EN
Production and purification of α-amylase by probiotic Lactobacillus plantarum MTCC 1407 has been investigated under submerged fennentation using Mann Rogassa Sharpe medium containing (1%) soluble starch in lieu of glucose (2%) as carbon source. Response Surface Methodology was used to evaluate the effect of main variables, i.e. incubation period, pH and temperature on enzyme production. A full factorial Central Composite Design was applied to study these main factors that affected α-amylase production. The experimental results showed that the optimum incubation period, pH and temperature were 36 h, 7.0 and 35°C, respectively. The purified enzyme (by ammonium sulphate precipitation) had a molecular mass of 75 450 Da in SDS-PAGE.