Rhizosphere is a
region where microbial communities are in complex association with the roots of
plants, where the activity of its microbial partners and their enzymes are
greatly enhanced due to root exudates. Microorganisms are the most important sources
of exo-enzyme production. An exoenzyme function outside of the cell, breaking down large macromolecules to allow their constituents to pass through the plasma membrane. Amylase-producing bacteria
and fungi can be isolated from the soil and foods. Although many microorganisms
produce this enzyme, the following are acknowledged and recognized as amylase
producers: Bacillus subtilis, Bacillus licheniformis,
Bacillus amyloliquefaciens, Bacillus stearothermophilus, Bacillus cereus,
Bacillus polymyxa, Bacillus coagulans, Lactobacillus plantarum, Pseudomonas
spp, Proteus, Aspergillus oryzea, Aspergillus. niger, Penicillium expansum.
Amylase is an enzyme
that breaks down glycogen or starch into simple sugars by targeting on α-
1,4-glycosidic bonds. They are produced intracellularly and extracellularly by
different life forms, extending from tiny microorganisms to higher plants and
humans. It has significant importance in the biotechnology industries with
enormous utilization in food, fermentation, textile, and paper industries.
Amylases are classified depending on how they break down starch molecules into
three basic categories: α–amylase, β-amylase, and γ-amylase.
The microbial source of
amylase is preferred over other sources because of its vast availability and it
also meets the growing needs of industry. Many microbial amylases are usually a
mixture of these amylases. Microbial amylases are utilized in many industries
such as in high Fructose Corn syrup preparation, additives to detergents for removing
stains, saccharification of starch for alcohol production, brewing etc.
Because of increasing
interest in microbial amylase, biotechnologists are attempting to elevate the production of amylase through different perspectives including selecting better strains and utilizing cheap substrates.
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