Isolation and Identification of a Pig Pancreatic α-Amylase Inhibitor (Paim) Producing Streptomyces

A screening test was carried out to obtain microbes which produced pig pancreatic a-amylase inhibitor, and a new inhibitor was found in the culture broth of an actinomycete, strain No. 196. This inhibitor was designated as Paim, an abbreviation for pig pancreatic a-amylase inhibitor from a microbe. Strain No. 196 was identified as Streptomyces corchorushii from its taxonomic characteristics. When strain No. 196 was cultured aerobically in a medium consisting of 5% glucose, 2% soy bean flake extract and 0.3% NaCl, pH 7.0, at 35°C for 35 hr, maximum production of Paim was obtained. Paim inhibited animal a-amylases such as those of pig, dog, cow or horse, but not the human one.