activity. The results suggested that, in addition to alpha-amylase, glucoamylase and maltase may be synthesized and secreted from pancreas to the small intestine in ruminants. Camel pancreatic glucoamylase was purified and characterized. The purification procedure included glycogen precipitation and chromatography on DEAE-Sepharose and Sepharose 6B. The molecular mass was 58 kDa for native and denatured enzyme using gel filtration and SDS-PAGE, respectively. The enzyme had a pH optimum at 5.5 and a Km of 10 mg starch/mL with more affinity toward potato soluble starch than the other carbohydrates. Glucoamylase had a temperature optimum at 50 degrees C with heat stability up to 30 degrees C. The effect of different cations and inhibitors was examined. The camel pancreatic glucoamylase may possess an essential thiol.     

Highly thermostable, thermophilic, alkaline, SDS and chelator resistant amylase from a thermophilic Bacillus sp. isolate A3-15

A thermostable alkaline alpha-amylase producing Bacillus sp. A3-15 was isolated from compost samples. There was a slight variation in amylase synthesis within the pH range 6.0 and 12.0 with an optimum pH of 8.5 (8mm zone diameter in agar medium) on starch agar medium. Analyses of the enzyme for molecular mass and amylolytic activity were carried out by starch SDS-PAGE electrophoresis, which revealed two independent bands (86,000 and 60,500 Da). Enzyme synthesis occurred at temperatures between 25 and 65 degrees C with an optimum of 60 degrees C on petri dishes. The partial purification enzyme showed optimum activity at pH 11.0 and 70 degrees C. The enzyme was highly active (95%) in alkaline range of pH (10.0-11.5), and it was almost completely active up to 100 degrees C with 96% of the original activity remaining after heat treatment at 100 degrees C for 30 min. Enzyme activity was enhanced in the presence of 5mM CaCl2 (130%) and inhibition with 5mM by ZnCl2, NaCl, Na-sulphide, EDTA, PMSF (3mM), Urea (8M) and SDS (1%) was obtained 18%, 20%, 36%, 5%, 10%, 80% and 18%, respectively. The enzyme was stable approximately 70% at pH 10.0-11.0 and 60 degrees C for 24h. So our result showed that the enzyme was both, highly thermostable-alkaline, thermophile and chelator resistant. The A3-15 amylase enzyme may be suitable in liquefaction of starch in high temperature, in detergent and textile industries and in other industrial applications.     

Alpha-amylase from mung beans (Vigna radiata)--correlation of biochemical properties and tertiary structure by homology modelling

Alpha-amylase from germinated mung beans (Vigna radiata) has been purified 600-fold to electrophoretic homogeneity and a final specific activity of 437 U/mg. SDS-PAGE of the final preparation revealed a single protein band of 46 kDa. The optimum pH was 5.6. The energy of activation was determined to be 7.03 kcal/mol in the temperature range 15-55 degrees C. Km for starch was 1.6 mg/mL in 50 mM sodium acetate buffer, pH 5.5. Thermal inactivation studies at 70 degrees C showed first-order kinetics with rate constant (k) equal to 0.005 min(-1). Mung bean alpha-amylase showed high specificity for its primary substrate starch. Addition of EDTA (10 mM) caused irreversible loss of activity. Mung bean alpha-amylase is inhibited in a non-competitive manner by heavy metal ions, for example, mercury with a Ki of 110 microM. Homology modelling studies with mung bean alpha-amylase using barley alpha-amylases Amy 1 and Amy 2 as templates showed a very similar structure as expected from the high sequence identity. The model showed that alpha-amylase from mung beans has no sugar-binding site, instead it has a methionine. Furthermore, instead of two tryptophans, it has Val(277) and Lys(278), which are the conserved residues, important for proper folding and conformational stability.     

Purification and properties of midgut alpha-amylase isolated from Morimus funereus (Coleoptera: Cerambycidae) larvae

Using soluble starch as a substrate five isoforms of alpha-amylase were identified in a crude extract of Morimus funereus larvae. The main alpha-amylase (termed AMF-3) was purified by gel filtration chromatography and anion exchange chromatography to obtain a single band on sodium dodecyl sulphate-polyacrylamide gel electrophoresis (SDS-PAGE). Its enzymatic purity was confirmed by an in-gel activity assay after SDS-PAGE. The purity of AMF-3 was increased 112-fold with a 15.4% yield. AMF-3 had apparent molecular masses of 33 and 31 kDa when analysed using SDS-PAGE and Superdex 75 FPLC gel filtration chromatography, respectively and a calculated isoelectric point of 3.2. Purified AMF-3 showed maximal activity at pH 5.2 and had an optimum activity temperature of 45 degrees C. AMF-3 retained over 90% of its maximum activity at temperatures from 45 to 60 degrees C. AMF-3 exhibited a high affinity towards soluble starch with a K(m) value of 0.43 mg/mL. Maximal AMF-3 activity was achieved in the presence of 0.1 mM CaCl(2), while at higher concentrations its activity decreased. AMF-3 activity increased with increasing NaCl concentration. AMF-3 activity was significantly inhibited by alpha-amylase wheat inhibitor. Using a number of raw starch substrates maximum AMF-3 activity was achieved with horse-radish starch, in contrast to undetectable activity towards potato starch.     

Purification and characterization of an extracellular alpha-amylase produced by Lactobacillus manihotivorans LMG 18010(T), an amylolytic lactic acid bacterium

This work presents the purification and characterization of an extracellular alpha-amylase (1,4-alpha-D-glucan glucanohydrolase, EC 3.2.1.1) produced by a new lactic acid bacterium: Lactobacillus manihotivorans able to produce L(+) lactic acid from starch. The molecular weight was found to be 135 kDa. The temperature and pH optimum were 55 degrees C and 5.5, respectively, and pI was 3.8. The alpha-amylase had good stability at pH range from 5 to 6 and the enzyme was sensitive to temperature, losing activity within 1 h of incubation at 55 degrees C. Higher thermal stability was observed when the enzyme was incubated in presence of soluble starch. K(m) value and activation energy were 3.44 mg/ml and 32.55 kJ/mol, respectively. Amylose was found to be a better substrate than soluble starch and amylopectin. Al(3+), Fe(3+), and Hg(2+) (10 mM) almost completely inhibited the alpha-amylase.     

Biochemical analysis of a native and proteolytic fragment of a high-molecular-weight thermostable lipase from a mesophilic Bacillus sp.

An extracellular lipase was isolated from the cell-free broth of Bacillus sp. GK 8. The enzyme was purified to 53-fold with a specific activity of 75.7 U mg(-1) of protein and a yield of 31% activity. The apparent molecular mass of the monomeric protein was 108 kDa as estimated by molecular sieving and 112 kDa by SDS-PAGE. The proteolysis of the native molecule yields a low molecular weight component of 11.5 kDa that still retains the active site. It was stable at the pH range of 7.0-10.0 with optimum pH 8.0. The enzyme was stable at 50 degrees C for 1 h with a half life of 2 h, 40 min, and 18 min at 60, 65, and 70 degrees C, respectively. With p-nitrophenyl laurate as substrate the enzyme exhibited a K(m) and V(max) of 3.63 mM and 0.26 microM/min/ml, respectively. Activity was stimulated by Mg(2+) (10 mM), Ba(2+) (10 mM), and SDS (0.1 mM), but inhibited by EDTA (10 mM), phenylmethane sulfonyl fluoride (100 mM), diethylphenylcarbonate (10 mM), and eserine (10 mM). It hydrolyzes triolein at all positions. The fatty acid specificity of lipase is broad with little preference for C(4) and C(18:1). Thermostability of the proteolytic fragment at 60 degrees C was observed to be 37% of the native protein. The native enzyme was completely stable in ethylene glycol and glycerol (30% v/v each) for 60 min at 65 degrees C.     

Purification and characterization of cyclic maltosyl-(1-->6)-maltose hydrolase and alpha-glucosidase from an Arthrobacter globiformis strain

Cyclic maltosyl-maltose [CMM, cyclo-[-->6)-alpha-D-Glcp-(1-->4)-alpha-D-Glcp-(1-->6)-alpha-D-Glcp-(1-->4)-alpha-D-Glcp-(1-->]], a novel cyclic tetrasaccharide, has a unique structure. Its four glucose residues are joined by alternate alpha-1,4 and alpha-1,6 linkages. CMM is synthesized from starch by the action of 6-alpha-maltosyltransferase from Arthrobacter globiformis M6. Recently, we determined the mechanism of extracellular synthesis of CMM, but the degrading pathway of the saccharide remains unknown. Hence we tried to identify the enzymes involved in the degradation of CMM to glucose from the cell-free extract of the strain, and identified CMM hydrolase (CMMase) and alpha-glucosidase as the responsible enzymes. The molecular mass of CMMase was determined to be 48.6 kDa by sodium dodecyl sulfate polyacrylamide gel electrophoresis (SDS-PAGE), and 136 kDa by gel filtration column chromatography. The optimal pH and temperature for CMMase activity were 6.5 and 30 degrees C. The enzyme remained stable from pH 5.5 to 8.0 and up to 25 degrees C. CMMase hydrolyzed CMM to maltose via maltosyl-maltose as intermediates, but it did not hydrolyze CMM to glucose, suggesting that it is a novel hydrolase that hydrolyzes the alpha-1,6-linkage of CMM. The molecular mass of alpha-glucosidase was determined to be 60.1 kDa by SDS-PAGE and 69.5 kDa by gel filtration column chromatography. The optimal pH and temperature for alpha-glucosidase activity were 7.0 and 35 degrees C. The enzyme remained stable from pH 7.0 to 9.5 and up to 35 degrees C. alpha-Glucosidase degraded maltosyl-maltose to glucose via panose and maltose as intermediates, but it did not degrade CMM. Furthermore, when CMMase and alpha-glucosidase existed simultaneously in a reaction mixture containing CMM, glucose was detected as the final product. It was found that CMM was degraded to glucose by the synergistic action of CMMase and alpha-glucosidase.     

Purification, biochemical characterization, and gene cloning of a new extracellular thermotolerant and glucose tolerant maltooligosaccharide-forming alpha-amylase from an endophytic ascomycete Fusicoccum sp. BCC4124

An endophytic fungus, Fusicoccum sp. BCC4124, showed strong amylolytic activity when cultivated on multi-enzyme induction enriched medium and agro-industry substrates. alpha-Amylase and alpha-glucosidase activities were highly induced in the presence of maltose and starch. The purified target alpha-amylase, Amy-FC1, showed strong hydrolytic activity on soluble starch (kcat/Km=6.47 x 10(3) min(-1)(ml/mg)) and selective activity on gamma- and beta-cyclodextrins, but not on alpha-cyclodextrin. The enzyme worked optimally at 70 degrees C in a neutral pH range with t(1/2) of 240 min in the presence of Ca(2+) and starch. Maltose, matotriose, and maltotetraose were the major products from starch hydrolysis but prolonged reaction led to the production of glucose, maltose, and maltotriose from starch, cyclodextrins, and maltooligosaccharides (G3-G7). The amylase showed remarkable glucose tolerance up to 1 M, but was more sensitive to inhibition by maltose. The deduced protein primary structure from the putative gene revealed that the enzyme shared moderate homology between alpha-amylases from Aspergilli and Lipomyces sp. This thermotolerant, glucose tolerant maltooligosaccharide-forming alpha-amylase is potent for biotechnological application.     

Characterization of a thermostable alpha-amylase from a thermophilic Streptomyces megasporus strain SD12

An extracellular alpha-amylase (1,4-alpha D-glucan glucan hydrolase; EC 3.2.1.1) was isolated from the cell free broth of Streptomyces megasporus SD12 grown in glucose, soluble starch and raw starch. The enzyme was purified 55-fold with a specific activity of 847.33 U mg-1 of protein and with a yield of 36% activity. The apparent molecular mass of the enzyme was 97 kDa, as estimated by SDS-PAGE. The pI of the enzyme was 5.4 and it was stable at a pH range of 5.5 to 8.5 with an optimum pH 6. The enzyme was stable upto 85 degrees C with a half life of 60 min. With soluble starch as substrate the enzyme exhibited a K(m) and kcat value of 4.4 mg ml-1 and 2335 U min-1 mg-1 of protein respectively. The major end products of starch hydrolysis were maltotriose and maltose depending on the incubation period. The production of the enzyme with agricultural wastes as substrates was 643 to 804 U min-1 mg-1 of protein in submerged fermentation whereas solid state fermentation could produce only 206 U min-1 mg-1 of protein.     

alpha-Glucosidase, a membrane-bound enzyme of alpha-glucan metabolism in Bacillus amyloliquefaciens. Purification and partial characterization.

The organism Bacillus amyloliquefaciens is capable of producing alpha-amylase (1,4-alpha-D-glucan glucanohydrolase, EC 3.2.1.1) and isoamylase (glycogen 6-glucanohydrolase, EC 3.2.1.68) extracellurlarly and a membrane-bound, intracellular alpha-glucosidase (alpha-D-glucoside glucohydrolase, EC 3.2.1.20). The amounts of alpha-glucosidase in cells of B. amyloliquefaciens grown on amylaceous polysaccharides were significantly higher then in cells grown on non-carbohydrate carbon sources. alpha-Glucosidase was exclusively found associated with membranes from ruptured spheroplasts by subcellular fractionation and solubilization studies. Salt solutions and chelating agents alone did not dislodge alpha-glucosidase from membranes, but in combination with detergents were most effective in solubilizing active enzyme (0.1% sodium cholate (pH 8.0)/0.4 M sodium chloride). Purified alpha-glucosidase very rapidly hydrolized p-nitrophenyl alpha-D-glucopyranoside and sucrose. Maltose, maltotriose, isomaltose and isomaltotriose were hydrolized at slower rates, whereas beta-glucosides and polymeric alpha-glucans were not attacked. Other properties of the purified enzyme were as follows: Temperature optimum for catalysis = 39 +/- 1 degrees C; pH optimum = 6.8; molecular weight = 27,000 +/- 1000. alpha-Glucosidase is proposed to function in the endogenous metabolism of alpha-glucans provided extracellularly as carbon sources for growth of B. amyloliquefaciens.     

Purification and characterization of an extracellular alpha-amylase from Clostridium perfringens type A.

An alpha-amylase (EC 3.2.1.1) secreted by Clostridium perfringens NCTC 8679 type A was purified to homogeneity and characterized. It was isolated from concentrated cell-free culture medium by ion-exchange and gel permeation chromatography. The enzyme exhibited maximal activity at pH 6.5 and 30 degrees C without the presence of calcium. The pI of the enzyme was 4.75. The estimated molecular weight of the purified enzyme was 76 kDa. The purified enzyme was inactivated between 35 and 40 degrees C, which increased to between 45 and 50 degrees C in the presence of calcium (5 mM). The purified enzyme produced a mixture of oligosaccharides as major end products of starch hydrolysis, indicating alpha-amylase activity.     

Beta-amylase in germinating millet seeds

Beta-amylase (EC 3.2.1.2) was isolated from germinating millet (Panicum miliaceum L.) seeds by a procedure that included ammonium sulfate fractionation, chromatography on DEAE-cellulofine and CM-cellulofine, and preparative isoelectric focusing. The enzyme was homogeneous by SDS-PAGE. The M(r) of the enzyme was estimated to be 58,000 based on its mobility on SDS-PAGE and gel filtration with TSKgel G4000SW(XL), which showed that it is composed of a single unit. The isoelectric point of the enzyme was 4.62. The enzyme hydrolyzed malto-oligosaccharides more readily as their degree of polymerization increased, this being strongest for malto-oligosaccharides larger than 13 glucose residues and very weakly for maltotriose. Amylose, amylopectin and soluble starch were the most suitable substrates for the enzyme. While the enzyme showed some activity against native starch by itself, starch digestion was accelerated 2.5-fold using alpha-amylase, pullulanase and alpha-glucosidase. This enzyme appears to be very important for the germination of millet seeds.     

Purification and characterization of a novel fungal alpha-glucosidase from Mortierella alliacea with high starch-hydrolytic activity

The fungal strain Mortierella alliacea YN-15 is an arachidonic acid producer that assimilates soluble starch despite having undetectable alpha-amylase activity. Here, a alpha-glucosidase responsible for the starch hydrolysis was purified from the culture broth through four-step column chromatography. Maltose and other oligosaccharides were less preferentially hydrolyzed and were used as a glucosyl donor for transglucosylation by the enzyme, demonstrating distinct substrate specificity as a fungal alpha-glucosidase. The purified enzyme consisted of two heterosubunits of 61 and 31 kDa that were not linked by a covalent bond but stably aggregated to each other even at a high salt concentration (0.5 M), and behaved like a single 92-kDa component in gel-filtration chromatography. The hydrolytic activity on maltose reached a maximum at 55 degrees C and in a pH range of 5.0-6.0, and in the presence of ethanol, the transglucosylation reaction to form ethyl-alpha-D-glucoside was optimal at pH 5.0 and a temperature range of 45-50 degrees C.     

Purification and kinetics of a raw starch-hydrolyzing,thermostable, and neutral glucoamylase of the thermophilic mold Thermomucor indicae-seudaticae

The purified glucoamylase of the thermophilic mold Thermomucor indicae-seudaticaehad a molecular mass of 42 kDa with a pI of 8.2. It is a glycoprotein with 9-10.5% carbohydrate content, which acted optimally at 60 degrees C and pH 7.0, with a t(1/2) of 12 h at 60 degrees C and 7 h at 80 degrees C. Its experimental activation energy was 43 KJ mol(-1) with temperature quotient (Q(10)) of 1.35, while the values predicted by response surface methodology (RSM) were 43 KJ mol(-1) and 1.28, respectively. The enzyme hydrolyzed soluble starch at 50 degrees C (K(m) 0.50 mg mL(-1) and V(max) 109 micromol mg(-1) protein min(-1)) and at 60 degrees C (K(m) 0.40 and V(max) 143 micromol mg(-1) protein min(-1)). The experimental K(m) and V(max) values are in agreement with the predicted values at 50 degrees C (K(m) 0.45 mg mL(-1) and V(max) 111.11 micromol mg(-1) protein min(-1)) and at 60 degrees C (K(m) 0.36 mg mL(-1)and V(max) 142.85 micromol mg(-1) protein min(-1)). An Arrhenius plot indicated thermal activation up to 60 degrees C, and thereafter, inactivation. The enzyme was strongly stimulated by Co(2+), Fe(2+), Ag(2+), and Ca(2+), slightly stimulated by Cu(2+) and Mg(2+), and inhibited by Hg(2+), Zn(2+), Ni(2+), and Mn(2+). Among additives, dextran and trehalose slightly enhanced the activity. Glucoamylase activity was inhibited by EDTA, beta-mercaptoethanol, dithiothreitol, and n-bromosuccinimide, and n-ethylmaleimide inhibited its activity completely. This suggested the involvement of tryptophan and cysteine in catalytic activity and the critical role of disulfide linkages in maintaining the conformation of the enzyme. The enzyme hydrolyzed around 82% of soluble starch and 65% of raw starch (K(m) 2.4 mg mL(-1), V(max) 50 micromol mg(-1) protein min(-1)), and it was remarkably insensitive to glucose, suggesting its applicability in starch saccharification.     

Purification and characterization of an extracellular amylase from a thermophilic streptomycete

G oldberg , J.D. & E dwards , C. 1990. Purification and characterization of an extracellular amylase from a thermophilic streptomycete. Journal of Applied Bacteriology 69 , 712–717.
A single extracellular alpha-amylase (1,4-α-D-glucan glucanohydrolase, EC 3.2.1.1) from Streptomyces thermoviolaceus subsp. apingens was purified to homogeneity by a starch adsorption method. SDS-PAGE indicated that the enzyme had an apparent M, of 57 kDa and activity was optimal at a pH of 7–2 and a temperature of 55C. It employed an endo-active mechanism to liberate predominantly maltose, as well as smaller amounts of higher oligosaccharides when incubated with starch. EDTA inhibited enzyme activity, suggesting an involvement of a divalent cation in activity. The enzyme was also stabilized by divalent cations when heated and the results suggested a major role for Ca²⁺ ions for both activity and thermostability. The alpha-amylase from S. thermoviolaceus displayed some similarities with commercially-used streptomycete alpha-amylases.     

Production and partial characterization of thermostable and calcium-independent alpha-amylase of an extreme thermophile Bacillus thermooleovorans NP54

AIM: An investigation was carried out on the production of alpha-amylase by Bacillus thermooleovorans NP54, its partial purification and characterization. METHODS AND RESULTS: The thermophilic bacterium was grown in shake flasks and a laboratory fermenter containing 2% soluble starch, 0.3% tryptone, 0.3% yeast extract and 0.1% K2HPO4 at 70 degrees C and pH 7.0, agitated at 200 rev min(-1) with 6-h-old inoculum (2% v/v) for 12 h. When the enzyme was partially purified using acetone (80%[v/v] saturation), a 43.7% recovery of enzyme with 6.2-fold purification was recorded. The KM and Vmax (soluble starch) values were 0.83 mg ml(-1) and 250 micromol mg(-1) protein min(-1), respectively. The enzyme was optimally active at 100 degrees C and pH 8.0 with a half-life of 3 h at 100 degrees C. Both alpha-amylase activity and production were Ca2+ independent. CONCLUSIONS: Bacillus thermooleovorans NP54 produced calcium-independent and thermostable alpha-amylase. SIGNIFICANCE AND IMPACT OF THE STUDY: The calcium-independent and thermostable alpha-amylase of B. thermooleovorans NP54 will be extremely useful in starch saccharification since the alpha-amylases used in the starch industry are calcium dependent. The use of this enzyme in starch hydrolysis eliminates the use of calcium in starch liquefaction and subsequent removal by ion exchange.