α-amylase

EC 3.2.1.1; systematic name: 1,4-α-d-glucan glucohydrolase. An enzyme that catalyses the endohydrolysis of 1,4-α-d-glucosidic linkages with the production of mainly α-maltose from amylose, but also limit dextrins from glycogen and amylopectin since it cannot catalyse hydrolysis of 1,6 linkages. It is typical of animal cells (especially pancreas), and saliva. It has five motifs. The plasma level of α-amylase is raised in acute pancreatitis, and assay of the pancreas-specific isoenzyme aids diagnosis. Normal levels in human plasma are <300 IU l⁻¹ (this is very method-dependent). The α/β-amylase precursor from Bacillus polymyxa is cleaved proteolytically to form the α (551 amino acids) and β (419 amino acids) enzymes.

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