Taka-diastase (first industrial fungal enzyme)

What it is

Takamine grew Aspergillus oryzae on wheat bran (adapting the Japanese koji method) and obtained an amylolytic concentrate patented in 1894 and marketed by Parke-Davis as a digestive. It was the first microbial enzyme product for industrial use.

Takamine, based in the US from 1890, adapted koji culture on bran to distilling; Parke-Davis (Detroit) marketed the product from 1897. The place of the first development is approximate.

What it led to

• microbial enzyme industry (amylases, proteases) in distilling, baking and textiles
• Takamine's isolation of adrenaline (1901) with Parke-Davis
• a model of transfer of an Asian craft technique to Western industry

Built on

• Koji-mould sake brewing in Japanc. 716
• Isolation of amylase (diastase)1833

Made possible

• Adrenaline (epinephrine) isolated1901
• Bacterial proteases in detergents (Alcalase)1960-1963

Links

Sources

• https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Jōkichi_Takamine
• https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Takadiastase