Electrophoretic detection of salivary alpha-amylase activity

• Main Authors: Rahim, Z.H., Yaacob, H.B.
• Format: Article
• Language: English
• Published: 1992
• Subjects: RK Dentistry
• Online Access: http://eprints.um.edu.my/3750/1/Electrophoretic_detection_of_salivary_alpha-amylase_activity.pdf; http://eprints.um.edu.my/3750/
• Institution: Universiti Malaya

Fresh samples of human whole saliva containing approximately 20-40 micrograms protein were analyzed using SDS-polyacrylamide slab gel electrophoresis systems. More than 20 protein bands were revealed by Coomassie Brilliant Blue R 250 staining. Some of the protein bands were shown to be glycoprotein-positive with PAS (periodic acid-Schiff) reagent. The protein bands with alpha-Amylase activity appeared within a molecular weight range of 120,000-180,000, which is 2 to 2.8 times higher than the normal molecular weight reported for alpha-Amylase from parotid saliva, and showed positive staining with PAS reagent. These results show that the alpha-Amylase in whole saliva appears to exist in a macromolecular form which is not dissociated in the presence of sodium dodecyl sulfate (SDS).