Optimum pH For Activity Research Articles

A comparative analysis of property of lychee polyphenoloxidase using endogenous and exogenous substrates

Lychee polyphenoloxidase (PPO) was extracted and partially purified using ammonium sulphate precipitation and dialysis. The comparative analysis of PPO property was performed using its endogenous substrate (–)-epicatechin and exogenous substrate catechol. The pH optima for activity and activation temperature profiles of lychee PPO were very different when the enzyme reacted with endogenous and exogenous substrates. The addition of ethylenediaminetetraacetic acid disodium salt into the endogenous or exogenous substrate–enzyme system exhibited the same lowest inhibition of the PPO activity. However, l-cysteine was most effective in inhibiting enzymatic activity in the endogenous substrate–enzyme system while ascorbic acid was the best inhibitor in the exogenous substrate–enzyme system. Fe2+ greatly accelerated the enzymatic reaction between endogenous substrate and PPO, but Cu2+ exerted the same effect on the reaction between exogenous substrate and PPO. Based on the kinetic analysis, lychee PPO could strongly bind endogenous substrate but it possessed a higher catalytic efficiency to exogenous substrate.

Evolution and diversity of invertase genes in Populus trichocarpa

Invertase (EC 3.2.1.26) plays a key role in carbon utilization as it catalyzes the irreversible hydrolysis of sucrose into glucose and fructose. The invertase family in plants is composed of two sub-families thought to have distinct evolutionary origins and can be distinguished by their pH optima for activity: acid invertases and neutral/alkaline invertases. The acid invertases apparently originated in eubacteria and are targeted to the cell wall and vacuole, while neutral/alkaline invertases apparently originated in cyanobacteria and function in the cytosol. The recently sequenced genome of Populus trichocharpa (Torr. and Gray) allowed us to identify the genes encoding invertase in this woody perennial. Here we describe the identification of eight acid invertase genes; three of which belong to the vacuolar targeted group (PtVIN1-3), and five of which belong to the cell wall targeted group (PtCIN1-5). Similarly, we report the identification of 16 neutral/alkaline invertase genes (PtNIN1-16). Expression analyses using whole genome microarrays and RT-PCR reveal evidence for expression of all invertase family members. An examination of the micro-syntenic regions surrounding the poplar invertase genes reveals extensive colinearity with Arabidopsis invertases. We also find evidence for expression of a novel intronless vacuolar invertase (PtVIN1), which apparently arose from a processed PtVIN2 transcript that re-inserted into the genome. To our knowledge, this is the first intronless invertase found in plants. This work increases the understanding of the role this family plays in carbon allocation and partitioning in forest trees as well as its evolutionary development.

Elucidation of the Chemistry of Enzyme-Bound Thiamin Diphosphate Prior to Substrate Binding: Defining Internal Equilibria among Tautomeric and Ionization States

Both solution and crystallographic studies suggest that the 4'-aminopyrimidine ring of the thiamin diphosphate coenzyme participates in catalysis, likely as an intramolecular general acid-base catalyst via the unusual 1',4'-iminopyrimidine tautomer. It is indeed uncommon for a coenzyme to be identified in its rare tautomeric form on its reaction pathways, yet this has been possible with thiamin diphosphate, in some cases even in the absence of substrate [Nemeria, N., Chakraborty, S., Baykal, A., Korotchkina, L., Patel, M. S., and Jordan, F. (2007) Proc. Natl. Acad. Sci. U.S.A. 104, 78-82.]. The ability to detect both the aminopyrimidine and iminopyrimidine tautomeric forms of thiamin diphosphate on enzymes has enabled us to assign the predominant tautomeric form present in individual intermediates on the pathway. Herein, we report the pH dependence of these tautomeric forms providing the first data for the internal thermodynamic equilibria on thiamin diphosphate enzymes for the various ionization and tautomeric forms of this coenzyme on four enzymes: benzaldehyde lyase, benzoylformate decarboxylase, pyruvate oxidase, and the E1 component of the human pyruvate dehydrogenase multienzyme complex. Evidence is provided for an important function of the enzyme environment in altering both the ionization and tautomeric equilibria on the coenzyme even prior to addition of substrate. The pKa for the 4'-aminopyrimidinium moiety coincides with the pH for optimum activity thereby ensuring that all ionization states and tautomeric states are accessible during the catalytic cycle. The dramatic influence of the protein on the internal equilibria also points to conditions under which the long-elusive ylide intermediate could be stabilized.

A novel thermostable lipase from Basidiomycete Bjerkandera adusta R59: characterisation and esterification studies

Microbial lipases are widely diversified in their enzymatic properties and substrate specificities, which make them very attractive for industrial application. Partially purified lipase from Bjerkandera adusta R59 was immobilized on controlled porous glass (CPG) and its properties were compared with those of the free enzyme. The free and immobilized lipases showed optimal activities at 45 and 50 degrees C, respectively. Both enzyme forms were highly thermostable up to 60 degrees C. The enzymes were stable at pH from 6.0 to 9.0 and their optimal pH for activity was 7.0. The free lipase was more thermostable in n-hexane than in aqueous environment. Both lipase preparations had good stabilities in non-polar solvents and were capable of hydrolysing a variety of synthetic and natural fats. Non-immobilized lipase activity was inhibited by disulphide bond reagents, serine and thiol inhibitors, while EDTA and eserine had no effect on enzyme activity. All anionic detergents tested in experiments inhibited lipase activity. The free lipase showed good stability in the presence of commercial detergents at laundry pH and temperatures. Applications of free and immobilized lipases for esterification were also presented.

Optimization of covalent immobilization of pectinase on sodium alginate support

Pectinase was immobilized on a sodium alginate support using glutaraldehyde and retained 66% activity. The optimal pH for activity shifted from 3.0 to 3.5 after immobilization; however, the optimum temperature remained unchanged at 40 degrees C. The immobilized enzyme also had a higher thermal stability and reusability than the free enzyme, and retained 80% of initial activity after 11 batch reactions.

Substrate and product hydrolysis specificity in family 11 glycoside hydrolases: an analysis of Penicillium funiculosum and Penicillium griseofulvum xylanases

Two genes encoding family 11 endo-(1,4)-beta-xylanases from Penicillium griseofulvum (PgXynA) and Penicillium funiculosum (PfXynC) were heterologously expressed in Escherichia coli as glutathione S-transferase fusion proteins, and the recombinant enzymes were purified after affinity chromatography and proteolysis. PgXynA and PfXynC were identical to their native counterparts in terms of molecular mass, pI, N-terminal sequence, optimum pH, and enzymatic activity towards arabinoxylan. Further investigation of the rate and pattern of hydrolysis of PgXynA and PfXynC on wheat soluble arabinoxylan showed the predominant production of xylotriose and xylobiose as end products. The initial rate data from the hydrolysis of short xylo-oligosaccharides indicated that the catalytic efficiency increased with increasing chain length (n) of oligomer up to n = 6, suggesting that the specificity region of both Penicillium xylanases spans about six xylose units. In contrast to PfXynC, PgXynA was found insensitive to the wheat xylanase inhibitor protein XIP-I.

Kinetic analysis, structural studies and prediction of p Ka values of Bacillus KR-8104 α-amylase: The determinants of pH-activity profile

A native α-amylase capable of activity at low pH was isolated from Bacillus sp. KR-8104 (KRA) naturally occurred in rhizoplane zone of potato cultured soils. An investigation was set out to account some evidence for its specific properties. Kinetic parameters of KRA with respect to Bacillus licheniformis α-amylase (BLA) and B. amyloliquefaciens α-amylase (BAA) showed a shift in acidic limb for KRA pH-profile. After isolation of KRA gene and determination of its nucleotide and protein sequences, the three-dimensional structure of KRA was simulated based on BLA as template. Using PROPKA program the p K a values of titrable groups in KRA model together with other few members of this family were predicted either from simulated model or available structure at protein data bank. A correlation between catalytic residue p K a values and the optimal pH-activity profile was seen. Both our experimental data and prediction studies indicated a shift in p K a value of catalytic residues to acidic pH. Moreover alignment studies raised amino acid substitutions in KRA compare to BLA which may affect the KRA putative active site leading to the formation of an extra hydrogen bond between Glu261 and Arg229 (regarding to BLA numbering) and in turn shifts the pH-activity profile to lower amount. Also a common intermediate with characteristics of molten globular state was detected at a pH value lower than other members of α-amylase family using far UV circular dichroism, intrinsic and ANS fluorescence and quenching experiments.

The Influence of Insertion of a Critical Residue (Arg356) in Structure and Bioluminescence Spectra of Firefly Luciferase

The firefly bioluminescence reaction, which uses luciferin, Mg-ATP, and molecular oxygen to yield an electronically excited oxyluciferin, is carried out by luciferase and visible light is emitted. The bioluminescence color of firefly luciferases is determined by the luciferase structure and assay conditions. Among different beetle luciferases, those from Phrixothrix railroad worm emit either yellow or red bioluminescence colors. Sequence alignment analysis shows that the red-emitter luciferase from Phrixothrix hirtus has an additional Arg residue at 353, which is absent in firefly luciferases. We report here the construction and purification of a mutant at residue Arg(356), which is not conserved in beetle luciferases. By insertion of an additional residue (Arg(356)) using site-specific insertion mutagenesis in a green-emitter luciferase (Lampyris turkestanicus) the color of emitted light was changed to red and the optimum temperature of activity was also increased. Insertion of this Arg in an important flexible loop showed changes of the bioluminescence color and the luciferase reaction took place with relatively retention of its basic kinetic properties such as Km and relative activity. Comparison of native and mutant luciferases using homology modeling reveals a significant conformational change of the flexible loop in the red mutant. Movement of flexible loop brought about a new ionic interaction concomitant with a change in polarity of the emitter site, thereby leading to red emission. It is worthwhile to note that the increased optimum temperature and emission of red light might make mutant luciferase a suitable reporter for the study of gene expression and bioluminescence imaging.

Production of xylanase from a newly isolated Penicillium sp. ZH-30

A new strain of Penicillium sp. ZH-30 that produces xylanase was isolated from soil. According to the morphology and comparison of internal transcribed spacer (ITS) rDNA gene sequence, the strain Penicillium sp. ZH-30 was identified as a strain of Penicillium oxalicum. When xylan or wheat bran was used as substrate at 30°C for 3 days under submerged cultivation, xylanase production was 5.3 and 13.3 U ml−1, respectively. The temperature and pH for optimum activity were 50°C and 5.0–6.0, respectively.

Cloning and heterologous expression of bovine pyroglutamyl peptidase type-1 in Escherichia coli: purification, biochemical and kinetic characterisation

We describe the cloning, expression and purification of the bovine XM866409 form of pyroglutamyl peptidase type-1 (PAP1). The cloned nucleotide sequence has an ORF coding for a primary sequence of 209 amino acid residues, which displays 98% identity with the human AJ278828 form of the enzyme. Three amino acid residues at positions 81, 205 and 208 were found to vary between the two sequences. The recombinant bovine PAP1 with a C-terminal His(6) tag (rBtaPAP1(6H)) was expressed in Escherichia coli XL10-Gold cells and purified by immobilised nickel ion affinity chromatography resulting in a yield of 2.6 mg of PAP1 per litre of culture. Purified rBtaPAP1(6H) had a specific activity of 3633 units mg(-1). SDS-PAGE revealed a band for bovine PAP1 with a molecular weight of approximately 24 kDa, which is in good agreement with previously reported data on PAP1. The K (m) and k (cat) values obtained for rBtaPAP1(6H) were 59 muM and 3.5 s(-1), respectively. The optimum pH for activity was 9.0-9.5 and the optimum temperature was 37 degrees C. rBtaPAP1(6H) was found to have an absolute requirement for the thiol-reducing agent DTT, consistent with the expected property of a cysteine protease. Kinetic studies using the peptides pGlu-His-Pro-NH(2) (TRH), pGlu-Ala and pGlu-Val revealed K (i) values of 44.1, 141 and 652.17 microM, respectively. The lowest K (i), observed for Thyrotropin-releasing Hormone (TRH), indicates that rBtaPAP1(6H) has a higher affinity for tripeptides over dipeptides.

PH-Dependent Conformational Stability of the Ribotoxin α-Sarcin and Four Active Site Charge Substitution Variants

Alpha-sarcin is an exquisitely specific ribonuclease that binds and cleaves a single phosphodiester bond in the large rRNA of the eukaryotic ribosome, inactivating it. To better understand this remarkable activity, the contributions of the active site residues (His 50, Glu 96, and His 137) to the conformational stability have been determined as a function of pH using variant proteins containing uncharged substitutes. Wild-type alpha-sarcin and the variants are maximally stable near pH 5.5, coinciding with the pH of optimal activity. A comparison of the stability vs pH profiles determined by thermal denaturation experiments to those calculated on the basis of pKa values shows that the charged forms of Glu 96 and His 137 compromise the enzyme's stability, lowering it. In contrast to barnase, there is little evidence for significant electrostatic interactions in the denatured states of alpha-sarcin or its active site variants between pH 3.5 and pH 8.5. Alpha-sarcin contains a long beta-hairpin and surface loops which are highly positively charged and which play key roles in membrane translocation and in ribosome binding. These positive charges decrease the stability of alpha-sarcin, particularly below pH 5. Hydrogen exchange measurements have been performed at pH 5.5 and reveal that the catalytic residues are firmly anchored in highly stable elements of secondary structure. Significant, though lower, levels of protection are observed for many amide protons in the positively charged beta-hairpin and long loops.

Morphology and preliminary enzyme characterization of the salivary glands from the predatory bug <I>Podisus nigrispinus</I> (Heteroptera: Pentatomidae)

Podisus nigrispinus (Dallas) is a common predator in agricultural and natural systems in Neotropical America. Its feeding strategy involves extra-oral digestion and to better understand this process its salivary glands were extracted and subjected to morphological and preliminary enzyme characterization. The salivary glands of P. nigrispinus are formed by a pair of main and accessory gland complexes. The main salivary glands are further divided into an anterior and a posterior lobe. The compartmentalization of the salivary gland complex is likely to be important for the production, activation and release of the digestive enzymes used in the extra-oral digestion of prey items. Proteases and lipase, important digestive enzymes involved in zoophagy, were detected in the salivary glands of P. nigrispinus. The prevailing trypsin-like protease activity was characterized by using the serine-protease substrate N-alpha-benzoyl-L-Arg-p-nitroanilidine (L-BApNA) and the trypsin inhibitors tosyl-L-lysine chloromethyl ketone (TLCK) and benzamidine. The KM value obtained for trypsin-like activity was 1.57 mm and the different peaks of optimum pH and temperature activity suggest the presence of multiple forms of this enzyme in P. nigrispinus. Detection of amylase activity in the salivary glands of this predator suggests its ability to digest starch and obtain nutrients from plants, which may have adaptative value under prey scarcity.

Morphology and preliminary enzyme characterization of the salivary glands from the predatory bugPodisus nigrispinus(Heteroptera: Pentatomidae)

AbstractPodisus nigrispinus(Dallas) is a common predator in agricultural and natural systems in Neotropical America. Its feeding strategy involves extra-oral digestion and to better understand this process its salivary glands were extracted and subjected to morphological and preliminary enzyme characterization. The salivary glands ofP. nigrispinusare formed by a pair of main and accessory gland complexes. The main salivary glands are further divided into an anterior and a posterior lobe. The compartmentalization of the salivary gland complex is likely to be important for the production, activation and release of the digestive enzymes used in the extra-oral digestion of prey items. Proteases and lipase, important digestive enzymes involved in zoophagy, were detected in the salivary glands ofP. nigrispinus. The prevailing trypsin-like protease activity was characterized by using the serine-protease substrateN-α-benzoyl-L-Arg-p-nitroanilidine (L-BApNA) and the trypsin inhibitors tosyl-L-lysine chloromethyl ketone (TLCK) and benzamidine. The KMvalue obtained for trypsin-like activity was 1.57 mm and the different peaks of optimum pH and temperature activity suggest the presence of multiple forms of this enzyme inP. nigrispinus. Detection of amylase activity in the salivary glands of this predator suggests its ability to digest starch and obtain nutrients from plants, which may have adaptative value under prey scarcity.

Development of a heavy metals enzymatic-based assay using papain

A heavy metals enzymatic-based assay using papain was developed. Papain was assayed using the Casein-coomassie-dye-binding assay. The assay is sensitive to several heavy metals. The IC 50 (concentration of toxicant giving 50% inhibition) of Hg 2+, Ag 2+, Pb 2, Zn 2+ is 0.39, 0.40, 2.16, 2.11 mg l −1, respectively. For Cu 2+ and Cd 2+ the LOQ (limits of quantitation) is 0.004 and 0.1 mg l −1, respectively. The IC 50 and LOQ values were found to be generally comparable to several other enzymatic and bioassays tests such as: immobilized urease, 15-min Microtox™, 48 h Daphnia magna, and 96 h Rainbow trout. The papain assay is xenobiotics tolerant, has a wide pH for optimum activity, is temperature stable, and has a relatively quick assay time. The papain assay was used to identify polluted water samples from industrial sources in Penang, Malaysia. We found one site where the assay gave a positive toxic response. The toxicity of the site was confirmed using Atomic Emission Spectrometry analysis.

Characterization of alkaline proteases from a novel alkali-tolerant bacterium Bacillus patagoniensis

The extracellular proteolytic activity produced by a moderately alkaliphilic bacterium, Bacillus patagoniensis PAT 05T, was characterized. This strain, grown in a highly alkaline and saline medium, produced important levels of proteolytic activity. SDS-PAGE and zymogram analyses revealed two proteolytic active bands. Through isoelectricfocusing (IEF)-zymogram, an active band with alkaline pI and two slighter active bands with acid pI values were detected. The alkaline active enzyme in the IEF was purified and characterized. It showed a molecular mass of 29.4 kDa and its pI value was >‰10.3. Proteolytic activity of the culture supernatant showed an optimal temperature of approximately 60 °C and a plateau of maximum activity between pH 9.0 and 12.0. Such activity was not affected by H2O2 (10% v/v), 1,10-phenanthroline (10 mM), Triton X-100 (1% v/v) and Tween 20 (1% v/v), under the assay conditions. More than 80% of the activity was retained in 10 mM EDTA, 73% in 1 % (w/v) SDS and 63% in 2 M NaCl. The enzyme was inhibited by PMSF, indicating serine-protease activity. The proteolytic activity of the crude supernatant was thermosensitive with a half-life of 2.3 min at 70 °C, while high activity was detected at moderate temperatures. Considering PAT 05T proteolytic activity characteristics, such as high optimum pH, high stability and residual activity in presence of oxidant, surfactant and chelating agents, this strain could be a potential source of enzymes for use as additives in detergent formulations or in the leather industry.

Gold on titania catalysts, influence of some physicochemical parameters on the activity and stability for the oxidation of carbon monoxide

In the standard deposition-precipitation method for preparing Au/TiO 2 (P-25) catalysts, after addition of NaOH to the HAuCl 4 solution and introduction of the P-25, the suspension was heated to 343 K. As the pH was increased from 2 to 9, the gold uptake decreased but the specific activity rose as the particles became smaller. Excellent catalysts were however made by conducting the whole preparation at room temperature, showing that heating to 343 K as was done earlier was quite unnecessary. No advantage was found in performing preparations in the dark. In a second preparation method HAuCl 4 solution was heated at 343 K before TiO 2 addition. This method of preparation, if carried out at pH 6, ensured total deposition of the gold, a relatively high activity for CO oxidation, and represents the best compromise from a practical standpoint. Catalysts made with a high-area anatase (90 m 2 g −1) responded to the pH used in the preparation in a similar way as TiO 2 (P-25), but the pH for optimum activity covered a wider range (7–9). Preparations made with anatase of high surface area (240 or 350 m 2 g −1) gave complete recovery of gold from solution, but had only a low catalytic activity. Maximum specific rate was found with anatase of 37 m 2 g −1, the value being only slightly lower than the highest value given with the P-25 support. The safest way for preserving the activity of Au/TiO 2 catalysts is by keeping them below ambient temperature. The activity loss observed during long-term CO oxidation experiments could be restored by oxidation at 573 K. Sintered catalysts could be reactivated by treatment with aqua regia and re-deposition of the gold precursor at pH 9.

Properties of polyphenol oxidase from Anamur banana ( Musa cavendishii)

Polyphenol oxidase (PPO) was extracted from Anamur banana, grown in Turkey, and its characteristics were studied. The optimum temperature for banana PPO activity was found to be 30 °C. The pH-activity optimum was 7.0. From the thermal inactivation studies, in the range 60–75 °C, the half-life values of the enzyme ranged from 7.3 to 85.6 min. The activation energy ( E a) and Z values were calculated to be 155 kJ mol −1 and 14.2 °C, respectively. K m and V max values were 8.5 mM and 0.754 OD 410 min −1, respectively. Of the inhibitors tested, ascorbic acid and sodium metabisulphite were the most effective.

Shifting the optimal pH of activity for a laccase from the fungus Trametes versicolor by structure-based mutagenesis

Laccases are oxidizing enzymes of interest because of their potential environmental and industrial applications. We performed site-directed mutagenesis of a laccase produced by Trametes versicolor in order to improve its catalytic properties. Considering a strong interaction of the Asp residue in position 206 with the substrate xylidine, we replaced it with Glu, Ala or Asn, expressed the mutant enzymes in the yeast Yarrowia lipolytica and assayed the transformation of phenolic and non-phenolic substrates. The transformation rates remain within the same range whatever the mutation of the laccase and the type of substrate: at most a 3-fold factor increase was obtained for k(cat) between the wild-type and the most efficient mutant Asp206Ala with 2,2'-azinobis(3-ethylbenzthiazoline-6-sulfonic) acid as a substrate. Nevertheless, the Asn mutation led to a significant shift of the pH (DeltapH = 1.4) for optimal activity against 2,6-dimethoxyphenol. This study also provides a new insight into the binding of the reducing substrate into the active T1 site and induced modifications in catalytic properties of the enzyme.

Hydrolysis of sucrose by invertase immobilized on nylon-6 microbeads

A commercial extracellular invertase (EC 3.2.1.26) from Saccharomyces cerevisiae has been inmobilized by covalent bonding on novel microbeads of nylon-6 using glutaraldehyde. The enzyme was strongly bound on the support, immobilized with an efficiency factor of 0.93. The biocatalyst showed a maximum enzyme activity when immobilized at pH 5.0, but optimum pH activity for both immobilized and free invertases was 5.5. The optimum temperatures for immobilized and free enzymes were 60 and 65 °C, respectively. Kinetic parameters were determined for immobilized and free invertases: V max values were 1.37 and 1.06 mmol min −1 mg −1, respectively. The K m and K i values were 0.029 and 0.71 M for immobilized invertase and 0.024 and 0.69 M for free invertase. It was found that the thermal stability of the immobilized invertase with regard to the free one increased by 25% at 50 °C, 38% at 60 °C and 750% at 70 °C. The immobilized biocatalyst was tested in a tubular fixed-bed reactor to investigate its possible application for continuous sucrose hydrolysis. The effects of two different sugar concentrations and three flow rates on the productivity of the reactor and on the specific productivity of the biocatalyst were studied. The system demonstrated a very good productivity up to 2.0 M sugar concentration, with conversion factors of 0.95 and 0.97, depending on sucrose concentration in the feeding. This approach may serve as a simple technique and can be a feasible alternative to continuous sucrose hydrolysis in a fixed bed reactor for the preparation of fructose-rich syrup.

Characteristics of the amylase of Arthrobacter psychrolactophilus

Properties of the extracellular amylase produced by the psychrotrophic bacterium, Arthrobacter psychrolactophilus, were determined for crude preparations and purified enzyme. The hydrolysis of soluble starch by concentrated crude preparations was found to be a nonlinear function of time at 30 and 40 degrees C. Concentrates of supernatant fractions incubated without substrate exhibited poor stability at 30, 40, or 50 degrees C, with 87% inactivation after 21 h at 30 degrees C, 45% inactivation after 40 min at 40 degrees C and 90% inactivation after 10 min at 50 degrees C. Proteases known to be present in crude preparations had a temperature optimum of 50 degrees C, but accounted for a small fraction of thermal instability. Inactivation at 30, 40, or 50 degrees C was not slowed by adding 20 mg/ml bovine serum albumin or protease inhibitor cocktail to the preparations or the assays to protect against proteases. Purified amylase preparations were almost as thermally sensitive in the absence of substrate as crude preparations. The temperature optimum of the amylase in short incubations with Sigma Infinity Amylase Reagent was about 50 degrees C, and the amylase required Ca(+2) for activity. The optimal pH for activity was 5.0-9.0 on soluble starch (30 degrees C), and the amylase exhibited a K (m) with 4-nitrophenyl-alpha-D-maltoheptaoside-4,6-O-ethylidene of 120 microM at 22 degrees C. The amylase in crude concentrates initially hydrolyzed raw starch at 30 degrees C at about the same rate as an equal number of units of barley alpha-amylase, but lost most of its activity after only a few hours.