ABSTRACT
Synthesis of alpha-amylase has been studied in many cereals using a variety of separatory techniques. This at times has led to some confusion when comparing results. Therefore, a comparative qualitative and quantitative analysis, by polyacrylamide gel isoelectric focusing (PAG-IEF) and chromatofocusing, of alpha-amylases produced in a number of germinating cereals has been undertaken. Chromatofocusing, which was introduced at the previous symposium as an alternative method for separating germinated wheat alpha-amylases, has proved to be a suitable technique for the quantitative analysis of individual or groups of alpha-amylase components. Germinated wheat alpha-amylase is resolved by PAG-IEF into three heterogeneous groups of components which have been called the GI, GII and GIII alpha-amylases. A comparative analysis of the results indicated that production of GIII alpha-amylase activity was reduced by about 96% in the incubated grain as compared to the germinated whole seed. A comparable quantitative analysis also was undertaken with germinated barley alpha-amylase.
