All reactions were conducted in 50 ml Erlenmeyer flasks,
at a volume of 20 ml, employing reciprocal shaking at
150 rpm. Starch solutions (3% w/v) were prepared by boiling
unless otherwise stated. Hydrolyses were performed using
0.75 Units of -amylase per ml of reaction volume and
experiments were carried out at 38, 50, 60 and 70 ◦C. Maximum
turnover rate (Vmax) and Michaelis–Menten constant
(Km) were determined according to the Lineweaver–Burk
method, using starch concentrations ranging from 10 to
40 mg/ml.