Potassium cations expand the conformation ensemble of β-amylase2 (BAM2).

The process for and regulatory mechanism controlling the synthesis and degradation of the polysaccharide starch are only superficially understood. β-amylases (BAMs) are enzymes that hydrolyze starch into maltose which is further used to drive metabolism and other cellular processes. Most BAMs in plants can function as monomeric enzymes and have hyperbolic kinetics.