Two different amylase activities in the sea mussel, Mytilus edulis L

Abstract
Digestive /?-amylase activity has been previously described in the sea mussel. It has been observed that in this animal species there are two different amylase activities, both of them a-amylase type. These enzyme activities show different optimum temperature and pH behavior, and are differently activated by effectors, and precipitated with dif ferent concentrations of neutral salts. The two enzyme activities show an almost ubi quitous distribution in all tissues and organs, with appreciably high levels of activity. These activities are also clearly found in non-digestive organs as gonadal tissues, and, especially, in the muscle tissue.
It is suggested that the amylases found can play a complementary role in the rapid mobilization of glucidic fuels during the physiological anoxic cyclic states of this animal species.