GC: n

CT: Six isolates of indigenous rhizobia of Central Amazonia were screened for the production of amylases in liquid media using various starchy substances as carbon sources. All rhizobia strains could produce more extracellular protein, biomass and amylases with the different kinds of carbon substrates. Among the carbon sources tested maltose was the best substrate for protein and amylase production. In general, peach palm flour and corn starch (maizena®) were also considered to be good carbon sources for rhizobia amylases. On the other hand, the biomass production by the rhizobia isolates was higher in the presence of oat flour. INPA strain R–926 was a good amylase producer in maltose (1.94 U) and corn starch (0.53 U) media. INPA strain R–991 was also a good amylase producer in maltose (1.66 U) and corn starch (1.59 U) yielding significant extracellular amylase. Correlation analysis showed significant and positive relationships between rhizobia amylases and final pH (r = 0.49, P < 0.05), extracellular protein (r = 0.47, P < 0.47) and biomass production (r = 0.69, P < 0.01) in the maltose medium. The results obtained in this study revealed several Central Amazonian rhizobia strains as promising sources of amylase for biotechnological applications, especially in starch industry. S: Braz – http://www.scielo.br/scielo.php?script=sci_arttext&pid=S1517-83822007000200005 (last access: 4 November 2014)

N: 1. Enzyme which brings about the hydrolysis of starch, 1893, from amyl (hydrocarbon radical, 1850, from Latin amylum, from Greek amylon “fine meal, starch,” noun use of neuter of adjective amylos “not ground at the mill, ground by hand,” from a-, privative prefix, “not” + myle “mill”; so called because first obtained from the distilled spirits of potato or grain starch -though it also is obtained from other sources-) + chemical suffix -ase (word-forming element used in naming enzymes, from ending of diastase).
2. “The term amylase is defined as an enzyme that hydrolyzes starch”.
S: 1. OED – http://www.etymonline.com/index.php?allowed_in_frame=0&search=amylase&searchmode=none (last access: 31 December 2014). 2. Tojo – http://goo.gl/riq33Z (last access: 31 December 2014).

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CR: biofuel, bioethanol , biomass, biomass energy.