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April Journal-2009.p65 - Association of Biotechnology and Pharmacy

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Current Trends in <strong>Biotechnology</strong> <strong>and</strong> <strong>Pharmacy</strong><br />

Vol. 3 (2) 172-180, <strong>April</strong> 2009. ISSN 0973-8916<br />

Enzyme extraction<br />

At the end <strong>of</strong> solid state fermentation,<br />

the solid substrates were mixed thoroughly with<br />

acetate buffer (pH 6, 50 ml) containing 0.1 %<br />

tween 80 surfactant (14). The contents were<br />

mixed by shaking for two hours at 50 0 C on a<br />

rotary shaker at 200 rpm. The slurry was squeezed<br />

by muslin cloths. The extract was filtered with a<br />

Whatman No. 1 filter paper <strong>and</strong> the filtrate was<br />

used as a crude á-amylase.<br />

Enzyme assay<br />

The α-amylase enzyme was assayed<br />

accordingly to the method described by Miller (34).<br />

The reaction mixture contained 200 µl soluble<br />

starch in phosphate buffer (0.1M, pH = 6); 200 µl<br />

<strong>of</strong> diluted enzyme <strong>and</strong> 300 µl phosphate buffer.<br />

The reaction was incubated for 15 minutes at 30<br />

0<br />

C, 300 µl dinitrosalicylic acid (DNS) solution<br />

were added <strong>and</strong> boiled for 15 minutes. Before<br />

cooling 100 µl Rochelle salt (40 % sodium<br />

potassium tartarate) was added <strong>and</strong> colour was<br />

measured at 575 nm. One unit <strong>of</strong> á-amylase<br />

activity was defined as the amount <strong>of</strong> enzyme<br />

that releases 1 mg <strong>of</strong> reducing sugar as glucose<br />

per ml per minute under the assay conditions. All<br />

data points correspond to triplicates <strong>of</strong><br />

independent experiments.<br />

Estimation <strong>of</strong> moisture content<br />

The moisture content <strong>of</strong> the wheat bran<br />

was estimated by drying 10 g <strong>of</strong> wheat bran to a<br />

constant weight at 70 0 C for 24 h <strong>and</strong> the dry<br />

weight was recorded. To fix the initial moisture<br />

content <strong>of</strong> the solid medium, wheat bran was<br />

soaked with the desired quantity <strong>of</strong> water. After<br />

soaking, the sample was again dried as described<br />

above <strong>and</strong> the percent moisture content was<br />

calculated by the following formula (35). %<br />

moisture content (initial) <strong>of</strong> solid medium = (wt.<br />

<strong>of</strong> the wheat bran – dry wt.) x 100/ dry wt.<br />

175<br />

Result <strong>and</strong> Discussion<br />

Screening <strong>of</strong> agriculture byproducts as<br />

substrates for SSF<br />

The selection <strong>of</strong> a suitable solid substrate<br />

in solid state fermentation (SSF) is a critical factor.<br />

In this study, four solid substrates are taken for<br />

growth <strong>and</strong> enzyme fermentation by the selected<br />

culture. In literature different solid substrates were<br />

found to affect the production <strong>of</strong> enzymes (35-<br />

36). In view <strong>of</strong> this the amylase activity in U/g<br />

was measured for all four substrates at<br />

temperature <strong>of</strong> 50 0 C <strong>and</strong> pH 6. These amylase<br />

activities are illustrated in Figure 1. It is evident<br />

from this figure that the maximum amount <strong>of</strong><br />

amylase activity (267 U/g) is obtained in presence<br />

<strong>of</strong> wheat bran alone. The activity decreases in<br />

order <strong>of</strong> wheat bran (WB)> wheat straw (WS)><br />

rye straw (RS)> corncob leaf (CL). In previous<br />

studies also (36,37) wheat bran was found to be<br />

best substrate for glucoamylase production by an<br />

a - amylase activity (V/g) on different agricultural<br />

by products<br />

Wheat bran Corncod leaf rye straw Wheat straw<br />

Fig. 1. Effect <strong>of</strong> solid substrates on á-amylase activity<br />

Ravi et al<br />

Fig. 2. Effect <strong>of</strong> initial pH <strong>of</strong> medium on á-amylase<br />

activity

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