Production of alpha amylase by bacillus subtilis 1

Of 24 bacterial isolates, B. subtilis 1 was the most potent for the production of alpha-amylase. The highest yield of alpha-amylase was achieved by incubation of B. subtilis 1 for 40 hours at 45C. Addition of wheat bran, maltose, glucose or lactose to the culture medium had a stimulating effect on the production of alpha-amylase. The effect of various carbon and nitrogen sources on the production of the enzyme was also studied. The use of dipotassium hydrogen phosphate at 0.1-0.15% in the culture medium also favored enzyme production. Zn 2+ or Cu 2+ ions had adverse effect, but Ca 2+ ions and Tween-80 favored enzyme production. An initial pH of the cultural medium of 5.0 effected highest enzyme production [26.0 U/ml]