Abstract:
Starch hydrolysis by α-amylase and glucoamylase is employed under high
reducing sugar and high temperature conditions. Under such conditions, the
enzymes can readily undergo glycation leading to the alteration of enzyme
properties and functions. Thermostable α-amylase (KLE), mesophilic α-amylase
(BAN) and purified glucoamylase (PG) were glycated by saccharides under high
reducing sugar and high temperature conditions. The extension of glycation was
monitored by the increase in amount of 5-(hydroxymethyl)-2-furfuraldehyde
(HMF) released from the glycated protein. The glycation progressed in both
soluble and aggregate enzymes with increasing incubation period. The increases
in molecular weight (MW), different migration patterns of protein bands on
Native-PAGE and the alteration of pI value were observed in glycated KLE.
However, the glycation of PG could not be monitored by SDS-PAGE, Native-
PAGE and pI value due to the low degree of glycation of this enzyme. The
glycation led to the greater thermal stability and wider range of pH tolerance of
KLE and PG. This was due to the formation of new interactions (i.e. hydrogen
bond, electrostatic interactions and hydrophobic interaction) between saccharide
chains and the enzyme molecule. The saccharide chains also limited unfolded
space of protein structure resulting in the resistance to thermal treatment.
Meanwhile, the glycated BAN showed the contrary effects due to the difference
in progressive level of glycation and position of amino acid residues that
glycation occurred. The glycation of KLE and BAN did not affect the kinetic
parameters. The glycation only led to lower capacity to convert gelatinized
cornstarch of BAN. In case of PG, the glycation did not affect the kinetic
parameters when maltose was used as substrate. However, the glycation lowered
the affinity to bind substrate maltodextrin. The elevation of the rate of
maltodextrin hydrolysis and the greater efficiency of glucoamylase to convert the
substrate maltodextrin into glucose was observed when the enzyme was glycated