Screening of bacterial strains producing maltotetraose-forming amylase and the conditions for enzyme production.

The authors isolated 1380 bacterial strains from 290 soil samples collected in China and 490 strains were received from other research teams in this institute. By screening 707 strains showed starch-hydrolyzing activity. By further screening and paper chromatographic test, three strains with maltotetraose as the major product were obtained. The maltotetraose was further confirmed by treatment with beta-amylase splitting to maltose and with glucoamylase to glucose. The most promising strain was 537.1, which produced maltotetraose about 90% (w/w) in the starch hydrolysate. While the other two strains produced maltose and maltotriose besides maltotetraose. Strain 537.1 was tentatively identified as Alcaligenes sp. The optimum conditions for enzyme production were as follows: medium composition: 1.5% maltose; 0.5% peptone with initial pH of 7.0-7.5; cultured at 27-28 degrees C for 48 hours on rotary shaker. The culture supernatant of the strain 537.1 can hydrolyze starch and different kinds of cereal flour with a high yield of maltotetraose in the hydrolysate.