The -amylase of the beetle Callosobruchus chinensis. Purification and action pattern.

Callosobruchus chinensis larval amylase was isolated and purified in five steps, which included co-precipitation with glycogen and column chromatography on ECTEOLA-cellulose. The enzyme was homogeneous by disc gel electrophoresis on polyacrylamide. The alpha-amylase nature was evidenced by the action on amylopectin beta-amylase limit-dextrin, by the effect on the substrate-iodine complex and by the action pattern on several polysaccharide substrates. These action patterns are compared with those of other alpha-amylases.