Levels Of Alpha-amylase Activity Research Articles

Relationship Between Stress And Alpha Amylase Levels Among Presenters

Background: Stress occurs when the internal homeostasis is disrupted by external environmental stressors. Salivary Alpha Amylase (sAA) levels are increased in response to stress, and it is frequently used as a biomarker of stress. Aims: To determine the relationship between stress and alpha-amylase levels among presenters by the difference in levels scored in pre and post presentation. Material and Methods: A cross-sectional descriptive study was conducted to achieve the objectives of the study and was achieved to determine the association between stress and salivary alpha amylase levels for presenters during the period from 10th. Jan, 2022 to Jan, 20th. Mar, 2022. The study was conducted by selecting a typical form of non-probability (Purposive) sample. The size of the sample of 70 participants was included in the study. Results: The relationship between stress and the level of alpha amylase concentration was low in post presentation in comparison with pre presentation (0.11±0.03) and (0.13±0.02) respectively. This result was statistically highly significant according to paired t-test and the P-value was < 0.001. Furthermore, the level of Alpha amylase activity was low in post presentation in comparison with pre presentation (289658.5±76490.7) and (321693.9±52219.2) respectively. This result was statistically highly significant according to paired one group t-test and the P-value was<=0.0001. Conclusion: It was concluded Stress was elevated in the post-presentation in compare with the pre-presentation. and the levels of alpha amylase were affected by the presenters’ age groups.

Level of alpha amylase activity in human saliva as a non-invasive biochemical marker of sleep deprivation

To investigate the usefulness of the enzyme salivary alpha amylase as a biochemical marker of sleep deprivation in human subjects. Total 168 healthy school-going adolescents studying in 9th grade were selected randomly from morning shift (n = 84) and dayshift (n = 84) schools. The study was undertaken longitudinally for a period of 2 years. Study encompassed administration of questionnaire and collection of saliva samples from the participants. Activity of salivary alpha amylase (sAA) activity was estimated spectrophotometrically and statistical analysis was performed to determine the association between sAA activity and sleep duration. Excessive daytime sleepiness among students was also studied in association with sAA activity. sAA activity of students was found to have a negative correlation with the duration of sleep and a positive correlation with their level of sleepiness. Morning shift students were found to have significantly less sleep and correspondingly higher sAA activity as compared to dayshift students. A significant increase in the sAA activity was noticed in the second year as the students progressed from 9th to 10th grade. Higher amylase activity was also observed in sleep deprived students suffering from excessive daytime sleepiness irrespective of school timings. Salivary alpha amylase activity increases in saliva in response to sleep deprivation. School timings may modulate sleep duration of students. Present finding reveals that sAA could be an appropriate non-invasive biochemical marker for the objective assessment of sleep deprivation among individuals as well as at population level.

Level of Alpha Amylase Activity in Human Saliva as Noninvasive Biochemical Marker of Sleep Deprivation

Level of Alpha Amylase Activity in Human Saliva as Noninvasive Biochemical Marker of Sleep Deprivation

Stress system dysregulation in pediatric generalized anxiety disorder associated with comorbid depression.

Because chronic stress is an important risk factor for anxiety states and depressive disorders, we studied hypothalamus-pituitary-adrenal (HPA) axis and sympathetic system activity via changes in cortisol and alpha amylase activity levels in pediatric generalized anxiety disorder (GAD) patients (n=26) with comorbid depression and a healthy comparison group (n=26). Morning plasma cortisol and diurnal profiles of salivary cortisol and salivary alpha amylase (sAA) activity were assessed, also reactivity of HPA-axis, sAA activity, and heart rate following a psychosocial stressor (Trier Social Stress Test for children). GAD patients with comorbid depression showed increased morning plasma and salivary cortisol levels, ameliorating throughout in-patient treatment, and higher sAA activity in their diurnal profile. Both HPA and sympathetic activity positively correlated with the severity of anxiety and depression. We also demonstrated a blunted HPA and sympathetic response to acute stress in patients. This pattern of neuroendocrine and sympathetic changes seems to be distinct from the one previously reported in pediatric patients with only social anxiety or depressive disorders. We propose morning plasma and saliva cortisol levels as potential physiological indicators for supporting the evaluation of symptoms' severity and treatment progress in children with GAD and comorbid depressive disorder.

Approaches to improve wheat grain quality: Breeding for the falling number

The falling number (FN) reflects the level of alpha amylase activity in grain/flour and serves as an international standard of grain quality. The lower the FN the lower the quality of grain and its price. The main factor responsible for high α amylase levels and low FN values is visible or hidden preharvest sprouting (PHS) under adverse weather conditions. The decisive role in obtaining consistently high FNs belongs to breeding for preharvest sprouting resistance (PHSR) and directly for the FN. In recent decades, significant progress has been made in understanding biochemical and molecular processes accompanying PHS and the genetic control (PHSR) and the FN, as well as in the development of methods of breeding for PHSR and the FN. However, breeding for these traits and the corresponding theoretical studies have not yet been properly developed or reflected in the Russian literature. This review illustrates the genetic complexity and context dependence of the PHSR and FN traits. A specific feature of breeding for high PHSR and the FN is that it involves eliminating late maturity α-amylase (LMA) genotypes from early hybrid generations and choosing parents for crossing; the choice of genetically distinct donors of target traits; methods of evaluating varieties and lines for PHSR and the FN under different environmental conditions; determining F2 population sizes with regard to the combination of PHSR, FN, high performance, grain quality, and other commercial traits. New methods and approaches in breeding have opened new prospects. They include the doubled haploid (DH) method, allowing homozygotes to be obtained from early hybrid generations, and DNA technologies, which permit a genetically reasonable selection of the PHSR and FN donors, pyramiding of desirable alleles, and efficient selection of desired offspring using closely linked molecular markers.

Approaches to improve wheat grain quality: breeding for falling number

Falling number (FN) reflects the level of alpha amylase activity in grain. The main factor responsible for high α amylase levels and low FN values is visible or hidden preharvest sprouting (PHS) under adverse weather conditions. In recent decades, great progress has been made in the understanding of biochemical and molecular processes accompanying PHS and the genetic control of preharvest sprouting resistance (PHSR) and FN, as well as in the development of methods of breeding for PHSR and FN. However, breeding for these traits and the corresponding theoretical studies have not yet been properly developed or reflected in the Russian literature. The purpose of the review is to fill this gap. It illustrates the genetic complexity and context dependence of the PHSR and FN traits and of major factors impairing FN. A specific feature of breeding for high PHSR and FN is that it involves elimination of late maturity α-amylase (LMA) genotypes in choosing parents for crossing and from early hybrid generations; choice of donors of target traits with regard to their genetic diversity; methods of evaluation of varieties and lines for PHSR and FN under different environmental conditions; determination of F2 population size with regard to combination of PHSR, FN, high performance, grain quality, and other commercial traits. New methods and approaches in breeding open new prospects. They include the doubled haploid (DH) method, allowing homozygotes to be obtained from early hybrid generations; and DNA technologies, which permit genetically reasonable selection of PHSR and FN donors, pyramiding of desirable alleles, and efficient selection of desired offspring using closely linked molecular markers.

Age-dependent effects of UCP2 deficiency on experimental acute pancreatitis in mice.

Reactive oxygen species (ROS) have been implicated in the pathogenesis of acute pancreatitis (AP) for many years but experimental evidence is still limited. Uncoupling protein 2 (UCP2)-deficient mice are an accepted model of age-related oxidative stress. Here, we have analysed how UCP2 deficiency affects the severity of experimental AP in young and older mice (3 and 12 months old, respectively) triggered by up to 7 injections of the secretagogue cerulein (50 μg/kg body weight) at hourly intervals. Disease severity was assessed at time points from 3 hours to 7 days based on pancreatic histopathology, serum levels of alpha-amylase, intrapancreatic trypsin activation and levels of myeloperoxidase (MPO) in lung and pancreatic tissue. Furthermore, in vitro studies with pancreatic acini were performed. At an age of 3 months, UCP2-/- mice and wild-type (WT) C57BL/6 mice were virtually indistinguishable with respect to disease severity. In contrast, 12 months old UCP2-/- mice developed a more severe pancreatic damage than WT mice at late time points after the induction of AP (24 h and 7 days, respectively), suggesting retarded regeneration. Furthermore, a higher peak level of alpha-amylase activity and gradually increased MPO levels in pancreatic and lung tissue were observed in UCP2-/- mice. Interestingly, intrapancreatic trypsin activities (in vivo studies) and intraacinar trypsin and elastase activation in response to cerulein treatment (in vitro studies) were not enhanced but even diminished in the knockout strain. Finally, UCP2-/- mice displayed a diminished ratio of reduced and oxidized glutathione in serum but no increased ROS levels in pancreatic acini. Together, our data indicate an aggravating effect of UCP2 deficiency on the severity of experimental AP in older but not in young mice. We suggest that increased severity of AP in 12 months old UCP2-/- is caused by an imbalanced inflammatory response but is unrelated to acinar cell functions.

The relationship between the level of salivary alpha amylase activity and pain severity in patients with symptomatic irreversible pulpitis

ObjectivesAssessment of dental pain severity is very challenging in dentistry. Previous studies have suggested that elevated salivary alpha amylase may contribute to increased physical stresses. There is a close association between salivary alpha amylase and plasma norepinephrine under stressful physical conditions. The aim of this study was to evaluate the relationship between pain severity and salivary alpha amylase levels in patients with symptomatic irreversible pulpitis.Materials and MethodsThirty-six patients (20 females and 16 males) with severe tooth pain due to symptomatic irreversible pulpitis were selected. The visual analogue scale (VAS) score was used to assess the pain severity in each patient. Unstimulated whole saliva was collected, and the level of alpha amylase activity was assessed by the spectrophotometric method. Statistical analysis was performed using SPSS 13.ResultsThe level of alpha amylase was significantly increased in the saliva in association with pain severity assessed by VAS. The salivary alpha amylase was also elevated with increased age and in males.ConclusionsThere was a significant correlation between the VAS pain scale and salivary alpha amylase level, which indicates this biomarker may be a good index for the objective assessment of pain intensity.

The Influence of Olfactory Stimulation by Essential Oils on Salivary Alpha-Amylase Activity and State Anxiety Level

精油の香り吸入による嗅覚刺激は，リラクゼーションの方法の一つと考えられている．スウィートオレンジの嗅覚刺激後に，唾液 α-アミラーゼ活性と状態不安レベルは有意な低下を示した．ペパーミントでは，有意な変化はみられなかった．ある種の精油による嗅覚刺激によって，リラックス効果が得られる可能性が示唆された．

Enzymatic activity and immunoreactivity of Aca s 4, an alpha-amylase allergen from the storage mite Acarus siro

BackgroundEnzymatic allergens of storage mites that contaminate stored food products are poorly characterized. We describe biochemical and immunological properties of the native alpha-amylase allergen Aca s 4 from Acarus siro, a medically important storage mite.ResultsA. siro produced a high level of alpha-amylase activity attributed to Aca s 4. This enzyme was purified and identified by protein sequencing and LC-MS/MS analysis. Aca s 4 showed a distinct inhibition pattern and an unusual alpha-amylolytic activity with low sensitivity to activation by chloride ions. Homology modeling of Aca s 4 revealed a structural change in the chloride-binding site that may account for this activation pattern. Aca s 4 was recognized by IgE from house dust mite-sensitive patients, and potential epitopes for cross-reactivity with house dust mite group 4 allergens were found.ConclusionsWe present the first protein-level characterization of a group 4 allergen from storage mites. Due to its high production and IgE reactivity, Aca s 4 is potentially relevant to allergic hypersensitivity.

Sprouting detection at early stages in individual CWAD and CWRS wheat kernels using SWIR spectroscopy

Reflectance spectra (1,250–2,390 nm) of two classes of western Canadian wheat (CWAD and CWRS) were studied to detect sprouting damage in individual kernels at the early stages of germination. Alpha-amylase activity levels were used as an indicator for the sprouting stage. Partial least squared discriminant analysis (PLSDA) and Logistic regression methods were used to build classification models. The optimal threshold α-amylase activity value for the separation of sprout damage classes was determined according to the area under the ROC curves. The results show that both PLSDA and logistic regression could distinguish kernels with an α-amylase activity larger than 1 SKB unit of activity from those with less enzyme activity. A total classification accuracy of over 91 and 86% was obtained for CWRS and CWAD, respectively.

Wheat genotypes show contrasting abilities to recover from anoxia in spite of similar anoxic carbohydrate metabolism

Physiological and metabolic responses to anoxia and reaeration were compared for 4-7-day-old seedlings of 11 genotypes of wheat (Triticum aestivum) with reputed differences in waterlogging tolerance. Genotypes differed in seminal root elongation, and recovery of root tissue K(+) concentration, during reaeration following 72 h anoxia. Post-anoxic recovery ranged from complete (100% retention of seminal root elongation potential) to almost nil (death of all seminal root apices and inability to recover K(+) concentration). The anoxia tolerance ranking of the genotypes based on these parameters corresponded with that of their reputed waterlogging tolerance, but with some exceptions. However, the differences in anoxia tolerance of the seedlings could not be explained by differences in capacity for ethanol production. A decreased ability to utilise seed starch reserves under anoxia, due to inadequate levels of alpha-amylase activity at the time anoxia was imposed, was apparent in all genotypes.

α-Amylase Activity of <I>Rhyzopertha dominica</I> (Coleoptera: Bostrichidae) Reared on Several Wheat Varieties and Its Inhibition with Kernel Extracts

Total progeny of Rhyzopertha dominica (F.) (Coleoptera: Bostrichidae) reared on 10 wheat, Triticum aestivum L., varieties was evaluated. Higher amylase activities were detected in populations with few individuals, whereas the opposite was observed in higher populations. As protein ingested increased, reproductive success increased. However, consumption of wheat protein was inversely correlated with amylase activity levels (r = -0.66). Amylase activity in homogenates of R. dominica populations showed variable inhibition by wheat extracts prepared from wheat varieties on which they were reared. Insect populations with lowest amylase activities were inhibited more by wheat extracts than those with higher amylase activity (r = -0.77). An electrophoretic analysis revealed four phenotypes showing combinations of three isoamylases (Rm 0.70, 0.79, and 0.90) in different populations of R. dominica. Some of the insect progeny that emerged from resistant wheat varieties contained the three isoamylases, whereas progeny that emerged from the most susceptible varieties showed reduced activity of isoamylases 0.70 or 0.90. These results suggest that the alpha-amylase activity levels and the composition of isoamylases in R. dominica populations are modulated by diet and that the alpha-amylase inhibitory activity of the wheat kernels influences these variations.

Insight into the Distribution of Arabinoxylans, Endoxylanases, and Endoxylanase Inhibitors in Industrial Wheat Roller Mill Streams

To gain insight into the distribution of arabinoxylans (AX), endoxylanases, and endoxylanase inhibitors in industrial wheat roller milling, all streams, that is, 54 flour fractions, 4 bran fractions, and the germ, were analyzed for ash, starch, and protein contents, alpha-amylase activity levels, total (TOT-AX) and water-extractable arabinoxylan (WE-AX) contents, endoxylanase activity levels, and endoxylanase inhibitor (TAXI and XIP) contents. In general, bran fractions were significantly richer in TOT-AX and WE-AX contents, endoxylanase activity levels, and endoxylanase inhibitor contents than germ and, even more so, than flour fractions. In the 54 different flour fractions, minimal and maximal values for TOT-AX and WE-AX contents differed by ca. 2-fold, whereas they differed by ca. 15-fold for endoxylanase activity levels. The latter were positively correlated with ash and negatively correlated with starch content, suggesting that the endoxylanase activity in flour is strongly influenced by the level of bran contamination. TAXI contents in the flour fractions varied ca. 4-fold and were strongly correlated with bran-related parameters such as ash content and enzyme activity levels, whereas XIP contents varied ca. 3-fold and were not correlated with any of the parameters measured in this study. The results can be valuable in blending and optimizing wheat flour fractions to obtain flours with specific technological and nutritional benefits.

Purification of alpha-amylases using magnetic alginate beads.

Magnetic alginate beads were used to purify alpha-amylases from porcine pancreas, starchzyme, BAN 240L (a commercial purification from Bacillus subtilis), and wheat germ. The beads bound a significant level of alpha-amylase activity from porcine pancreas, BAN 240L, and wheat germ. In each case, the enzyme activity could be eluted by using 1.0 M maltose, a known competitive inhibitor of alpha-amylase. In the case of BAN 240L, 3.6-fold purification with 72% recovery of activity was observed. In the case of wheat germ enzyme, starting from the crude extract, 48-fold purification with 70% activity recovery was observed. Sodium dodecyl sulfate polyacrylamide gel electrophoresis analysis also indicated considerable purification in the latter case.

Evolution of the response patterns to dietary carbohydrates and the developmental differentiation of gene expression of ?-amylase in Drosophila

Intraspecific variation of alpha-amylase activity in D. melanogaster and D. immigrans, which is distantly related to D. melanogaster, and interspecific variation of alpha-amylase activity in 18 Drosophila species were examined. The amount of intraspecific variation of alpha-amylase activities measured in terms of coefficient of variation in D. melanogaster and D. immigrans was one-half and one-tenth or less, respectively, of the interspecific variation in 18 Drosophila species. We also surveyed the response patterns of alpha-amylase activity to dietary carbohydrates at the larval and adult stages. The levels of alpha-amylase activity depended on both repression by dietary glucose (glucose repression) and induction by dietary starch (starch induction). In general, our data suggest that glucose repression was conserved among species at both stages while starch induction was mainly observed in larvae, although the degree of the response depended on species. In D. lebanonensis lebanonensis and D. serrata, larvae expressed electrophoretically different alpha-amylase variants (isozymes) from those of adult flies. These results may suggest that the regulatory systems responsible both for the response to environment and developmental expression are different among species in Drosophila.

A study of alpha-amylase activity in tracheobronchial secretions of seriously ill patients with tracheostomies

This study was undertaken to assess any salivary aspiration in seriously ill patients with tracheostomies in an Intensive Care Unit setting. The alpha-amylase activity in the tracheostomies in an Intensive Care Unit setting. The alpha-amylase activity in the tracheobronchial secretions of 15 such patients were analysed to evaluate the incidence of salivary aspiration. None of the patients had clinical or radiological evidence of lung disorder at the time of the commencement of the study. Six out of 15 patients showed very high levels of alpha-amylase activity in their tracheobronchial secretions on Day 3 and all six subsequently developed severe chest infections. The other nine patients showed a low level of amylase activity in their secretions. Two patients in the latter group developed severe pulmonary disease. This study demonstrates that a high level of alpha-amylase activity in the tracheobronchial secretions of tracheotomized, ventilated patients indicates that salivary aspiration may be taking place, and further suggests that progressively increasing levels may indicate the likelihood of a major pulmonary complication developing.

Genetic and environmental variation in the diastatic power of australian barley

Variation in the diastatic power of Australian barley, and the relationships between diastatic power and the starch-degrading enzymes contributing to diastatic power, were investigated in 11 cultivars of barley grown at six diverse locations in Australia. Diastatic power varied with genotype and location, with the levels ranging from 3·1 to 16·5 U/kg. For alpha-amylase activity, levels across cultivar and location ranged from 52 to 214 U/g, for beta-amylase activity they ranged from 201 to 1550 U/g; and, for limit dextrinase activity, they ranged from 56 to 636 U/kg. Alpha-amylase ( r = 0·64) and beta-amylase ( r=0·77) activities were correlated more strongly with diastatic power than was limit dextrinase ( r=0·37). Grain nitrogen content was correlated positively with diastatic power ( r=0·71), largely because of the relationship between nitrogen content and beta-amylase activity ( r=0·82). High grain nitrogen contents were also associated with small grain sizes ( r=−0·76) and low hot-water extracts ( r=−0·75). The levels of alpha-amylase activity were correlated more closely with limit dextrinase activity ( r=0·65) than with beta-amylase activity ( r=0·28). The results indicate the need to select barley cultivars separately for alpha-amylase and beta-amylase activities to achieve high levels of diastatic power.

Characteristics of α-Amylase during Germination of Two High-Sugar Sweet Corn Cultivars of Zea mays L.

The role of the scutellum and the aleurone in alpha-amylase production in the high-sugar sweet corn cultivars Illini X-tra Sweet (shrunken-2, sh2) and Illinois 677a (sugary, sugary enhancer; su se) was compared to that in the starchy (Su) hybrid Funks G4646 with the use of alpha-amylase enzyme assays, isoelectric focusing, electron microscopy, and laser scanning confocal microscopy. The scutellum of Illinois 677a had low levels of alpha-amylase activity compared to that of Funks G4646 through 10 days after imbibition, and the aleurone of Illini X-tra Sweet had negligible activity. On the isoelectric focusing gels, the Illinois 677a scutellum had fewer alpha-amylase isozymes at 7 days compared to the Funks G4646 scutellum. The Illini X-tra Sweet aleurone had no alpha-amylase isozymes. Funks G4646 scutellar epithelial and aleurone cells contained abundant rough endoplasmic reticulum, polysomes, and dictyosomes at 5 and 7 days, respectively. The scutellar epithelial cells of Illinois 677a contained fewer of these structures by 5 days, and the Illini X-tra Sweet aleurone contained mostly lipid bodies through 7 days. Few cytoplasmic membranes and little RNA were detected with laser scanning confocal microscopy in the Illini X-tra Sweet aleurone compared to Funks G4646 at 7 days. These data suggest that the scutellum of Illinois 677a and the aleurone of Illini X-tra Sweet have impaired abilities to produce alpha-amylase.

Chloroplastic Regulation of Apoplastic α-Amylase Activity in Pea Seedlings

Photobleaching of pea (Pisum sativum L.) seedling leaves by treatment with norflurazon (San 9789) and 7 days of continuous white light caused a 76- to 85-fold increase in the activity of the primary alpha-amylase, a largely apoplastic enzyme, over normally greening seedlings. Levels of chlorophyll were near zero and levels of plastid marker enzyme activities were very low in norflurazon-treated seedlings, indicating severe photooxidative damage to plastids. As levels of norflurazon or fluence rates were lowered, decreasing photobleaching of tissues, alpha-amylase activity decreased. Levels of leaf beta-amylase and starch debranching enzyme changed very little in norflurazon-treated seedlings. Infiltration extraction of leaves of norflurazon-treated and normally greening seedlings indicated that at least 57 and 62%, respectively, of alpha-amylase activity was in the apoplast. alpha-Amylase activity recovered from the apoplast of photobleached leaves of norflurazon-treated seedlings was 18-fold higher than that for green leaves. Inhibitors of photosynthesis (DCMU and atrazine) and an inhibitor of chlorophyll accumulation that does not cause photooxidation of plastid components (tentoxin) had little effect on levels of alpha-amylase activity, indicating norflurazon-caused loss of chlorophyll and lack of photosynthesis did not cause the large induction in alpha-amylase activity. An inhibitor of both abscisic acid and gibberellin synthesis (paclobutrazol [PP333]) and an analog of norflurazon which inhibits photosynthesis but not carotenoid synthesis (San 9785) caused only moderate (about five-fold) increases in alpha-amylase activity. Lincomycin and chloramphenicol increased alpha-amylase activity in light grown seedings to the same magnitude as norflurazon, indicating that the effect of norflurazon is probably through the destruction of plastid ribosomes. It is proposed that chloroplasts produce a negative signal for the regulation of the apoplastic alpha-amylase in pea.