Co-expression of saccharifying alkaline amylase and pullulanase in Micrococcus halobius OR-1 isolated from tapioca cultivar soil

Bacterial isolates from Tapioca cultivar soil were systematically identified. The effect of culture conditions and medium components on the production of extracellular amylase and pullulanase by Micrococcus halobius OR-1 were investigated. Amylase and pullulanase activity in the cell-free supernatant reached a maximum of 8.6 U/ml and 4.8 U/ml after 48 h, respectively. The enzyme converted the complex polysaccharides starch, dextrin, pullulan, amylose and amylopectin predominantly into maltotriose. Saccharification of 15% cereal, tuber starches and root starches with the whole cultured cells (WCC) or cell-free supernatant (CFS) showed comparable and complete saccharification within 90 min. These saccharifying enzymes had a pH optimum of 8.0 and were stable over a broad pH range of 6–12. Thus the coexpressed physicochemically compatible extracellular amylase and pullulanase produced by the Micrococcus halobius OR-1 strain might have important value in the enzyme-based starch saccharification industry.