DOI: 10.36347/sajb.2015.v03i04.016

Pages: 406-412

Amylolytic activity from a psychrotolerant yeast Rhodotorula mucilaginosa BPT1 was assayed under various pHs and temperature conditions and in presence of various reagents and metal ions. The enzymes showed 32 % of residual activity at 20oC, 28% at 4oC and almost 90% stability at 4-20oC in 1h. Most characteristically, the amylolytic activity was slightly enhanced during incubation at 50oC boiling with two pick-activities each. The optimum pH for the enzymes was 7.0, but they yielded about 80% activity at acidic (5-6) and alkaline (9-11) range of pHs. The enzymes showed retention of about 80% of the activity after 1h of incubation at various pHs (3-11). While the amylolytic activity was enhanced by Ca2+ (125%), Mg2+ (200%), Mn2+ (175%), and Cl-1 (120%) and was inhibited by Fe2+ (20%) and Cu2+ (80%). The enzymes retained 85% of activity after 1h of incubation with EDTA, while SDS was found to enhance (125%) their activity during the same period. Our result showed that the yeast secreted an ideal cold-active, metals, chelator and detergent resistant, and pH and heat stable amylolytic activity which may be suitable in detergent, textile and other industrial applications.