Description

• General description: α-amylase is the main secretory protein constituent of saliva. It contains 496 amino acids and has two isoforms, glycosylated and non-glycosylated.[1] α-amylase gene is located on human chromosome 1p21.1.[2] α-amylase is mainly produced in pancreas and saliva.[3]
• Application: α-amylase from human saliva has been used to test α-amylase inhibitors using HPLC (high performance liquid chromatography).[4] It also has been used to study the digestibility of human milk oligosaccharides (HMO).[5]
• Biochem/physiol Actions: α-amylase catalyses the hydrolysis of α-1,4 glycosidic linkage in oligosaccharides. It plays a crucial role in the initial digestion of starch, glycogen and polysaccharides.[1] Elevated levels of amylase in serum is linked to acute pancreatitis.[3]
• Unit Definition: One unit will liberate 1.0 mg of maltose from starch in 3 min at pH 6.9 at 20 °C.
• Physical form: Lyophilized powder containing (NH4)2SO4 and sodium citrate
• Preparation Note: Chromatographically purified
• Other Notes: View more information on enzymes for complex carbohydrate analysis at www.sigma-aldrich.com/enzymeexplorer