Hydrolysis of a water-insoluble substrate incorporated into solidified medium by enzyme α-amylase contained in normal human urine

Abstract

The hydrolysis of blue starch polymer, incorporated into solidified agar medium, was accomplished using normal human urine as the α-amylase source. The enzymatic breakdown of the water-insoluble polymer was demonstrated in form of a visible hydrolyzed area formed during enzyme diffusion throughout the solidified medium. The conditions of enzymatic hydrolysis were studied with respect to time and temperature of incubation. The diameter of the hydrolyzed area was shown to decrease with increasing serial dilutions of the human urine.