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. 1990 Jul;56(7):1985–1991. doi: 10.1128/aem.56.7.1985-1991.1990

Characterization of Amylolytic Enzyme Activities Associated with the Hyperthermophilic Archaebacterium Pyrococcus furiosus

Stephen H Brown 1, Henry R Costantino 1, Robert M Kelly 1,*
PMCID: PMC184549  PMID: 16348235

Abstract

The hyperthermophilic archaebacterium Pyrococcus furiosus produces several amylolytic enzymes in response to the presence of complex carbohydrates in the growth medium. These enzyme activities, α-glucosidase, pullulanase, and α-amylase, were detected in both cell extracts and culture supernatants. All activities were characterized by temperature optima of at least 100°C as well as a high degree of thermostability. The existence of this collection of activities in P. furiosus suggests that polysaccharide availability in its growth environment is a significant aspect of the niche from which it was isolated.

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Selected References

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