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Electronic Journal of Biotechnology ISSN: 0717-3458 Vol. 9 No. 5, Issue of October 15, 2006
© 2006 by Pontificia Universidad Católica de Valparaíso -- Chile Received April 6, 2006 / Accepted July 13, 2006
DOI: 10.2225/vol9-issue5-fulltext-16  
RESEARCH ARTICLE

Modification of the activity of an α-amylase from Bacillus licheniformis by several surfactants

Vicente Bravo Rodríguez*
Departamento de Ingeniería Química
Universidad de Granada
Avd. Fuentenueva s/n
18071 Granada, Spain
Tel: 34 958 243310
Fax: 34 958 248992
E-mail: vbravo@ugr.es

Encarnación Jurado Alameda
Departamento de Ingeniería Química
Universidad de Granada
Avd. Fuentenueva s/n
18071 Granada, Spain
Tel: 34 958 243307
Fax: 34 958 248992
E-mail: ejurado@ugr.es

Juan Francisco Martínez Gallegos
Departamento de Ingeniería Química
Universidad de Granada
Avd. Fuentenueva s/n
18071 Granada, Spain
Tel: 34 958 243314
Fax: 34 958 248992
E-mail: jfmart@ugr.es

Antonia Reyes Requena
Departamento de Ingeniería Química
Universidad de Granada
Avd. Fuentenueva s/n
18071 Granada, Spain
Tel: 34 958 249018
Fax: 34 958 248992
E-mail: areyesr@ugr.es

Ana Isabel García López
Departamento de Ingeniería Química
Universidad de Granada
Avd. Fuentenueva s/n
18071 Granada, Spain
Tel: 34 958 249018
Fax: 34 958 248992
E-mail: vbravo@ugr.es

Joaquim Manuel Sampaio Cabral
Centro de Engenharia Biológica e Química
Instituto Superior Técnico
Universidade Técnica de Lisboa
Av. Rovisco Pais
1049-001 Lisboa, Portugal
Tel: 351 218 419 063
Fax: 351 218 419 062
E-mail: joaquim.cabral@ist.utl.pt

Pedro Fernandes
Centro de Engenharia Biológica e Química
Instituto Superior Técnico
Universidade Técnica de Lisboa
Av. Rovisco Pais
1049-001 Lisboa, Portugal
Tel: 351 218 419 189
Fax: 351 218 419 062
E-mail: pedro.fernandes@mail.ist.utl.pt

Luis Joaquim Pina da Fonseca
Centro de Engenharia Biológica e Química
Instituto Superior Técnico
Universidade Técnica de Lisboa
Av. Rovisco Pais
1049-001 Lisboa, Portugal
Tel: 351 218 419 139
Fax: 351 218 419 062
E-mail: lfonseca@alfa.ist.utl.pt

*Corresponding author

Financial support: Fellowship awarded to Juan Francisco Martínez Gallegos by Spanish Ministry of Science and Education, FPU fellowships program.

Keywords: α-amylase, alkyl polyglycosides, enzymatic activity, fatty alcohol ethoxylates, linear alkyl benzene sulfonate, nonyl phenol ethoxylate.

Abbreviations:

AE: enzymatic activity without surfactant
AET: enzymatic activity in presence of surfactant
AER: relative enzymatic activity
CMC: critical micelle concentration
HLB: Hydrophilic Lipophilic Balance
KNU: Kilo Novo Unit
LAS: linear alkyl benzene sulfonate
NU: Novo Unit
SDS: sodium dodecyl sulphate

Abstract
Full Text

The influence of different commercial surfactants on the enzymatic activity of a commercial α-amylase from Bacillus licheniformis (Termamyl 300 L) has been studied. As non-ionic surfactants, alkyl polyglycosides (Glucopon® 215, Glucopon® 600 and Glucopon® 650) were studied, as were fatty alcohol ethoxylates (Findet 1214N/23 and Findet 10/15), and nonyl phenol ethoxylate (Findet 9Q/21.5NF). Also, an anionic surfactant, linear alkyl benzene sulfonate (LAS) was assayed. In general, none of the non-ionic surfactants studied, except Findet 10/15, vary substantially the enzymatic activity. Findet 10/15 has the strongest hydrophobic character and reduces the enzymatic activity more significantly the greater its concentration. Regarding LAS, this surfactant significantly depressed enzymatic activity, presumably due to the electrostatic interactions caused by its anionic character.
Supported by UNESCO / MIRCEN network
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