α-Amylase Inhibition: Some Practical Considerations

Abstract

Enzyme inhibitors are important tools of nature for regulating t he activity of enzymes in case of emergency. Proteinaceous inhibitors are the best studied in this group. Comparatively less is known about the inhibitors of -amylase, which might be an attractive candidate having potentials in various fields, from the treatment of diabetes to crop protection. The area has benefited from the recent determination of structures of α-amylases, inhibitors and complexes. Besides, discussing various types of α-amylase inhibitors and their structural basis of inhibition, the biotechnological approaches for exploitation of its inhibitory function have been outlined in this minireview. © 2010 Bentham Science Publishers Ltd.