Bacterial Degradation of Molds Amylase

Five strains of bacteria, Bac. cereus, Bact. mutabile, Bac. subiilis, Bac. subtilis sp. and Mc. epidermidis, were isolated from infected submerged mold cultures. Of these strains, Bac. cereus and Me. epidermidis were recognized to degradate mold amylase greatly. Mc. epidermidis was an acid producing strain, and by this acid mold amylase activity was degradated. Bac. cereus produced acids slightly, but the ratio of the production of protease to amylase is higher than those of other bacteria. We obtained protease from Bac. cereus culture, and reacted it on each amylase obtained from Asp. oryzae, Asp. awamori and Rh. javanicus. Amylase from Asp. oryzae was degradated most, and those of Asp. ewamori and Rh. javanicus followed. Amino-N was produced in the reaction of the bacterial protease on the mold amylase, and the ratio of the increase of-amino-N to the decrease of amylase activity was almost constant. By these experiments, we assumed the mold amylase was degradated by bacterial protease. For the purpose of confirming this assumption, we shall examine the reaction between each pure enzyme crystal.