[alpha]-amylase production by free and immobilized Bacillus subtilis

The effect of glucose on the α-amylase production by Bacillus subtilis ATCC-21556 was studied. Initial glucose concentrations up to 20 g/L were found to be directly proportional to the specific α-amylase production in an immobilized-cell batch system, whereas a free-cell batch system presented an inversely proportional relationship with the initial glucose concentration. This might be owing to the α-amylase repression by the glucose present in the culture medium. Three hundred eighty-five percent of the specific α-amylase production with the free-cell system was produced by the immobilized-cell batch culture.[PUBLICATION ABSTRACT]