US20120258497A1 - Alpha-Amylases - Google Patents

Alpha-Amylases Download PDF

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US20120258497A1
US20120258497A1 US13/516,891 US201113516891A US2012258497A1 US 20120258497 A1 US20120258497 A1 US 20120258497A1 US 201113516891 A US201113516891 A US 201113516891A US 2012258497 A1 US2012258497 A1 US 2012258497A1
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alpha
amylase
positions
amino acid
leu
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Carsten Andersen
Thomas Agersten Poulsen
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Novozymes AS
Novozymes North America Inc
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Novozymes North America Inc
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    • C—CHEMISTRY; METALLURGY
    • C12—BIOCHEMISTRY; BEER; SPIRITS; WINE; VINEGAR; MICROBIOLOGY; ENZYMOLOGY; MUTATION OR GENETIC ENGINEERING
    • C12N—MICROORGANISMS OR ENZYMES; COMPOSITIONS THEREOF; PROPAGATING, PRESERVING, OR MAINTAINING MICROORGANISMS; MUTATION OR GENETIC ENGINEERING; CULTURE MEDIA
    • C12N9/00—Enzymes; Proenzymes; Compositions thereof; Processes for preparing, activating, inhibiting, separating or purifying enzymes
    • C12N9/14—Hydrolases (3)
    • C12N9/24—Hydrolases (3) acting on glycosyl compounds (3.2)
    • C12N9/2402—Hydrolases (3) acting on glycosyl compounds (3.2) hydrolysing O- and S- glycosyl compounds (3.2.1)
    • C12N9/2405—Glucanases
    • C12N9/2408—Glucanases acting on alpha -1,4-glucosidic bonds
    • C12N9/2411—Amylases
    • C12N9/2414—Alpha-amylase (3.2.1.1.)
    • C12N9/2417—Alpha-amylase (3.2.1.1.) from microbiological source
    • C—CHEMISTRY; METALLURGY
    • C11—ANIMAL OR VEGETABLE OILS, FATS, FATTY SUBSTANCES OR WAXES; FATTY ACIDS THEREFROM; DETERGENTS; CANDLES
    • C11D—DETERGENT COMPOSITIONS; USE OF SINGLE SUBSTANCES AS DETERGENTS; SOAP OR SOAP-MAKING; RESIN SOAPS; RECOVERY OF GLYCEROL
    • C11D3/00—Other compounding ingredients of detergent compositions covered in group C11D1/00
    • C11D3/16—Organic compounds
    • C11D3/38—Products with no well-defined composition, e.g. natural products
    • C11D3/386—Preparations containing enzymes, e.g. protease or amylase
    • C—CHEMISTRY; METALLURGY
    • C11—ANIMAL OR VEGETABLE OILS, FATS, FATTY SUBSTANCES OR WAXES; FATTY ACIDS THEREFROM; DETERGENTS; CANDLES
    • C11D—DETERGENT COMPOSITIONS; USE OF SINGLE SUBSTANCES AS DETERGENTS; SOAP OR SOAP-MAKING; RESIN SOAPS; RECOVERY OF GLYCEROL
    • C11D3/00—Other compounding ingredients of detergent compositions covered in group C11D1/00
    • C11D3/16—Organic compounds
    • C11D3/38—Products with no well-defined composition, e.g. natural products
    • C11D3/386—Preparations containing enzymes, e.g. protease or amylase
    • C11D3/38681—Chemically modified or immobilised enzymes
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    • C12—BIOCHEMISTRY; BEER; SPIRITS; WINE; VINEGAR; MICROBIOLOGY; ENZYMOLOGY; MUTATION OR GENETIC ENGINEERING
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    • C12N15/00—Mutation or genetic engineering; DNA or RNA concerning genetic engineering, vectors, e.g. plasmids, or their isolation, preparation or purification; Use of hosts therefor
    • C12N15/09—Recombinant DNA-technology
    • C12N15/63—Introduction of foreign genetic material using vectors; Vectors; Use of hosts therefor; Regulation of expression
    • C12N15/79—Vectors or expression systems specially adapted for eukaryotic hosts
    • C12N15/82—Vectors or expression systems specially adapted for eukaryotic hosts for plant cells, e.g. plant artificial chromosomes (PACs)
    • C12N15/8241—Phenotypically and genetically modified plants via recombinant DNA technology
    • C12N15/8242—Phenotypically and genetically modified plants via recombinant DNA technology with non-agronomic quality (output) traits, e.g. for industrial processing; Value added, non-agronomic traits
    • C12N15/8257—Phenotypically and genetically modified plants via recombinant DNA technology with non-agronomic quality (output) traits, e.g. for industrial processing; Value added, non-agronomic traits for the production of primary gene products, e.g. pharmaceutical products, interferon
    • C—CHEMISTRY; METALLURGY
    • C12—BIOCHEMISTRY; BEER; SPIRITS; WINE; VINEGAR; MICROBIOLOGY; ENZYMOLOGY; MUTATION OR GENETIC ENGINEERING
    • C12N—MICROORGANISMS OR ENZYMES; COMPOSITIONS THEREOF; PROPAGATING, PRESERVING, OR MAINTAINING MICROORGANISMS; MUTATION OR GENETIC ENGINEERING; CULTURE MEDIA
    • C12N9/00—Enzymes; Proenzymes; Compositions thereof; Processes for preparing, activating, inhibiting, separating or purifying enzymes
    • C12N9/14—Hydrolases (3)
    • C12N9/24—Hydrolases (3) acting on glycosyl compounds (3.2)
    • C12N9/2402—Hydrolases (3) acting on glycosyl compounds (3.2) hydrolysing O- and S- glycosyl compounds (3.2.1)
    • C12N9/2405—Glucanases
    • C12N9/2408—Glucanases acting on alpha -1,4-glucosidic bonds
    • C12N9/2411—Amylases
    • C12N9/2414—Alpha-amylase (3.2.1.1.)
    • C—CHEMISTRY; METALLURGY
    • C12—BIOCHEMISTRY; BEER; SPIRITS; WINE; VINEGAR; MICROBIOLOGY; ENZYMOLOGY; MUTATION OR GENETIC ENGINEERING
    • C12P—FERMENTATION OR ENZYME-USING PROCESSES TO SYNTHESISE A DESIRED CHEMICAL COMPOUND OR COMPOSITION OR TO SEPARATE OPTICAL ISOMERS FROM A RACEMIC MIXTURE
    • C12P19/00—Preparation of compounds containing saccharide radicals
    • C12P19/02—Monosaccharides
    • C—CHEMISTRY; METALLURGY
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    • C12P19/00—Preparation of compounds containing saccharide radicals
    • C12P19/04—Polysaccharides, i.e. compounds containing more than five saccharide radicals attached to each other by glycosidic bonds
    • C—CHEMISTRY; METALLURGY
    • C12—BIOCHEMISTRY; BEER; SPIRITS; WINE; VINEGAR; MICROBIOLOGY; ENZYMOLOGY; MUTATION OR GENETIC ENGINEERING
    • C12P—FERMENTATION OR ENZYME-USING PROCESSES TO SYNTHESISE A DESIRED CHEMICAL COMPOUND OR COMPOSITION OR TO SEPARATE OPTICAL ISOMERS FROM A RACEMIC MIXTURE
    • C12P19/00—Preparation of compounds containing saccharide radicals
    • C12P19/14—Preparation of compounds containing saccharide radicals produced by the action of a carbohydrase (EC 3.2.x), e.g. by alpha-amylase, e.g. by cellulase, hemicellulase
    • C—CHEMISTRY; METALLURGY
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    • C12P7/00—Preparation of oxygen-containing organic compounds
    • C12P7/02—Preparation of oxygen-containing organic compounds containing a hydroxy group
    • C12P7/04—Preparation of oxygen-containing organic compounds containing a hydroxy group acyclic
    • C12P7/06—Ethanol, i.e. non-beverage
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    • C12P7/00—Preparation of oxygen-containing organic compounds
    • C12P7/02—Preparation of oxygen-containing organic compounds containing a hydroxy group
    • C12P7/04—Preparation of oxygen-containing organic compounds containing a hydroxy group acyclic
    • C12P7/06—Ethanol, i.e. non-beverage
    • C12P7/14—Multiple stages of fermentation; Multiple types of microorganisms or re-use of microorganisms
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    • C12Y—ENZYMES
    • C12Y302/00—Hydrolases acting on glycosyl compounds, i.e. glycosylases (3.2)
    • C12Y302/01—Glycosidases, i.e. enzymes hydrolysing O- and S-glycosyl compounds (3.2.1)
    • C12Y302/01001—Alpha-amylase (3.2.1.1)
    • C—CHEMISTRY; METALLURGY
    • C12—BIOCHEMISTRY; BEER; SPIRITS; WINE; VINEGAR; MICROBIOLOGY; ENZYMOLOGY; MUTATION OR GENETIC ENGINEERING
    • C12P—FERMENTATION OR ENZYME-USING PROCESSES TO SYNTHESISE A DESIRED CHEMICAL COMPOUND OR COMPOSITION OR TO SEPARATE OPTICAL ISOMERS FROM A RACEMIC MIXTURE
    • C12P2203/00—Fermentation products obtained from optionally pretreated or hydrolyzed cellulosic or lignocellulosic material as the carbon source
    • Y—GENERAL TAGGING OF NEW TECHNOLOGICAL DEVELOPMENTS; GENERAL TAGGING OF CROSS-SECTIONAL TECHNOLOGIES SPANNING OVER SEVERAL SECTIONS OF THE IPC; TECHNICAL SUBJECTS COVERED BY FORMER USPC CROSS-REFERENCE ART COLLECTIONS [XRACs] AND DIGESTS
    • Y02—TECHNOLOGIES OR APPLICATIONS FOR MITIGATION OR ADAPTATION AGAINST CLIMATE CHANGE
    • Y02E—REDUCTION OF GREENHOUSE GAS [GHG] EMISSIONS, RELATED TO ENERGY GENERATION, TRANSMISSION OR DISTRIBUTION
    • Y02E50/00—Technologies for the production of fuel of non-fossil origin
    • Y02E50/10—Biofuels, e.g. bio-diesel

Definitions

  • the present invention relates to alpha-amylase variants having an improved property, e.g., improved stability, polynucleotides encoding the variants, methods of producing the variants, and methods of using the variants.
  • Alpha-amylases (alpha-1,4-glucan-4-glucanohydrolases, E.C. 3.2.1.1) constitute a group of enzymes, which catalyze the hydrolysis of starch and other linear and branched 1,4-glucosidic oligo- and polysaccharides.
  • Alpha-amylases are used commercially for a variety of purposes such as in the initial stages of starch processing (e.g., liquefaction); in wet milling processes; and in alcohol production from carbohydrate sources. They are also used as cleaning agents or adjuncts in detergent matrices; in the textile industry for starch desizing; in baking applications; in the beverage industry; in oil fields in drilling processes; in recycling processes, e.g., for de-inking paper; and in animal feed.
  • starch processing e.g., liquefaction
  • wet milling processes e.g., alcohol production from carbohydrate sources.
  • They are also used as cleaning agents or adjuncts in detergent matrices; in the textile industry for starch desizing; in baking applications; in the beverage industry; in oil fields in drilling processes; in recycling processes, e.g., for de-inking paper; and in animal feed.
  • alpha-amylases One of the first bacterial alpha-amylases to be used was an alpha-amylase from B. licheniformis , also known as TermamylTM, which has been extensively characterized and the crystal structure has been determined for this enzyme.
  • Alkaline amylases such as the alpha-amylase derived from Bacillus sp. strains NCIB 12289, NCIB 12512, NCIB 12513, and DSM 9375 (disclosed in WO 95/26397), form a particular group of alpha-amylases that are useful in detergents. Many of these known bacterial amylases have been modified in order to improve their functionality in a particular application.
  • TermamylTM and many highly efficient alpha-amylases require calcium for activity.
  • the crystal structure of TermamylTM shows that three calcium atoms are bound to the alpha-amylase structure coordinated by negatively charged amino acid residues. This requirement for calcium is a disadvantage in applications where strong chelating compounds are present, such as in detergents or during ethanol production from whole grains, where the plant material comprises a large amount of natural chelators such as phytate.
  • Calcium-insensitive amylases are known, e.g., the alpha-amylases disclosed in EP 1022334 and WO 03/083054, and a Bacillus circulans alpha-amylase having the sequence disclosed in UNIPROT:Q03657.
  • the present invention provides alpha-amylase variants comprising an A-domain of a calcium-sensitive alpha-amylase which has at least 70% and less than 100% sequence identity with any of the A-domains of SEQ ID NOS: 1-12, 29, and 30, a B-domain of a calcium-insensitive alpha-amylase, and a C-domain of a calcium-sensitive alpha-amylase.
  • the present invention provides alpha-amylase variants comprising an A-domain of a calcium-sensitive alpha-amylase, a B-domain of a calcium-insensitive alpha-amylase, and a C-domain of a calcium-sensitive alpha-amylase which has at least 70% and less than 100% sequence identity with any of the C-domains of SEQ ID NOS: 1-12, 29, and 30.
  • the present invention also relates to isolated polynucleotides encoding an alpha-amylase variant, nucleic acid constructs, vectors, and host cells comprising the polynucleotides, and methods of producing a variant of a parent alpha-amylase.
  • the present invention also relates to the use of the variants in starch processing (e.g., liquefaction); wet milling processes; alcohol production from carbohydrate sources; detergents; dishwashing compositions; starch desizing in the textile industry; baking applications; the beverage industry; oil fields in drilling processes; recycling processes, e.g., for de-inking paper, and animal feed.
  • starch processing e.g., liquefaction
  • wet milling processes e.g., alcohol production from carbohydrate sources
  • detergents e.g., dishwashing compositions
  • starch desizing in the textile industry e.g., baking applications
  • baking applications e.g., the beverage industry
  • oil fields in drilling processes e.g., for de-inking paper, and animal feed.
  • FIG. 1 shows an alignment of SEQ ID NOS: 1-16, 29, and 30.
  • the present invention provides alpha-amylase variants comprising an A-domain of a calcium-sensitive alpha-amylase which has at least 70% and less than 100% sequence identity with any of the A-domains of SEQ ID NOS: 1-12, 29 and 30, a B-domain of a calcium-insensitive alpha-amylase, and a C-domain of a calcium-sensitive alpha-amylase.
  • the present invention also provides alpha-amylase variants comprising an A-domain of a calcium-sensitive alpha-amylase, a B-domain of a calcium-insensitive alpha-amylase, and a C-domain of a calcium-sensitive alpha-amylase which has at least 70% and less than 100% sequence identity with any of the C-domains of SEQ ID NOS: 1-12, 29, and 30.
  • A, B and C-domains The structure of alpha-amylases comprises three distinct domains A, B and C, see, e.g., Machius et al., 1995 , J. Mol. Biol. 246: 545-559.
  • domain means a region of a polypeptide that in itself forms a distinct and independent substructure of the whole molecule.
  • Alpha-amylases consist of a beta/alpha-8 barrel harboring the active site, which is denoted the A-domain, a rather long loop between the beta-sheet 3 and alpha-helix 3, which is denoted the B-domain, and a C-domain and in some cases also a carbohydrate binding domain (e.g., WO 2005/001064; Machius et al., supra).
  • the domains of an alpha-amylase can be determined by structure analysis such as by using crystallographically techniques.
  • An alternative method for determining the domains of an alpha-amylase is by sequence alignment of the amino acid sequence of the alpha-amylase with another alpha-amylase for which the domains have been determined.
  • the sequence that aligns with, e.g., the B-domain sequence in the alpha-amylase for which the B-domain has been determined can be considered the B-domain for the given alpha-amylase.
  • allelic variant means any of two or more alternative forms of a gene occupying the same chromosomal locus. Allelic variation arises naturally through mutation, and may result in polymorphism within populations. Gene mutations can be silent (no change in the encoded polypeptide) or may encode polypeptides having altered amino acid sequences.
  • An allelic variant of a polypeptide is a polypeptide encoded by an allelic variant of a gene.
  • Alpha-amylases (alpha-1,4-glucan-4-glucanohydrolases, E.C. 3.2.1.1) are a group of enzymes, which catalyze the hydrolysis of starch and other linear and branched 1,4-glucosidic oligo- and polysaccharides.
  • Calcium-insensitive amylase means an alpha-amylase that does not require the presence of calcium for optimal activity and/or for maintaining the active conformation/structure.
  • Calcium-sensitive amylase means an alpha-amylase that requires the presence of calcium to retain its structure and/or to have full enzymatic activity. For some calcium-sensitive amylases it has been shown that they contains a calcium atom coordinated to acidic amino acid residues in the active conformation. A large number of calcium-sensitive alpha-amylases are known and have been used industrially because of their beneficial properties. Calcium-sensitive alpha-amylases are generally sensitive towards conditions that leads to loss of the calcium atom coordinated in their structure such as detergent compositions and fuel mass.
  • Calcium sensitivity is determined by incubating an alpha-amylase in the presence of a strong chelator and analyzing the impact of this incubation on the activity or stability of the alpha-amylase.
  • a calcium-sensitive alpha-amylase will be less stable in the presence of a chelator or lose a major part or all of its activity during incubation whereas a calcium-insensitive alpha-amylase will not lose all of its activity or will lose only a minor part of the activity during incubation.
  • Chelator strength may be evaluated using methods known in the art such as the methods disclosed in Nielsen et al., 2003 , Anal. Biochem. 314: 227-234; and Nagarajan and Paine, 1984 , J. Am. Oil Chem. Soc.
  • strong chelators examples include EGTA (ethylene glycol tetraacetic acid), EDTA (ethylene diamine tetraacetic acid), DTPA (diethylene triamine pentaacetic acid), DTMPA (diethylene triamine-penta-methylene phosphonic acid) and HEDP (1-hydroxyethan-1,1-diylbis(phosphonic acid)).
  • EGTA ethylene glycol tetraacetic acid
  • EDTA ethylene diamine tetraacetic acid
  • DTPA diethylene triamine pentaacetic acid
  • DTMPA diethylene triamine-penta-methylene phosphonic acid
  • HEDP 1-hydroxyethan-1,1-diylbis(phosphonic acid)
  • Coding sequence means a polynucleotide, which directly specifies the amino acid sequence of its polypeptide product.
  • the boundaries of the coding sequence are generally determined by an open reading frame, which usually begins with the ATG start codon or alternative start codons such as GTG and TTG and ends with a stop codon such as TAA, TAG, and TGA.
  • the coding sequence may be a DNA, cDNA, synthetic, or recombinant polynucleotide.
  • control sequence means all components necessary for the expression of a polynucleotide encoding a variant of the present invention.
  • Each control sequence may be native or foreign to the polynucleotide encoding the variant or native or foreign to each other.
  • control sequences include, but are not limited to, a leader, polyadenylation sequence, propeptide sequence, promoter, signal peptide sequence, and transcription terminator.
  • the control sequences include a promoter, and transcriptional and translational stop signals.
  • the control sequences may be provided with linkers for the purpose of introducing specific restriction sites facilitating ligation of the control sequences with the coding region of the polynucleotide encoding a variant.
  • expression includes any step involved in the production of the polypeptide including, but not limited to, transcription, post-transcriptional modification, translation, post-translational modification, and secretion.
  • Expression vector means a linear or circular DNA molecule that comprises a polynucleotide encoding a polypeptide of the present invention and is operably linked to additional nucleotides that provide for its expression.
  • host cell means any cell type that is susceptible to transformation, transfection, transduction, and the like with a nucleic acid construct or expression vector comprising a polynucleotide of the present invention.
  • host cell encompasses any progeny of a parent cell that is not identical to the parent cell due to mutations that occur during replication.
  • Improved property means a characteristic associated with a variant that is improved compared to other alpha-amylases. Such improved properties include, but are not limited to, altered temperature-dependent activity profile, thermostability, pH activity, pH stability, substrate specificity, product specificity, and chemical stability.
  • Isolated variant means a polypeptide or polynucleotide that is removed from at least one component with which it is naturally associated.
  • a variant may be at least 1% pure, e.g., at least 5% pure, at least 10% pure, at least 20% pure, at least 40% pure, at least 60% pure, at least 80% pure, and at least 90% pure, as determined by SDS-PAGE and a polynucleotide may be at least 1% pure, e.g., at least 5% pure, at least 10% pure, at least 20% pure, at least 40% pure, at least 60% pure, at least 80% pure, at least 90% pure, and at least 95% pure, as determined by agarose electrophoresis.
  • Mature polypeptide means a polypeptide in its final form following translation and any post-translational modifications, such as N-terminal processing, C-terminal truncation, glycosylation, phosphorylation, etc. It is known in the art that a host cell may produce a mixture of two of more different mature polypeptides (i.e., with a different C-terminal and/or N-terminal amino acid) expressed by the same polynucleotide.
  • Mature polypeptide coding sequence means a nucleotide sequence that encodes a mature polypeptide having alpha-amylase activity.
  • nucleic acid construct means a nucleic acid molecule, either single- or double-stranded, which is isolated from a naturally occurring gene or is modified to contain segments of nucleic acids in a manner that would not otherwise exist in nature or which is synthetic.
  • nucleic acid construct is synonymous with the term “expression cassette” when the nucleic acid construct contains the control sequences required for expression of a coding sequence.
  • operably linked means a configuration in which a control sequence is placed at an appropriate position relative to the coding sequence of the polynucleotide sequence such that the control sequence directs the expression of the coding sequence of a polypeptide.
  • parent alpha-amylase means an alpha-amylase to which an alteration is made to produce a variant of the present invention.
  • the parent may be a naturally occurring (wild-type) polypeptide, or a variant thereof, prepared by any suitable means.
  • the parent polypeptide may be a variant of a naturally occurring polyptide which has a modified or altered amino acid sequence.
  • a parent may also be an allelic variant.
  • Polypeptide fragment means a polypeptide having one or more (several) amino acids deleted from the amino and/or carboxyl terminus of a mature polypeptide; wherein the fragment has alpha-amylase activity.
  • a fragment contains at least 481 amino acid residues, e.g., at least 483, at least 486, and at least 493 amino acid residues.
  • Sequence identity The relatedness between two amino acid sequences or between two nucleotide sequences is described by the parameter “sequence identity”.
  • the degree of sequence identity between two amino acid sequences is determined using the Needleman-Wunsch algorithm (Needleman and Wunsch, 1970 , J. Mol. Biol. 48: 443-453) as implemented in the Needle program of the EMBOSS package (EMBOSS: The European Molecular Biology Open Software Suite, Rice et al., 2000 , Trends Genet. 16: 276-277), preferably version 3.0.0 or later.
  • the optional parameters used are gap open penalty of 10, gap extension penalty of 0.5, and the EBLOSUM62 (EMBOSS version of BLOSUM62) substitution matrix.
  • the output of Needle labeled “longest identity” (obtained using the -nobrief option) is used as the percent identity and is calculated as follows:
  • the degree of sequence identity between two deoxyribonucleotide sequences is determined using the Needleman-Wunsch algorithm (Needleman and Wunsch, 1970, supra) as implemented in the Needle program of the EMBOSS package (EMBOSS: The European Molecular Biology Open Software Suite, Rice et al., 2000, supra), preferably version 3.0.0 or later.
  • the optional parameters used are gap open penalty of 10, gap extension penalty of 0.5, and the EDNAFULL (EMBOSS version of NCBI NUC4.4) substitution matrix.
  • the output of Needle labeled “longest identity” (obtained using the -nobrief option) is used as the percent identity and is calculated as follows:
  • Subsequence means a polynucleotide sequence having one or more (several) nucleotides deleted from the 5′ and/or 3′ end of a mature polypeptide coding sequence; wherein the subsequence encodes a polypeptide fragment having alpha-amylase activity.
  • variant means a polypeptide having alpha-amylase activity comprising an alteration, i.e., a substitution, insertion, and/or deletion, of one or more (several) amino acid residues at one or more (several) positions.
  • a substitution means a replacement of an amino acid occupying a position with a different amino acid;
  • a deletion means removal of an amino acid occupying a position; and
  • an insertion means adding 1-5 amino acids adjacent to and following an amino acid occupying a position.
  • Wild-Type means an alpha-amylase expressed by a naturally occurring microorganism, such as a bacterial, yeast, or filamentous fungus found in nature.
  • hybrid polypeptide disclosed in SEQ ID NO: 27 (which has the sequence of amino acids 1-104 of Bacillus stearothermophilus alpha-amylase (SEQ ID NO: 4), followed by amino acids 103-208 of Bacillus circulans alpha-amylase (SEQ ID NO: 13), followed by amino acids 211-515 of Bacillus stearothermophilus alpha-amylase (SEQ ID NO: 4)) is used to determine the corresponding amino acid residue in another alpha-amylase.
  • the amino acid sequence of another alpha-amylase is aligned with the mature polypeptide disclosed in SEQ ID NO: 27, and based on the alignment, the amino acid position number corresponding to any amino acid residue in the mature polypeptide disclosed in SEQ ID NO: 27 can be determined using the Needleman-Wunsch algorithm (Needleman and Wunsch, 1970 , J. Mol. Biol. 48: 443-453) as implemented in the Needle program of the EMBOSS package (EMBOSS: The European Molecular Biology Open Software Suite, Rice et al., 2000 , Trends Genet. 16: 276-277), preferably version 3.0.0 or later.
  • proteins of known structure For proteins of known structure, several tools and resources are available for retrieving and generating structural alignments. For example the SCOP superfamilies of proteins have been structurally aligned, and those alignments are accessible and downloadable.
  • Two or more protein structures can be aligned using a variety of algorithms such as the distance alignment matrix (Holm and Sander, 1998 , Proteins 33: 88-96) or combinatorial extension (Shindyalov and Bourne, 1998 , Protein Eng. 11: 739-747), and implementations of these algorithms can additionally be utilized to query structure databases with a structure of interest in order to discover possible structural homologs (e.g., Holm and Park, 2000 , Bioinformatics 16: 566-567).
  • alpha-amylase variants of the present invention the nomenclature described below is adapted for ease of reference. In all cases, the accepted IUPAC single letter or triple letter amino acid abbreviation is employed.
  • Thr226Ala For an amino acid substitution, the following nomenclature is used: original amino acid, position, substituted amino acid. Accordingly, the substitution of threonine with alanine at position 226 is designated as “Thr226Ala” or “T226A”. Multiple mutations are separated by addition marks (“+”), e.g., “Gly205Arg+Ser411Phe” or “G205R+S411F”, representing mutations at positions 205 and 411 substituting glycine (G) with arginine (R), and serine (S) with phenylalanine (F), respectively.
  • + addition marks
  • amino acid insertion For an amino acid insertion, the following nomenclature is used: original amino acid, position, original amino acid, new inserted amino acid. Accordingly, the insertion of lysine after glycine at position 195 is designated “Gly195GlyLys” or “G195GK”. Multiple insertions of amino acids are designated [Original amino acid, position, original amino acid, new inserted amino acid #1, new inserted amino acid #2; etc.]. For example, the insertion of lysine and alanine after glycine at position 195 is indicated as “Gly195GlyLysAla” or “G195GKA”.
  • Variants comprising multiple alterations are separated by addition marks (“+”), e.g., “Arg170Tyr+Gly195Glu” or “R170Y+G195E” representing a substitution of tyrosine and glutamic acid for arginine and glycine at positions 170 and 195, respectively.
  • calcium-sensitive alpha-amylases include the following alpha-amylases:
  • Bacillus amyloliquefaciens alpha-amylase having the amino acid sequence of SEQ ID NO: 1; 2. Bacillus flavothermus amylase, AMY1048 described in WO 2005/001064, having the amino acid sequence of SEQ ID NO: 2; 3. Bacillus licheniformis alpha-amylase having the amino acid sequence of SEQ ID NO: 3, 4. Bacillus stearothermophilus alpha-amylase having the amino acid sequence of SEQ ID NO: 4; 5. Alpha-amylase AA560 derived from Bacillus sp. DSM 12649 described in WO 00/60060, having the amino acid sequence of SEQ ID NO: 5; 6. Alpha-amylase derived from Bacillus sp.
  • strain NCIB 12512 described in WO 95/26397 having the amino acid sequence of SEQ ID NO: 6; 7.
  • Alpha-amylase derived from Bacillus sp. strain NCIB 12513 described in WO 95/26397 having the amino acid sequence of SEQ ID NO: 7; 8.
  • Alpha-amylase SP707 described by Tsukamoto et al., 1988 , Biochem. Biophys. Res. Comm. 151: 25-31, having the amino acid sequence of SEQ ID NO: 8; 9.
  • Alpha-amylase TS-22 having the amino acid sequence of SEQ ID NO: 9; 10.
  • Cytophaga alpha-amylase described in Jeang et al., 2002 , Appl. Environ. Microbiol. 68:3651-3654, having the amino acid sequence of SEQ ID NO: 30; as well as hybrids and variants of any of these calcium-sensitive alpha-amylases.
  • calcium-sensitive alpha-amylases include the alpha-amylase produced by the B. licheniformis strain described in EP 0252666 (ATCC 27811) and the alpha-amylases disclosed in WO 91/00353 and WO 94/18314.
  • the calcium-sensitive alpha-amylase may be a hybrid of two or more calcium-sensitive alpha-amylases, such as a hybrid between the alpha-amylase of Bacillus amyloliquefaciens and the alpha-amylase of Bacillus licheniformis.
  • calcium-sensitive alpha-amylases are the products sold under the following tradenames: OptithermTM and TakathermTM (available from Danisco); MaxamylTM (available from Danisco), Spezym AATM, Spezyme Delta AATM, Spezyme Fred and Spezyme Xtra (available from Danisco), and KeistaseTM (available from Daiwa), PURASTARTM ST 5000E, and PURASTARTM HPAM L (from Genencor Int.).
  • the A-, B-, C-, and carbohydrate binding domains of these calcium-sensitive alpha-amylases are provided in the following table:
  • B-Domain C-Domain Binding Module Bacillus amyloliquefaciens 1-101 + 208-396 102-207 397-483 (SEQ ID NO: 1) Bacillus flavothermus 1-105 + 212-398 106-211 399-484 485-586 (SEQ ID NO: 2) Bacillus licheniformis 1-103 + 208-396 104-207 397-483 (SEQ ID NO: 3) Bacillus stearothermophilus 1-104 + 211-396 105-210 397-483 484-515 (SEQ ID NO: 4) Bacillus sp.
  • KSM-AP1378 1-105 + 213-398 106-212 399-485 (SEQ ID NO: 11) Bacillus sp. SP7-7 1-105 + 213-398 106-212 399-485 (SEQ ID NO: 12) Bacillus stearothermophilus 1-104 + 211-396 105-210 397-483 484-486 alpha-amylase (Spezyme Xtra, SEQ ID NO: 29) Cytophaga alpha-amylase 1-102 + 209-397 103-208 398-484 (SEQ ID NO: 30)
  • calcium-insensitive alpha-amylases examples include the following:
  • Bacillus circulans alpha-amylase having the sequence of SEQ ID NO: 13; 2. KSM K-36 alpha-amylase having the sequence of SEQ ID NO: 14; 3. KSM K-38 alpha-amylase having the sequence of SEQ ID NO: 15; 4. Pyrococcus woesei alpha-amylase having the sequence of SEQ ID NO: 16; 5. Pyrococcus hybrid alpha-amylase described in WO 03/083054 having the amino acid sequence of SEQ ID NO: 31; as well as hybrids and variants of any of these alpha-amylases.
  • the A-, B-, C-, and carbohydrate binding domains of these calcium-insensitive alpha-amylases are provided in the following table:
  • the alpha-amylases may be produced by substituting the B-domain or a portion thereof of a calcium-sensitive alpha-amylase with the B-domain or a portion thereof of a calcium-insensitive alpha-amylase.
  • the alpha-amylases also may be produced by substituting the A- and C-domains or a portion thereof of a calcium-insensitive alpha-amylase with the A- and C-domains or a portion thereof of a calcium-sensitive alpha-amylase.
  • no amino acids should be deleted or inserted in the two splicing sites, i.e., the two sites where the sequence of the calcium-sensitive alpha-amylase is combined with the sequence of the calcium-insensitive alpha-amylase.
  • the boundaries of the A-, B- and C-domains of calcium-sensitive and calcium-insensitive amylases provided in the tables above are flexible, and some liberty regarding the sequences is permitted. Thus, in general it is possible to deviate from the exact boundaries for the domains by up to 20 amino acids, e.g., less than 20 amino acids, less than 10 amino acids, less than 6 amino acids, and less than 3 amino acids.
  • the sequence of the calcium-sensitive alpha-amylase to be replaced with the sequence of a calcium-insensitive alpha-amylase may be within 20 amino acids of the boundaries of the B-domain, e.g., less than 10 amino acids, within 6 amino acids, and within 3 amino acids.
  • the boundaries differ by one amino acid, two amino acids, three amino acids, four amino acids, five amino acids, six amino acids, seven amino acids, eight amino acids, nine amino acids, or ten amino acids.
  • the sequence to be replaced by the corresponding sequence of a calcium-insensitive alpha-amylase starts at a position in the range of positions 92-112 and ending at a position in the range of positions 197-217, e.g., starting at a position in the range of positions 96-108 and ending at a position in the range of positions 198-213 or starting at a position in the range of positions 99-105 and ending at a position in the range of positions 204-210.
  • amyloliquefaciens alpha-amylase were determined to be amino acid residues 1-101 (A1)+208-396 (A2) and 397-483, respectively.
  • the alpha-amylases of the present invention may comprise an A1-domain starting at a position in the range of positions 1-5 and ending a position in the range of positions 91-111, e.g., starting at a position in the range of positions 1-3 and ending at a position in the range of positions 96-101 or starting at a position in the range of positions 1-3 and ending at a position in the range of positions 101-106.
  • the alpha-amylases of the present invention may comprise A2 and C-domains starting at a position in the range of positions 198-218 and ending at a position in the range of positions 478-483, e.g., starting at a position in the range of positions 203-208 and ending at a position in the range of positions 480-483 or starting at a position in the range of positions 208-213 and ending at a position in the range of positions 480-483.
  • the sequence to be replaced by the corresponding sequence of a calcium-insensitive alpha-amylase starts at a position in the range of positions 96-116 and ending at a position in the range of positions 198-218, e.g., starting at a position in the range of positions 100-112 and ending at a position in the range of positions 202-214 or starting at a position in the range of positions 103-109 and ending at a position in the range of positions 205-212.
  • flavothermus alpha-amylase were determined to be amino acid residues 1-105 (A1)+212-398 (A2) and 399-484, respectively.
  • the alpha-amylases of the present invention may comprise an A1-domain starting at a position in the range of positions 1-5 and ending a position in the range of positions 95-115, e.g., starting at a position in the range of positions 1-3 and ending at a position in the range of positions 100-105 or starting at a position in the range of positions 1-3 and ending at a position in the range of positions 105-110.
  • the alpha-amylases of the present invention may comprise A2 and C-domains starting at a position in the range of positions 202-222 and ending at a position in the range of positions 479-484, e.g., starting at a position in the range of positions 207-212 and ending at a position in the range of positions 481-484 or starting at a position in the range of positions 212-217 and ending at a position in the range of positions 481-484.
  • the B. flavothermus alpha-amylase further has a carbohydrate binding domain of amino acid residues 485-586. The carbohydrate binding domain is not required for the amylase activity and might be fully or partially deleted.
  • the sequence of B. licheniformis alpha-amylase to be replaced by the corresponding sequence of a calcium-insensitive alpha-amylase starts at a position in the range of positions 94-114 and ending at a position in the range of positions 194-214, e.g., starting at a position in the range of positions 98-110 and ending at a position in the range of positions 198-210 or starting at a position in the range of positions 101-107 and ending at a position in the range of positions 201-207.
  • the alpha-amylases of the present invention may comprise an A1-domain starting at a position in the range of positions 1-5 and ending a position in the range of positions 93-113, e.g., starting at a position in the range of positions 1-3 and ending at a position in the range of positions 98-103 or starting at a position in the range of positions 1-3 and ending at a position in the range of positions 103-108.
  • the alpha-amylases of the present invention may comprise A2 and C-domains starting at a position in the range of positions 198-218 and ending at a position in the range of positions 478-483, e.g., starting at a position in the range of positions 203-208 and ending at a position in the range of positions 480-483 or starting at a position in the range of positions 208-213 and ending at a position in the range of positions 480-483.
  • the sequence to be replaced by the corresponding sequence of a calcium-insensitive alpha-amylase starts at a position in the range of positions 95-115 and ending at a position in the range of positions 197-213, e.g., starting at a position in the range of positions 99-111 and ending at a position in the range of positions 201-213 or starting at a position in the range of positions 102-108 and ending at a position in the range of positions 204-210.
  • the alpha-amylases of the present invention may comprise an A1-domain starting at a position in the range of positions 1-5 and ending a position in the range of positions 94-114, e.g., starting at a position in the range of positions 1-3 and ending at a position in the range of positions 99-104 or starting at a position in the range of positions 1-3 and ending at a position in the range of positions 104-109.
  • the alpha-amylases of the present invention may comprise A2 and C-domains starting at a position in the range of positions 201-221 and ending at a position in the range of positions 478-483, e.g., starting at a position in the range of positions 206-211 and ending at a position in the range of positions 480-483 or starting at a position in the range of positions 211-216 and ending at a position in the range of positions 480-483.
  • the B. stearothermophilus alpha-amylase further has a C-terminal extension of amino acid residues 484-586. The C-terminal extension is not required for the amylase activity and might be fully or partially deleted.
  • the sequence to be replaced by the corresponding sequence of a calcium-insensitive alpha-amylase starts at a position in the range of positions 96-116 and ending at a position in the range of positions 199-219, e.g., starting at a position in the range of positions 100-112 and ending at a position in the range of positions 203-215 or starting at a position in the range of positions 103-109 and ending at a position in the range of positions 206-212.
  • the A and C-domains of the Bacillus alpha-amylase were determined to be amino acid residues 1-105 (A1)+213-396 (A2) and 399-485, respectively.
  • the alpha-amylases of the present invention may comprise an A1-domain starting at a position in the range of positions 1-5 and ending a position in the range of positions 95-115, e.g., starting at a position in the range of positions 1-3 and ending at a position in the range of positions 100-105 or starting at a position in the range of positions 1-3 and ending at a position in the range of positions 105-110.
  • the alpha-amylases of the present invention may comprise A2 and C-domains starting at a position in the range of positions 203-223 and ending at a position in the range of positions 482-485, e.g., starting at a position in the range of positions 208-213 and ending at a position in the range of positions 482-485 or starting at a position in the range of positions 213-218 and ending at a position in the range of positions 482-485.
  • the sequence to be replaced by the corresponding sequence of a calcium-insensitive alpha-amylase starts at a position in the range of positions 96-116 and ending at a position in the range of positions 199-219, e.g., starting at a position in the range of positions 100-112 and ending at a position in the range of positions 203-215 or starting at a position in the range of positions 103-109 and ending at a position in the range of positions 206-212.
  • the A and C-domains of the Bacillus alpha-amylase were determined to be amino acid residues 1-105 (A1)+213-398 (A2) and 399-485, respectively.
  • the alpha-amylases of the present invention may comprise an A1-domain starting at a position in the range of positions 1-5 and ending a position in the range of positions 95-115, e.g., starting at a position in the range of positions 1-3 and ending at a position in the range of positions 100-105 or starting at a position in the range of positions 1-3 and ending at a position in the range of positions 105-110.
  • the alpha-amylases of the present invention may comprise A2 and C-domains starting at a position in the range of positions 203-223 and ending at a position in the range of positions 482-485, e.g., starting at a position in the range of positions 208-213 and ending at a position in the range of positions 482-485 or starting at a position in the range of positions 213-218 and ending at a position in the range of positions 482-485.
  • the sequence to be replaced by the corresponding sequence of a calcium-insensitive alpha-amylase starts at a position in the range of positions 96-116 and ending at a position in the range of positions 199-219, e.g., starting at a position in the range of positions 100-112 and ending at a position in the range of positions 203-215 or starting at a position in the range of positions 103-109 and ending at a position in the range of positions 206-212.
  • the A and C-domains of the Bacillus alpha-amylase were determined to be amino acid residues 1-105 (A1)+213-398 (A2) and 399-485, respectively.
  • the alpha-amylases of the present invention may comprise an A1-domain starting at a position in the range of positions 1-5 and ending a position in the range of positions 95-115, e.g., starting at a position in the range of positions 1-3 and ending at a position in the range of positions 100-105 or starting at a position in the range of positions 1-3 and ending at a position in the range of positions 105-110.
  • the alpha-amylases of the present invention may comprise A2 and C-domains starting at a position in the range of positions 203-223 and ending at a position in the range of positions 482-485, e.g., starting at a position in the range of positions 208-213 and ending at a position in the range of positions 482-485 or starting at a position in the range of positions 213-218 and ending at a position in the range of positions 482-485.
  • the sequence to be replaced by the corresponding sequence of a calcium-insensitive alpha-amylase starts at a position in the range of positions 96-116 and ending at a position in the range of positions 199-219, e.g., starting at a position in the range of positions 100-112 and ending at a position in the range of positions 203-215 or starting at a position in the range of positions 103-109 and ending at a position in the range of positions 206-212.
  • the A and C-domains of the SP707 alpha-amylase were determined to be amino acid residues 1-105 (A1)+213-398 (A2) and 399-485, respectively.
  • the alpha-amylases of the present invention may comprise an A1-domain starting at a position in the range of positions 1-5 and ending a position in the range of positions 95-115, e.g., starting at a position in the range of positions 1-3 and ending at a position in the range of positions 100-105 or starting at a position in the range of positions 1-3 and ending at a position in the range of positions 105-110.
  • the alpha-amylases of the present invention may comprise A2 and C-domains starting at a position in the range of positions 203-223 and ending at a position in the range of positions 482-485, e.g., starting at a position in the range of positions 208-213 and ending at a position in the range of positions 482-485 or starting at a position in the range of positions 213-218 and ending at a position in the range of positions 482-485.
  • the sequence to be replaced by the corresponding sequence of a calcium-insensitive alpha-amylase starts at a position in the range of positions 96-116 and ending at a position in the range of positions 199-219, e.g., starting at a position in the range of positions 100-112 and ending at a position in the range of positions 203-215 or starting at a position in the range of positions 103-109 and ending at a position in the range of positions 206-212.
  • the A and C-domains of the TS-22 alpha-amylase were determined to be amino acid residues 1-105 (A1)+213-398 (A2) and 399-484, respectively.
  • the alpha-amylases of the present invention may comprise an A1-domain starting at a position in the range of positions 1-5 and ending a position in the range of positions 95-115, e.g., starting at a position in the range of positions 1-3 and ending at a position in the range of positions 100-105 or starting at a position in the range of positions 1-3 and ending at a position in the range of positions 105-110.
  • the alpha-amylases of the present invention may comprise A2 and C-domains starting at a position in the range of positions 203-223 and ending at a position in the range of positions 481-484, e.g., starting at a position in the range of positions 208-213 and ending at a position in the range of positions 482-484 or starting at a position in the range of positions 213-218 and ending at a position in the range of positions 482-484.
  • the TS-22 alpha-amylase further has a carbohydrate binding domain of amino acid residues 485-586. The carbohydrate binding domain is not required for the amylase activity and might be fully or partially deleted.
  • the sequence to be replaced by the corresponding sequence of a calcium-insensitive alpha-amylase starts at a position in the range of positions 96-116 and ending at a position in the range of positions 199-219, e.g., starting at a position in the range of positions 100-112 and ending at a position in the range of positions 203-215 or starting at a position in the range of positions 103-109 and ending at a position in the range of positions 206-212.
  • the A and C-domains of the TS-23 alpha-amylase were determined to be amino acid residues 1-105 (A1)+213-398 (A2) and 399-484, respectively.
  • the alpha-amylases of the present invention may comprise an A1-domain starting at a position in the range of positions 1-5 and ending a position in the range of positions 95-115, e.g., starting at a position in the range of positions 1-3 and ending at a position in the range of positions 100-105 or starting at a position in the range of positions 1-3 and ending at a position in the range of positions 105-110.
  • the alpha-amylases of the present invention may comprise A2 and C-domains starting at a position in the range of positions 203-223 and ending at a position in the range of positions 482-484, e.g., starting at a position in the range of positions 208-213 and ending at a position in the range of positions 482-484 or starting at a position in the range of positions 213-218 and ending at a position in the range of positions 482-484.
  • the TS-23 alpha-amylase further has a carbohydrate binding domain of amino acid residues 485-583. The carbohydrate binding domain is not required for the amylase activity and might be fully or partially deleted.
  • the sequence to be replaced by the corresponding sequence of a calcium-insensitive alpha-amylase starts at a position in the range of positions 96-116 and ending at a position in the range of positions 199-219, e.g., starting at a position in the range of positions 100-112 and ending at a position in the range of positions 203-215 or starting at a position in the range of positions 103-109 and ending at a position in the range of positions 206-212.
  • the A and C-domains of the KSM-AP1378 alpha-amylase were determined to be amino acid residues 1-105 (A1)+213-398 (A2) and 399-485, respectively.
  • the alpha-amylases of the present invention may comprise an A1-domain starting at a position in the range of positions 1-5 and ending a position in the range of positions 95-115, e.g., starting at a position in the range of positions 1-3 and ending at a position in the range of positions 100-105 or starting at a position in the range of positions 1-3 and ending at a position in the range of positions 105-110.
  • the alpha-amylases of the present invention may comprise A2 and C-domains starting at a position in the range of positions 203-223 and ending at a position in the range of positions 482-485, e.g., starting at a position in the range of positions 208-213 and ending at a position in the range of positions 482-485 or starting at a position in the range of positions 213-218 and ending at a position in the range of positions 482-485.
  • the sequence to be replaced by the corresponding sequence of a calcium-insensitive alpha-amylase starts at a position in the range of positions 96-116 and ending at a position in the range of positions 199-219, e.g., starting at a position in the range of positions 100-112 and ending at a position in the range of positions 203-215 or starting at a position in the range of positions 103-109 and ending at a position in the range of positions 206-212.
  • the A and C-domains of the Bacillus SP7-7 alpha-amylase were determined to be amino acid residues 1-105 (A1)+213-398 (A2) and 399-485, respectively.
  • the alpha-amylases of the present invention may comprise an A1-domain starting at a position in the range of positions 1-5 and ending a position in the range of positions 95-115, e.g., starting at a position in the range of positions 1-3 and ending at a position in the range of positions 100-105 or starting at a position in the range of positions 1-3 and ending at a position in the range of positions 105-110.
  • the alpha-amylases of the present invention may comprise A2 and C-domains starting at a position in the range of positions 203-223 and ending at a position in the range of positions 482-485, e.g., starting at a position in the range of positions 208-213 and ending at a position in the range of positions 482-485 or starting at a position in the range of positions 213-218 and ending at a position in the range of positions 482-485.
  • the sequence to be replaced by the corresponding sequence of a calcium-insensitive alpha-amylase starts at a position in the range of positions 95-115 and ending at a position in the range of positions 197-213, e.g., starting at a position in the range of positions 99-111 and ending at a position in the range of positions 201-213 or starting at a position in the range of positions 102-108 and ending at a position in the range of positions 204-210.
  • the alpha-amylases of the present invention may comprise an A1-domain starting at a position in the range of positions 1-5 and ending a position in the range of positions 94-114, e.g., starting at a position in the range of positions 1-3 and ending at a position in the range of positions 99-104 or starting at a position in the range of positions 1-3 and ending at a position in the range of positions 104-109.
  • the alpha-amylases of the present invention may comprise A2 and C-domains starting at a position in the range of positions 201-221 and ending at a position in the range of positions 478-483, e.g., starting at a position in the range of positions 206-211 and ending at a position in the range of positions 480-483 or starting at a position in the range of positions 211-216 and ending at a position in the range of positions 480-483.
  • the B. stearothermophilus alpha-amylase further has a C-terminal extension of amino acid residues 484-486. The C-terminal extension is not required for the amylase activity and might be fully or partially deleted.
  • the sequence to be replaced by the corresponding sequence of a calcium-insensitive alpha-amylase starts at a position in the range of positions 93-113 and ending at a position in the range of positions 195-215, e.g., starting at a position in the range of positions 97-109 and ending at a position in the range of positions 199-211 or starting at a position in the range of positions 100-106 and ending at a position in the range of positions 202-208.
  • the A and C-domains of the Cytophagus alpha-amylase were determined to be amino acid residues 1-102 (A1)+209-397 (A2) and 398-484, respectively.
  • the alpha-amylases of the present invention may comprise an A1-domain starting at a position in the range of positions 1-5 and ending a position in the range of positions 92-112, e.g., starting at a position in the range of positions 1-3 and ending at a position in the range of positions 97-102 or starting at a position in the range of positions 1-3 and ending at a position in the range of positions 102-107.
  • the alpha-amylases of the present invention may comprise A2 and C-domains starting at a position in the range of positions 199-219 and ending at a position in the range of positions 479-484, e.g., starting at a position in the range of positions 204-209 and ending at a position in the range of positions 481-484 or starting at a position in the range of positions 209-214 and ending at a position in the range of positions 481-484.
  • the alpha-amylases of the present invention may comprise a B-domain starting at a position in the range of positions 93-113 and ending at a position in the range of positions 195-215, e.g., starting at a position in the range of positions 97-109 and ending at a position in the range of positions 199-211 or starting at a position in the range of positions 100-106 and ending at a position in the range of positions 202-208.
  • the A and C-domains of the Bacillus circulans alpha-amylase were determined to be amino acid residues 1-102 (A1)+209-395 (A2) and 396-482, respectively.
  • the A1-domain which can be replaced by the corresponding sequence of a calcium-sensitive alpha-amylase starts at a position in the range of positions 1-5 and ending at a position in the range of positions 92-112, e.g., starting at a position in the range of positions 1-3 and ending at a position in the range of positions 97-102 or starting at a position in the range of positions 1-3 and ending at a position in the range of positions 102-107.
  • the A2-domain which can be replaced by the corresponding sequence of a calcium-sensitive alpha-amylase starts at a position in the range of positions 199-219 and ending at a position in the range of positions 385-405, e.g., starting at a position in the range of positions 204-209 and ending at a position in the range of positions 390-395 or starting at a position in the range of positions 209-214 and ending at a position in the range of positions 395-400.
  • the A1 and A2 domains are preferably replaced simultaneously by the corresponding sequence of a calcium-sensitive alpha-amylase.
  • the C-domain which can be replaced by the corresponding sequence of a calcium-sensitive alpha-amylase starts at a position in the range of positions 386-406 and ending at a position in the range of positions 477-482, e.g., starting at a position in the range of positions 391-396 and ending at a position in the range of positions 479-482 or starting at a position in the range of positions 396-401 and ending at a position in the range of positions 479-482.
  • the Bacillus circulans alpha-amylase further has a C-terminal extension of amino acid residues 483-492. The extension is not required for the amylase activity and might be fully or partially deleted.
  • the alpha-amylases of the present invention may comprise a B-domain starting at a position in the range of positions 93-113 and ending at a position in the range of positions 195-215, e.g., starting at a position in the range of positions 97-109 and ending at a position in the range of positions 199-211 or starting at a position in the range of positions 100-106 and ending at a position in the range of positions 202-208.
  • the A and C-domains of the Bacillus circulans alpha-amylase were determined to be amino acid residues 1-103 (A1)+208-393 (A2) and 394-480, respectively.
  • the A1-domain which can be replaced by the corresponding sequence of a calcium-sensitive alpha-amylase starts at a position in the range of positions 1-5 and ending at a position in the range of positions 93-113, e.g., starting at a position in the range of positions 1-3 and ending at a position in the range of positions 98-103 or starting at a position in the range of positions 1-3 and ending at a position in the range of positions 103-108.
  • the A2-domain which can be replaced by the corresponding sequence of a calcium-sensitive alpha-amylase starts at a position in the range of positions 198-218 and ending at a position in the range of positions 383-403, e.g., starting at a position in the range of positions 203-208 and ending at a position in the range of positions 388-393 or starting at a position in the range of positions 208-213 and ending at a position in the range of positions 393-398.
  • the A1 and A2 domains are preferably replaced simultaneously by the corresponding sequence of a calcium-sensitive alpha-amylase.
  • the C-domain which can be replaced by the corresponding sequence of a calcium-sensitive alpha-amylase starts at a position in the range of positions 384-404 and ending at a position in the range of positions 475-480, e.g., starting at a position in the range of positions 389-394 and ending at a position in the range of positions 477-480 or starting at a position in the range of positions 394-399 and ending at a position in the range of positions 477-480.
  • the alpha-amylases of the present invention may comprise a B-domain starting at a position in the range of positions 93-113 and ending at a position in the range of positions 195-215, e.g., starting at a position in the range of positions 97-109 and ending at a position in the range of positions 199-211 or starting at a position in the range of positions 100-106 and ending at a position in the range of positions 202-208.
  • the A and C-domains of the Bacillus circulans alpha-amylase were determined to be amino acid residues 1-103 (A1)+208-393 (A2) and 394-480, respectively.
  • the A1-domain which can be replaced by the corresponding sequence of a calcium-sensitive alpha-amylase starts at a position in the range of positions 1-5 and ending at a position in the range of positions 93-113, e.g., starting at a position in the range of positions 1-3 and ending at a position in the range of positions 98-103 or starting at a position in the range of positions 1-3 and ending at a position in the range of positions 103-108.
  • the A2-domain which can be replaced by the corresponding sequence of a calcium-sensitive alpha-amylase starts at a position in the range of positions 198-218 and ending at a position in the range of positions 383-403, e.g., starting at a position in the range of positions 203-208 and ending at a position in the range of positions 388-393 or starting at a position in the range of positions 208-213 and ending at a position in the range of positions 393-398.
  • the A1 and A2 domains are preferably replaced simultaneously by the corresponding sequence of a calcium-sensitive alpha-amylase.
  • the C-domain which can be replaced by the corresponding sequence of a calcium-sensitive alpha-amylase starts at a position in the range of positions 384-404 and ending at a position in the range of positions 475-480, e.g., starting at a position in the range of positions 389-394 and ending at a position in the range of positions 477-480 or starting at a position in the range of positions 394-399 and ending at a position in the range of positions 477-480.
  • the alpha-amylases of the present invention may comprise a B-domain starting at a position in the range of positions 100-120 and ending at a position in the range of positions 161-181, e.g., starting at a position in the range of positions 105-115 and ending at a position in the range of positions 166-171 or starting at a position in the range of positions 107-113 and ending at a position in the range of positions 171-176.
  • the A and C-domains of the Bacillus circulans alpha-amylase were determined to be amino acid residues 1-109 (A1)+172-338 (A2) and 339-435, respectively.
  • the A1-domain which can be replaced by the corresponding sequence of a calcium-sensitive alpha-amylase starts at a position in the range of positions 1-5 and ending at a position in the range of positions 99-119, e.g., starting at a position in the range of positions 1-3 and ending at a position in the range of positions 104-109 or starting at a position in the range of positions 1-3 and ending at a position in the range of positions 109-114.
  • the A2-domain which can be replaced by the corresponding sequence of a calcium-sensitive alpha-amylase starts at a position in the range of positions 161-181 and ending at a position in the range of positions 328-348, e.g., starting at a position in the range of positions 167-172 and ending at a position in the range of positions 333-338 or starting at a position in the range of positions 172-177 and ending at a position in the range of positions 338-343.
  • the A1 and A2 domains are preferably replaced simultaneously by the corresponding sequence of a calcium-sensitive alpha-amylase.
  • the C-domain which can be replaced by the corresponding sequence of a calcium-sensitive alpha-amylase starts at a position in the range of positions 329-349 and ending at a position in the range of positions 430-435, e.g., starting at a position in the range of positions 324-329 and ending at a position in the range of positions 432-435 or starting at a position in the range of positions 329-344 and ending at a position in the range of positions 432-435.
  • the alpha-amylases of the present invention may comprise a B-domain starting at a position in the range of positions 100-120 and ending at a position in the range of positions 161-181, e.g., starting at a position in the range of positions 105-115 and ending at a position in the range of positions 166-171 or starting at a position in the range of positions 107-113 and ending at a position in the range of positions 171-176.
  • the A and C-domains of the Bacillus circulans alpha-amylase were determined to be amino acid residues 1-109 (A1)+172-338 (A2) and 339-435, respectively.
  • the A1-domain which can be replaced by the corresponding sequence of a calcium-sensitive alpha-amylase starts at a position in the range of positions 1-5 and ending at a position in the range of positions 99-119, e.g., starting at a position in the range of positions 1-3 and ending at a position in the range of positions 104-109 or starting at a position in the range of positions 1-3 and ending at a position in the range of positions 109-114.
  • the A2-domain which can be replaced by the corresponding sequence of a calcium-sensitive alpha-amylase starts at a position in the range of positions 161-181 and ending at a position in the range of positions 328-348, e.g., starting at a position in the range of positions 167-172 and ending at a position in the range of positions 333-338 or starting at a position in the range of positions 172-177 and ending at a position in the range of positions 338-343.
  • the A1 and A2 domains are preferably replaced simultaneously by the corresponding sequence of a calcium-sensitive alpha-amylase.
  • the C-domain which can be replaced by the corresponding sequence of a calcium-sensitive alpha-amylase starts at a position in the range of positions 329-349 and ending at a position in the range of positions 430-435, e.g., starting at a position in the range of positions 334-339 and ending at a position in the range of positions 432-435 or starting at a position in the range of positions 339-344 and ending at a position in the range of positions 432-435.
  • the variants of the present invention have alpha-amylase activity and comprise A-, B-, and C-domains and, optionally, a carbohydrate-binding module.
  • the variants of the present invention comprise an A-domain which has at least 70% and less than 100% sequence identity with any of the A-domains of SEQ ID NOS: 1-12.
  • the A-domain has at least 70% sequence identity, e.g., at least 75%, at least 80%, at least 85%, at least 90%, at least 91%, at least 92%, at least 93%, at least 94%, at least 95%, at least 96%, at least 97%, at least 98%, or at least 99% sequence identity with the A-domain of SEQ ID NO: 1.
  • the A-domain has at least 70% sequence identity, e.g., at least 75%, at least 80%, at least 85%, at least 90%, at least 91%, at least 92%, at least 93%, at least 94%, at least 95%, at least 96%, at least 97%, at least 98%, or at least 99% sequence identity with the A-domain of SEQ ID NO: 2.
  • the A-domain has at least 70% sequence identity, e.g., at least 75%, at least 80%, at least 85%, at least 90%, at least 91%, at least 92%, at least 93%, at least 94%, at least 95%, at least 96%, at least 97%, at least 98%, or at least 99% sequence identity with the A-domain of SEQ ID NO: 3.
  • the A-domain has at least 70% sequence identity, e.g., at least 75%, at least 80%, at least 85%, at least 90%, at least 91%, at least 92%, at least 93%, at least 94%, at least 95%, at least 96%, at least 97%, at least 98%, or at least 99% sequence identity with the A-domain of SEQ ID NO: 4.
  • the A-domain has at least 70% sequence identity, e.g., at least 75%, at least 80%, at least 85%, at least 90%, at least 91%, at least 92%, at least 93%, at least 94%, at least 95%, at least 96%, at least 97%, at least 98%, or at least 99% sequence identity with the A-domain of SEQ ID NO: 5.
  • the A-domain has at least 70% sequence identity, e.g., at least 75%, at least 80%, at least 85%, at least 90%, at least 91%, at least 92%, at least 93%, at least 94%, at least 95%, at least 96%, at least 97%, at least 98%, or at least 99% sequence identity with the A-domain of SEQ ID NO: 6.
  • the A-domain has at least 70% sequence identity, e.g., at least 75%, at least 80%, at least 85%, at least 90%, at least 91%, at least 92%, at least 93%, at least 94%, at least 95%, at least 96%, at least 97%, at least 98%, or at least 99% sequence identity with the A-domain of SEQ ID NO: 7.
  • the A-domain has at least 70% sequence identity, e.g., at least 75%, at least 80%, at least 85%, at least 90%, at least 91%, at least 92%, at least 93%, at least 94%, at least 95%, at least 96%, at least 97%, at least 98%, or at least 99% sequence identity with the A-domain of SEQ ID NO: 8.
  • the A-domain has at least 70% sequence identity, e.g., at least 75%, at least 80%, at least 85%, at least 90%, at least 91%, at least 92%, at least 93%, at least 94%, at least 95%, at least 96%, at least 97%, at least 98%, or at least 99% sequence identity with the A-domain of SEQ ID NO: 9.
  • the A-domain has at least 70% sequence identity, e.g., at least 75%, at least 80%, at least 85%, at least 90%, at least 91%, at least 92%, at least 93%, at least 94%, at least 95%, at least 96%, at least 97%, at least 98%, or at least 99% sequence identity with the A-domain of SEQ ID NO: 10.
  • the A-domain has at least 70% sequence identity, e.g., at least 75%, at least 80%, at least 85%, at least 90%, at least 91%, at least 92%, at least 93%, at least 94%, at least 95%, at least 96%, at least 97%, at least 98%, or at least 99% sequence identity with the A-domain of SEQ ID NO: 11.
  • the A-domain has at least 70% sequence identity, e.g., at least 75%, at least 80%, at least 85%, at least 90%, at least 91%, at least 92%, at least 93%, at least 94%, at least 95%, at least 96%, at least 97%, at least 98%, or at least 99% sequence identity with the A-domain of SEQ ID NO: 12.
  • the A-domain has at least 70% sequence identity, e.g., at least 75%, at least 80%, at least 85%, at least 90%, at least 91%, at least 92%, at least 93%, at least 94%, at least 95%, at least 96%, at least 97%, at least 98%, or at least 99% sequence identity with the A-domain of SEQ ID NO: 29.
  • the A-domain has at least 70% sequence identity, e.g., at least 75%, at least 80%, at least 85%, at least 90%, at least 91%, at least 92%, at least 93%, at least 94%, at least 95%, at least 96%, at least 97%, at least 98%, or at least 99% sequence identity with the A-domain of SEQ ID NO: 30.
  • the amino acid sequence of the A-domain has at least one difference, e.g., 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, or 10, at a position corresponding to position 8, 52, 53, 59, 91, 220, 224, 242, 244, 245, 282, 284, 301, 303, 304, 307, 348, 386, or 388.
  • 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, or 10 at a position corresponding to position 8, 52, 53, 59, 91, 220, 224, 242, 244, 245, 282, 284, 301, 303, 304, 307, 348, 386, or 388.
  • the A-domain has 1-15 differences compared with any of the A-domains of SEQ ID NOS: 1-12, i.e., 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12, 13, 14 or 15 differences.
  • a difference may be at the position corresponding to position 8, i.e., the amino acid is Ala, Arg, Asn, Asp, Cys, Gln, Glu, Gly, His, Ile, Leu, Lys, Phe, Pro, Ser, Thr, Trp, Tyr, or Val, e.g., Leu.
  • a difference may be at the position corresponding to position 27, i.e., the amino acid is Arg, Asn, Asp, Cys, Gln, Glu, Gly, His, Ile, Leu, Lys, Met, Phe, Pro, Ser, Thr, Trp, Tyr, or Val, e.g., Gln.
  • a difference may be at the position corresponding to position 34, i.e., the amino acid is Ala, Arg, Asn, Asp, Cys, Gln, Glu, Gly, His, Ile, Leu, Lys, Met, Phe, Pro, Thr, Trp, Tyr, or Val, e.g., Lys.
  • a difference may be at the position corresponding to position 52, i.e., the amino acid is Ala, Asn, Asp, Cys, Gln, Glu, Gly, His, Ile, Leu, Lys, Met, Phe, Pro, Ser, Thr, Trp, Tyr, or Val, e.g., Gly.
  • a difference may be at the position corresponding to position 53, i.e., the amino acid is Ala, Arg, Asn, Asp, Cys, Gln, Glu, Gly, His, Ile, Leu, Lys, Met, Phe, Pro, Thr, Trp, Tyr, or Val, e.g., Tyr.
  • a difference may be at the position corresponding to position 59, i.e., the amino acid is Ala, Arg, Asn, Asp, Cys, Gln, Glu, Gly, His, Ile, Leu, Lys, Met, Phe, Pro, Ser, Thr, Trp, or Tyr, e.g., Ala.
  • a difference may be at the position corresponding to position 80, i.e., the amino acid is Ala, Arg, Asn, Asp, Cys, Gln, Glu, Gly, His, Ile, Leu, Lys, Met, Phe, Pro, Ser, Trp, Tyr, or Val, e.g., Asp.
  • a difference may be at the position corresponding to position 86, i.e., the amino acid is Ala, Arg, Asn, Asp, Cys, Glu, Gly, His, Ile, Leu, Lys, Met, Phe, Pro, Ser, Thr, Trp, Tyr, or Val, e.g., Ser.
  • a difference may be at the position corresponding to position 90, i.e., the amino acid is Arg, Asn, Asp, Cys, Gln, Glu, Gly, His, Ile, Leu, Lys, Met, Phe, Pro, Ser, Thr, Trp, Tyr, or Val, e.g., Ser.
  • a difference may be at the position corresponding to position 91, i.e., the amino acid is Arg, Asn, Asp, Cys, Gln, Glu, Gly, His, Ile, Leu, Lys, Met, Phe, Pro, Ser, Thr, Trp, Tyr, or Val, e.g., Leu.
  • a difference may be at the position corresponding to position 100, i.e., the amino acid is Arg, Asn, Asp, Cys, Gln, Glu, Gly, His, Ile, Leu, Lys, Met, Phe, Pro, Ser, Thr, Trp, Tyr, or Val, e.g., Glu or Leu.
  • a difference may be at the position corresponding to position 204, i.e., the amino acid is Ala, Arg, Asn, Asp, Cys, Gln, Glu, Gly, His, Leu, Lys, Met, Phe, Pro, Ser, Thr, Trp, Tyr, or Val, e.g., Leu.
  • a difference may be at the position corresponding to position 206, i.e., the amino acid is Ala, Arg, Asn, Asp, Cys, Gln, Glu, Gly, His, Ile, Leu, Lys, Met, Phe, Pro, Ser, Thr, Trp, or Val, e.g., Met.
  • a difference may be at the position corresponding to position 220, i.e., the amino acid is Ala, Arg, Asn, Asp, Cys, Gln, Glu, Gly, His, Ile, Leu, Met, Phe, Pro, Ser, Thr, Trp, Tyr, or Val, e.g., Pro.
  • a difference may be at the position corresponding to position 224, i.e., the amino acid is Ala, Arg, Asp, Cys, Gln, Glu, Gly, His, Ile, Leu, Lys, Met, Phe, Pro, Ser, Thr, Trp, Tyr, or Val, e.g., Leu.
  • a difference may be at the position corresponding to position 235, i.e., the amino acid is Arg, Asn, Asp, Cys, Gln, Glu, Gly, His, Ile, Leu, Lys, Met, Phe, Pro, Ser, Thr, Trp, Tyr, or Val, e.g., Thr or Trp.
  • a difference may be at the position corresponding to position 242, i.e., the amino acid is Ala, Arg, Asn, Asp, Cys, Gln, Glu, Gly, His, Ile, Leu, Lys, Met, Phe, Pro, Thr, Trp, Tyr, or Val, e.g., Gln or Glu.
  • a difference may be at the position corresponding to position 244, i.e., the amino acid is Ala, Arg, Asn, Asp, Cys, Gln, Glu, Gly, His, Ile, Leu, Lys, Met, Pro, Ser, Thr, Trp, Tyr, or Val, e.g., Tyr.
  • a difference may be at the position corresponding to position 245, i.e., the amino acid is Ala, Arg, Asn, Asp, Cys, Gln, Glu, Gly, His, Ile, Leu, Lys, Met, Phe, Ser, Thr, Trp, Tyr, or Val, e.g., Ala or Lys.
  • a difference may be at the position corresponding to position 270, i.e., the amino acid is Ala, Arg, Asn, Asp, Cys, Gln, Glu, Gly, His, Leu, Lys, Met, Phe, Pro, Ser, Thr, Trp, Tyr, or Val, e.g., Leu.
  • a difference may be at the position corresponding to position 282, i.e., the amino acid is Ala, Arg, Asn, Asp, Cys, Gln, Glu, His, Ile, Leu, Lys, Met, Phe, Pro, Ser, Thr, Trp, Tyr, or Val, e.g., Trp.
  • a difference may be at the position corresponding to position 284, i.e., the amino acid is Ala, Arg, Asn, Asp, Cys, Gln, Glu, Gly, His, Ile, Leu, Lys, Met, Pro, Ser, Thr, Trp, Tyr, or Val, e.g., Gln, Thr, or Val.
  • a difference may be at the position corresponding to position 301, i.e., the amino acid is Ala, Arg, Asn, Asp, Cys, Gln, Glu, Gly, His, Ile, Leu, Lys, Met, Phe, Pro, Thr, Trp, Tyr, or Val, e.g., Lys.
  • a difference may be at the position corresponding to position 303, i.e., the amino acid is Ala, Arg, Asn, Asp, Cys, Gln, Glu, His, Ile, Leu, Lys, Met, Phe, Pro, Ser, Thr, Trp, Tyr, or Val, e.g., Arg.
  • a difference may be at the position corresponding to position 304, i.e., the amino acid is Arg, Asn, Asp, Cys, Gln, Glu, Gly, His, Ile, Leu, Lys, Met, Phe, Pro, Ser, Thr, Trp, Tyr, or Val, e.g., Asp.
  • a difference may be at the position corresponding to position 307, i.e., the amino acid is Ala, Arg, Asn, Asp, Cys, Gln, Glu, Gly, His, Ile, Leu, Lys, Phe, Pro, Ser, Thr, Trp, Tyr, or Val, e.g., Leu.
  • a difference may be at the position corresponding to position 348, i.e., the amino acid is Ala, Arg, Asn, Asp, Cys, Gln, Glu, Gly, His, Ile, Leu, Lys, Met, Phe, Pro, Thr, Trp, Tyr, or Val, e.g., Thr.
  • a difference may be at the position corresponding to position 386, i.e., the amino acid is Ala, Arg, Asn, Asp, Cys, Gln, Glu, Gly, His, Ile, Leu, Lys, Met, Phe, Ser, Thr, Trp, Tyr, or Val, e.g., Gln, Glu, Thr, or Val.
  • a difference may be at the position corresponding to position 388, i.e., the amino acid is Ala, Arg, Asn, Asp, Cys, Gln, Glu, Gly, His, Ile, Lys, Met, Phe, Pro, Ser, Thr, Trp, Tyr, or Val, e.g., Ile or Val.
  • the A-domain of the variant is different from the A-domain of SEQ ID NOS: 1-12, 29, or 30 at the positions corresponding to positions 52 and 53.
  • the amino acids at the positions corresponding to positions 52 and 53 are Gly and Tyr, respectively.
  • the A-domain of the variant is different from the A-domain of SEQ ID NOS: 1-12, 29, or 30 at the positions corresponding to positions 59, 242, and 307.
  • the amino acids at the positions corresponding to positions 59, 242, and 307 are Ala; Gln or Glu; and Leu, respectively.
  • the A-domain of the variant is different from the A-domain of SEQ ID NOS: 1-12, 29, or 30 at the positions corresponding to positions 220 and 224.
  • the amino acids at the positions corresponding to positions 220 and 224 are Pro and Leu, respectively.
  • the A-domain of the variant is different from the A-domain of SEQ ID NOS: 1-12, 29, or 30 at the positions corresponding to positions 242 and 282.
  • the amino acids at the positions corresponding to positions 242 and 282 are Gln or Glu; and Trp, respectively.
  • the A-domain of the variant is different from the A-domain of SEQ ID NOS: 1-12, 29, or 30 at the positions corresponding to positions 242 and 284.
  • the amino acids at the positions corresponding to positions 242 and 284 are Gln or Glu; and Gln, Thr, or Val, respectively.
  • the A-domain of the variant is different from the A-domain of SEQ ID NOS: 1-12, 29, or 30 at the positions corresponding to positions 242, 284, and 307.
  • the amino acids at the positions corresponding to positions 242, 284, and 307 are Gln or Glu; Gln, Thr, or Val; and Leu, respectively.
  • the A-domain of the variant is different from the A-domain of SEQ ID NOS: 1-12, 29, or 30 at the positions corresponding to positions 242 and 307.
  • the amino acids at the positions corresponding to positions 242 and 307 are Gln or Glu; and Leu, respectively.
  • the A-domain of the variant is different from the A-domain of SEQ ID NOS: 1-12, 29, or 30 at the positions corresponding to positions 244 and 284.
  • the amino acids at the positions corresponding to positions 244 and 284 are Tyr; and Gln, Thr, or Val, respectively.
  • the A-domain of the variant is different from the A-domain of SEQ ID NOS: 1-12, 29, or 30 at the positions corresponding to positions 244, 284, and 307.
  • the amino acids at the positions corresponding to positions 244, 284, and 307 are Tyr; Gln, Thr, or Val; and Leu, respectively.
  • the A-domain of the variant is different from the A-domain of SEQ ID NOS: 1-12, 29, or 30 at the positions corresponding to positions 244 and 307.
  • the amino acids at the positions corresponding to positions 244 and 307 are Tyr and Leu, respectively.
  • the A-domain of the variant is different from the A-domain of SEQ ID NOS: 1-12, 29, or 30 at the positions corresponding to positions 284 and 307.
  • the amino acids at the positions corresponding to positions 284 and 307 are Gln, Thr, or Val; and Leu, respectively.
  • the A-domain of the variant is different from the A-domain of SEQ ID NOS: 1-12, 29, or 30 at the positions corresponding to positions 301, 303, and 304.
  • the amino acids at the positions corresponding to positions 301, 303, and 304 are Lys, Arg, and Asp, respectively.
  • the variants of the present invention comprise a B-domain of a calcium-insenstive alpha-amylase.
  • the B-domain has at least 60% sequence identity, e.g., at least 65%, at least 70%, at least 75%, at least 80%, at least 85%, at least 90%, at least 91%, at least 92%, at least 93%, at least 94%, at least 95%, at least 96%, at least 97%, at least 98%, at least 99%, or 100% sequence identity with the B-domain of SEQ ID NO: 13.
  • the B-domain has at least 60% sequence identity, e.g., at least 65%, at least 70%, at least 75%, at least 80%, at least 85%, at least 90%, at least 91%, at least 92%, at least 93%, at least 94%, at least 95%, at least 96%, at least 97%, at least 98%, at least 99%, or 100% sequence identity with the B-domain of SEQ ID NO: 14.
  • the B-domain has at least 60% sequence identity, e.g., at least 65%, at least 70%, at least 75%, at least 80%, at least 85%, at least 90%, at least 91%, at least 92%, at least 93%, at least 94%, at least 95%, at least 96%, at least 97%, at least 98%, at least 99%, or 100% sequence identity with the B-domain of SEQ ID NO: 15.
  • the B-domain has at least 60% sequence identity, e.g., at least 65%, at least 70%, at least 75%, at least 80%, at least 85%, at least 90%, at least 91%, at least 92%, at least 93%, at least 94%, at least 95%, at least 96%, at least 97%, at least 98%, at least 99%, or 100% sequence identity with the B-domain of SEQ ID NO: 16.
  • the B-domain has at least 55% and less than 100% sequence identity with the B-domain of SEQ ID NO: 13.
  • the B-domain may have at least 60%, at least 65%, at least 70%, at least 75%, at least 80%, at least 85%, at least 90%, at least 91%, at least 92%, at least 93%, at least 94%, at least 95%, at least 96%, at least 97%, at least 98%, or at least 99% sequence identity with the B-domain of SEQ ID NO: 13.
  • the B-domain has at least 55% and less than 100% sequence identity with the B-domain of SEQ ID NO: 13.
  • the B-domain may have at least 60%, at least 65%, at least 70%, at least 75%, at least 80%, at least 85%, at least 90%, at least 91%, at least 92%, at least 93%, at least 94%, at least 95%, at least 96%, at least 97%, at least 98%, or at least 99% sequence identity with the B-domain of SEQ ID NO: 31.
  • the amino acid sequence of the B-domain has at least one difference, e.g., 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, or 10, at a position corresponding to position 105, 115, 117, 129, 132, 134, 135, 150, 157, 159, 160, 164, 166, 168, 169, 170, 171, 172, 174, 176, 177, 179, 180, 181, 182, 184, 187, 188, 191, 206, 208, or 210.
  • 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, or 10 at a position corresponding to position 105, 115, 117, 129, 132, 134, 135, 150, 157, 159, 160, 164, 166, 168, 169, 170, 171, 172, 174, 176, 177, 179, 180, 181, 182, 184, 187, 188, 191, 206, 208, or 210.
  • the B-domain has 1-15 differences compared with the B-domain of SEQ ID NO: 13, i.e., 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12, 13, 14 or 15 differences.
  • the amino acid sequence of the B-domain has at least one difference, e.g., 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, or 10, at a position corresponding to position 105, 115, 117, 129, 132, 134, 135, 150, 157, 159, 160, 164, 166, 168, 169, 170, 171, 172, 174, 176, 177, 184, 187, 188, 191, 206, 208, or 210, and the amino acids at at least two positions corresponding to positions 179-182 are absent.
  • 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, or 10 at a position corresponding to position 105, 115, 117, 129, 132, 134, 135, 150, 157, 159, 160, 164, 166, 168, 169, 170, 171, 172, 174, 176, 177, 184, 187, 188, 191, 206, 208, or 210, and the amino acids at at least two positions corresponding to positions
  • a difference may be at the position corresponding to position 105, i.e., the amino acid is Ala, Arg, Asp, Cys, Gln, Glu, Gly, His, Ile, Leu, Lys, Met, Phe, Pro, Ser, Thr, Trp, Tyr, or Val, e.g., Asp.
  • a difference may be at the position corresponding to position 115, i.e., the amino acid is Ala, Arg, Asn, Asp, Cys, Gln, Glu, Gly, His, Ile, Leu, Lys, Met, Phe, Pro, Ser, Thr, Trp, or Tyr, e.g., Trp.
  • a difference may be at the position corresponding to position 117, i.e., the amino acid is Ala, Arg, Asn, Asp, Cys, Gln, Glu, Gly, His, Ile, Leu, Met, Phe, Pro, Ser, Thr, Trp, Tyr, or Val, e.g., Asp.
  • a difference may be at the position corresponding to position 129, i.e., the amino acid is Ala, Arg, Asn, Asp, Cys, Gln, Gly, His, Ile, Leu, Lys, Met, Phe, Pro, Ser, Thr, Trp, Tyr, or Val, e.g., Val.
  • a difference may be at the position corresponding to position 132, i.e., the amino acid is Ala, Arg, Asn, Asp, Cys, Gln, Gly, His, Ile, Leu, Lys, Met, Phe, Pro, Ser, Thr, Trp, Tyr, or Val, e.g., Asp.
  • a difference may be at the position corresponding to position 134, i.e., the amino acid is Ala, Arg, Asn, Asp, Cys, Gln, Glu, Gly, His, Ile, Leu, Lys, Met, Pro, Ser, Thr, Trp, Tyr, or Val, e.g., Glu or Tyr.
  • a difference may be at the position corresponding to position 135, i.e., the amino acid is Ala, Arg, Asn, Asp, Cys, Gln, Gly, His, Ile, Leu, Lys, Met, Phe, Pro, Ser, Thr, Trp, Tyr, or Val, e.g., Asn or Gln.
  • a difference may be at the position corresponding to position 150, i.e., the amino acid is Ala, Arg, Asn, Asp, Cys, Glu, Gly, His, Ile, Leu, Lys, Met, Phe, Pro, Ser, Thr, Trp, Tyr, or Val, e.g., Thr.
  • a difference may be at the position corresponding to position 157, i.e., the amino acid is Ala, Arg, Asp, Cys, Gln, Glu, Gly, His, Ile, Leu, Lys, Met, Phe, Pro, Ser, Thr, Trp, Tyr, or Val, e.g., Tyr.
  • a difference may be at the position corresponding to position 159, i.e., the amino acid is Ala, Arg, Asn, Asp, Cys, Gln, Gly, His, Ile, Leu, Lys, Met, Phe, Pro, Ser, Thr, Trp, Tyr, or Val, e.g., Tyr.
  • a difference may be at the position corresponding to position 160, i.e., the amino acid is Ala, Arg, Asn, Asp, Cys, Gln, Glu, Gly, Ile, Leu, Lys, Met, Phe, Pro, Ser, Thr, Trp, Tyr, or Val, e.g., Tyr.
  • a difference may be at the position corresponding to position 164, i.e., the amino acid is Ala, Arg, Asn, Asp, Cys, Gln, Glu, Gly, His, Ile, Leu, Lys, Met, Phe, Pro, Ser, Trp, Tyr, or Val, e.g., Val.
  • a difference may be at the position corresponding to position 166, i.e., the amino acid is Ala, Arg, Asn, Asp, Cys, Gln, Glu, Gly, His, Ile, Leu, Lys, Met, Pro, Ser, Thr, Trp, Tyr, or Val, e.g., Trp.
  • a difference may be at the position corresponding to position 168, i.e., the amino acid is Arg, Asn, Asp, Cys, Gln, Glu, Gly, His, Ile, Leu, Lys, Met, Phe, Pro, Ser, Thr, Trp, Tyr, or Val, e.g., Glu.
  • a difference may be at the position corresponding to position 169, i.e., the amino acid is Ala, Arg, Asn, Asp, Cys, Gln, Glu, Gly, His, Ile, Leu, Met, Phe, Pro, Ser, Thr, Trp, Tyr, or Val, e.g., Ser.
  • a difference may be at the position corresponding to position 170, i.e., the amino acid is Ala, Arg, Asn, Asp, Cys, Gln, Glu, His, Ile, Leu, Lys, Met, Phe, Pro, Ser, Thr, Trp, Tyr, or Val, e.g., Arg.
  • a difference may be at the position corresponding to position 171, i.e., the amino acid is Ala, Arg, Asn, Asp, Cys, Gln, Gly, His, Ile, Leu, Lys, Met, Phe, Pro, Ser, Thr, Trp, Tyr, or Val, e.g., Lys.
  • a difference may be at the position corresponding to position 172, i.e., the amino acid is Ala, Asn, Asp, Cys, Gln, Glu, Gly, His, Ile, Leu, Lys, Met, Phe, Pro, Ser, Thr, Trp, Tyr, or Val, e.g., Leu.
  • a difference may be at the position corresponding to position 174, i.e., the amino acid is Ala, Arg, Asn, Asp, Cys, Gln, Glu, His, Ile, Leu, Lys, Met, Phe, Pro, Ser, Thr, Trp, Tyr, or Val, e.g., Arg.
  • a difference may be at the position corresponding to position 176, i.e., the amino acid is Ala, Arg, Asn, Asp, Cys, Gln, Glu, Gly, His, Ile, Leu, Lys, Met, Pro, Ser, Thr, Trp, Tyr, or Val, e.g., Tyr.
  • a difference may be at the position corresponding to position 177, i.e., the amino acid is Ala, Asn, Asp, Cys, Gln, Glu, Gly, His, Ile, Leu, Lys, Met, Phe, Pro, Ser, Thr, Trp, Tyr, or Val, e.g., Leu.
  • a difference may be at the position corresponding to position 179, i.e., the amino acid is Arg, Asn, Asp, Cys, Gln, Glu, Gly, His, Ile, Leu, Lys, Met, Phe, Pro, Ser, Thr, Trp, Tyr, or Val, e.g., Asn, Asp, Gln, or Glu, or is absent.
  • a difference may be at the position corresponding to position 180, i.e., the amino acid is Ala, Arg, Asn, Asp, Cys, Gln, Glu, His, Ile, Leu, Lys, Met, Phe, Pro, Ser, Thr, Trp, Tyr, or Val, e.g., Ala, Pro, or Ser, or is absent.
  • a difference may be at the position corresponding to position 181, i.e., the amino acid is Ala, Arg, Asn, Asp, Cys, Gln, Gly, His, Ile, Leu, Lys, Met, Phe, Pro, Ser, Thr, Trp, Tyr, or Val, e.g., Ala, Asp, Cys, Leu, or Pro, or is absent.
  • a difference may be at the position corresponding to position 182, i.e., the amino acid is Ala, Arg, Asp, Cys, Gln, Glu, Gly, His, Ile, Leu, Lys, Met, Phe, Pro, Ser, Thr, Trp, Tyr, or Val, e.g., Ala, Pro, or Ser, or is absent.
  • a difference may be at the position corresponding to position 184, i.e., the amino acid is Ala, Arg, Asn, Asp, Cys, Gln, Glu, Gly, His, Ile, Leu, Met, Phe, Pro, Ser, Thr, Trp, Tyr, or Val, e.g., Ala.
  • a difference may be at the position corresponding to position 187, i.e., the amino acid is Ala, Arg, Asn, Asp, Cys, Gln, Gly, His, Ile, Leu, Lys, Met, Phe, Pro, Ser, Thr, Trp, Tyr, or Val, e.g., Trp.
  • a difference may be at the position corresponding to position 188, i.e., the amino acid is Ala, Arg, Asp, Cys, Gln, Glu, Gly, His, Ile, Leu, Lys, Met, Phe, Pro, Ser, Thr, Trp, Tyr, or Val, e.g., Glu.
  • a difference may be at the position corresponding to position 191, i.e., the amino acid is Ala, Arg, Asn, Cys, Gln, Glu, Gly, His, Ile, Leu, Lys, Met, Phe, Pro, Ser, Thr, Trp, Tyr, or Val, e.g., Thr.
  • a difference may be at the position corresponding to position 202, i.e., the amino acid is Ala, Arg, Asn, Asp, Cys, Gln, Glu, Gly, His, Leu, Lys, Met, Phe, Pro, Ser, Thr, Trp, Tyr, or Val, e.g., Leu.
  • a difference may be at the position corresponding to position 204, i.e., the amino acid is Ala, Arg, Asn, Asp, Cys, Gln, Glu, Gly, His, Ile, Leu, Lys, Met, Phe, Pro, Ser, Thr, Trp, or Val, e.g., Lys or Met.
  • a difference may be at the position corresponding to position 206, i.e., the amino acid is Ala, Arg, Asn, Asp, Cys, Gln, Glu, Gly, His, Ile, Leu, Lys, Met, Phe, Pro, Ser, Thr, Trp, or Val, e.g., Lys or Met.
  • a difference may be at the position corresponding to position 208, i.e., the amino acid is Ala, Arg, Asn, Asp, Cys, Gln, Glu, Gly, Ile, Leu, Lys, Met, Phe, Pro, Ser, Thr, Trp, Tyr, or Val, e.g., Tyr.
  • a difference may be at the position corresponding to position 210, i.e., the amino acid is Ala, Arg, Asn, Cys, Gln, Glu, Gly, His, Ile, Leu, Lys, Met, Phe, Pro, Ser, Thr, Trp, Tyr, or Val, e.g., Tyr or Val.
  • a difference may be at the position corresponding to position 222, i.e., the amino acid is Ala, Arg, Asn, Asp, Cys, Gln, Glu, Gly, His, Ile, Leu, Lys, Met, Phe, Pro, Ser, Thr, Trp, or Val, e.g., Val.
  • amino acids at the positions corresponding to positions 179 and 180 are absent.
  • amino acids at the positions corresponding to positions 179 and 181 are absent.
  • amino acids at the positions corresponding to positions 179 and 182 are absent.
  • amino acids at the positions corresponding to positions 180 and 181 are absent.
  • amino acids at the positions corresponding to positions 180 and 182 are absent.
  • amino acids at the positions corresponding to positions 181 and 182 are absent.
  • the B-domain of the variant is different from the B-domain of SEQ ID NO: 13 at the positions corresponding to positions 105, 117, 150, and 184.
  • the amino acids at the positions corresponding to positions 105, 117, 150, and 184 are Asp, Asp, Thr, and Ala, respectively.
  • the B-domain of the variant is different from the B-domain of SEQ ID NO: 13 at the positions corresponding to positions 105, 129, 177, and 179.
  • the amino acids at the positions corresponding to positions 105, 129, 177, and 179 are Asp; Val; Leu; and Asn, Asp, Gln, or Glu, or is absent; and Ala, respectively.
  • the B-domain of the variant is different from the B-domain of SEQ ID NO: 13 at the positions corresponding to positions 105, 132, and 184.
  • the amino acids at the positions corresponding to positions 105, 132, and 184 are Asp, Asp, and Ala, respectively.
  • the B-domain of the variant is different from the B-domain of SEQ ID NO: 13 at the positions corresponding to positions 105, 134, and 184.
  • the amino acids at the positions corresponding to positions 105, 134, and 184 are Asp, Glu, and Ala, respectively.
  • the B-domain of the variant is different from the B-domain of SEQ ID NO: 13 at the positions corresponding to positions 105, 135, 179, and 184.
  • the amino acids at the positions corresponding to positions 105, 135, 179, and 184 are Asp; Asn; Asn, Asp, Gln, or Glu, or is absent; and Ala, respectively.
  • the amino acid sequence of the B-domain of the variant is different from the amino acid sequence of SEQ ID NO: 13 at the positions corresponding to positions 105 and 150.
  • the amino acids at the positions corresponding to positions 105 and 150 are Asp and Thr, respectively.
  • the B-domain of the variant is different from the B-domain of SEQ ID NO: 13 at the positions corresponding to positions 105, 150, 164, 166, 168, 171, and 184.
  • the amino acids at the positions corresponding to positions 105, 150, 164, 166, 168, 171, and 184 are Asp, Thr, Val, Trp, Glu, Lys, and Ala, respectively.
  • the B-domain of the variant is different from the B-domain of SEQ ID NO: 13 at the positions corresponding to positions 105, 150, 164, and 184.
  • the amino acids at the positions corresponding to positions 105, 150, 164, and 184 are Asp, Thr, Val, and Ala, respectively.
  • the B-domain of the variant is different from the B-domain of SEQ ID NO: 13 at the positions corresponding to positions 105, 150, 166, 168, and 171.
  • the amino acids at the positions corresponding to positions 105, 150, 166, 168, and 171 are Asp, Thr, Trp, Glu, and Lys, respectively.
  • the B-domain of the variant is different from the B-domain of SEQ ID NO: 13 at the positions corresponding to positions 105, 150, 166, 168, 171, and 184.
  • the amino acids at the positions corresponding to positions 105, 150, 166, 168, 171, and 184 are Asp, Thr, Trp, Glu, Lys, and Ala, respectively.
  • the B-domain of the variant is different from the B-domain of SEQ ID NO: 13 at the positions corresponding to positions 105, 150, and 184.
  • the amino acids at the positions corresponding to positions 105, 150, and 184 are Asp, Thr, and Ala, respectively.
  • the B-domain of the variant is different from the B-domain of SEQ ID NO: 13 at the positions corresponding to positions 105, 150, 184, and 206.
  • the amino acids at the positions corresponding to positions 105, 150, 184, and 206 are Asp, Thr, Ala, and Met, respectively.
  • the B-domain of the variant is different from the B-domain of SEQ ID NO: 13 at the positions corresponding to positions 105, 157, 159, 160, 184, 208, and 210.
  • the amino acids at the positions corresponding to positions 105, 157, 159, 160, 184, 208, and 210 are Asp; Tyr; Tyr; Tyr; Ala; Tyr; and Tyr or Val, respectively.
  • the B-domain of the variant is different from the B-domain of SEQ ID NO: 13 at the positions corresponding to positions 105, 160, and 184.
  • the amino acids at the positions corresponding to positions 105, 160, and 184 are Asp, Tyr, and Ala, respectively.
  • the B-domain of the variant is different from the B-domain of SEQ ID NO: 13 at the positions corresponding to positions 105, 164, and 184.
  • the amino acids at the positions corresponding to positions 105, 164, and 184 are Asp, Val, and Ala, respectively.
  • the B-domain of the variant is different from the B-domain of SEQ ID NO: 13 at the positions corresponding to positions 105, 166, 168, and 171.
  • the amino acids at the positions corresponding to positions 105, 166, 168, and 171 are Asp, Trp, Glu, and Lys, respectively.
  • the B-domain of the variant is different from the B-domain of SEQ ID NO: 13 at the positions corresponding to positions 105, 179, and 184.
  • the amino acids at the positions corresponding to positions 105, 179, and 184 are Asp; Asn, Asp, Gln, or Glu, or is absent; and Ala, respectively.
  • the B-domain of the variant is different from the B-domain of SEQ ID NO: 13 at the positions corresponding to positions 105 and 184.
  • the amino acids at the positions corresponding to positions 105 and 184 are Asp and Ala, respectively.
  • the B-domain of the variant is different from the B-domain of SEQ ID NO: 13 at the positions corresponding to positions 105, 184, and 210.
  • the amino acids at the positions corresponding to positions 105, 184, and 210 are Asp; Ala; and Tyr or Val, respectively.
  • the B-domain of the variant is different from the B-domain of SEQ ID NO: 13 at the positions corresponding to positions 105 and 206.
  • the amino acids at the positions corresponding to positions 105 and 206 are Asp and Met, respectively.
  • the B-domain of the variant is different from the B-domain of SEQ ID NO: 13 at the positions corresponding to positions 166, 168, and 171.
  • the amino acids at the positions corresponding to positions 166, 168, and 171 are Trp, Glu, and Lys, respectively.
  • the B-domain of the variant is different from the B-domain of SEQ ID NO: 13 at the positions corresponding to positions 187, 188, and 191.
  • the amino acids at the positions corresponding to positions 187, 188, and 191 are Trp, Glu, and Thr, respectively.
  • the alpha-amylases of the invention may further comprise additional substitutions, insertions or deletions in the B-domain derived from the calcium-insensitive alpha-amylase.
  • suitable substitutions, insertions or deletions in the B-domain of a calcium-insensitive alpha-amylase are the alterations corresponding to the following alterations in B. circulans alpha-amylase: E179*, N180*, E185W, N186E and D189T (SEQ ID NO: 13 numbering), which correspond to E181*, N182*, E187W, N188E and D191T in SEQ ID NO: 27 numbering.
  • the alpha-amylases of the present invention comprise the substitution Q150T.
  • the alpha-amylases of the present invention comprise the substitution T164V.
  • the alpha-amylases of the present invention comprise the substitution K184A.
  • the variants of the present invention comprise a C-domain which has at least 70% and less than 100% sequence identity with any of the C-domains of SEQ ID NOS: 1-12.
  • the C-domain has at least 70% sequence identity, e.g., at least 75%, at least 80%, at least 85%, at least 90%, at least 91%, at least 92%, at least 93%, at least 94%, at least 95%, at least 96%, at least 97%, at least 98%, or at least 99% sequence identity with the C-domain of SEQ ID NO: 1.
  • the C-domain has at least 70% sequence identity, e.g., at least 75%, at least 80%, at least 85%, at least 90%, at least 91%, at least 92%, at least 93%, at least 94%, at least 95%, at least 96%, at least 97%, at least 98%, or at least 99% sequence identity with the C-domain of SEQ ID NO: 2.
  • the C-domain has at least 70% sequence identity, e.g., at least 75%, at least 80%, at least 85%, at least 90%, at least 91%, at least 92%, at least 93%, at least 94%, at least 95%, at least 96%, at least 97%, at least 98%, or at least 99% sequence identity with the C-domain of SEQ ID NO: 3.
  • the C-domain has at least 70% sequence identity, e.g., at least 75%, at least 80%, at least 85%, at least 90%, at least 91%, at least 92%, at least 93%, at least 94%, at least 95%, at least 96%, at least 97%, at least 98%, or at least 99% sequence identity with the C-domain of SEQ ID NO: 4.
  • the C-domain has at least 70% sequence identity, e.g., at least 75%, at least 80%, at least 85%, at least 90%, at least 91%, at least 92%, at least 93%, at least 94%, at least 95%, at least 96%, at least 97%, at least 98%, or at least 99% sequence identity with the C-domain of SEQ ID NO: 5.
  • the C-domain has at least 70% sequence identity, e.g., at least 75%, at least 80%, at least 85%, at least 90%, at least 91%, at least 92%, at least 93%, at least 94%, at least 95%, at least 96%, at least 97%, at least 98%, or at least 99% sequence identity with the C-domain of SEQ ID NO: 6.
  • the C-domain has at least 70% sequence identity, e.g., at least 75%, at least 80%, at least 85%, at least 90%, at least 91%, at least 92%, at least 93%, at least 94%, at least 95%, at least 96%, at least 97%, at least 98%, or at least 99% sequence identity with the C-domain of SEQ ID NO: 7.
  • the C-domain has at least 70% sequence identity, e.g., at least 75%, at least 80%, at least 85%, at least 90%, at least 91%, at least 92%, at least 93%, at least 94%, at least 95%, at least 96%, at least 97%, at least 98%, or at least 99% sequence identity with the C-domain of SEQ ID NO: 8.
  • the C-domain has at least 70% sequence identity, e.g., at least 75%, at least 80%, at least 85%, at least 90%, at least 91%, at least 92%, at least 93%, at least 94%, at least 95%, at least 96%, at least 97%, at least 98%, or at least 99% sequence identity with the C-domain of SEQ ID NO: 9.
  • the C-domain has at least 70% sequence identity, e.g., at least 75%, at least 80%, at least 85%, at least 90%, at least 91%, at least 92%, at least 93%, at least 94%, at least 95%, at least 96%, at least 97%, at least 98%, or at least 99% sequence identity with the C-domain of SEQ ID NO: 10.
  • the C-domain has at least 70% sequence identity, e.g., at least 75%, at least 80%, at least 85%, at least 90%, at least 91%, at least 92%, at least 93%, at least 94%, at least 95%, at least 96%, at least 97%, at least 98%, or at least 99% sequence identity with the C-domain of SEQ ID NO: 11.
  • the C-domain has at least 70% sequence identity, e.g., at least 75%, at least 80%, at least 85%, at least 90%, at least 91%, at least 92%, at least 93%, at least 94%, at least 95%, at least 96%, at least 97%, at least 98%, or at least 99% sequence identity with the C-domain of SEQ ID NO: 12.
  • the C-domain has at least 70% sequence identity, e.g., at least 75%, at least 80%, at least 85%, at least 90%, at least 91%, at least 92%, at least 93%, at least 94%, at least 95%, at least 96%, at least 97%, at least 98%, or at least 99% sequence identity with the C-domain of SEQ ID NO: 29.
  • the C-domain has at least 70% sequence identity, e.g., at least 75%, at least 80%, at least 85%, at least 90%, at least 91%, at least 92%, at least 93%, at least 94%, at least 95%, at least 96%, at least 97%, at least 98%, or at least 99% sequence identity with the C-domain of SEQ ID NO: 30.
  • the C-domain has 1-15 differences compared with any of the C-domains of SEQ ID NOS: 1-12, 29, and 30, i.e., 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12, 13, 14 or 15 differences.
  • a difference may be at the position corresponding to position 407, i.e., the amino acid is Ala, Arg, Asp, Cys, Gln, Glu, Gly, His, Ile, Leu, Lys, Met, Phe, Pro, Ser, Thr, Trp, Tyr, or Val, e.g., Asp.
  • a difference may be at the position corresponding to position 430, i.e., the amino acid is Ala, Arg, Asp, Cys, Gln, Glu, Gly, His, Ile, Leu, Lys, Met, Phe, Pro, Ser, Thr, Trp, Tyr, or Val, e.g., Asp.
  • a difference may be at the position corresponding to position 432, i.e., the amino acid is Ala, Arg, Asn, Cys, Gln, Glu, Gly, His, Ile, Leu, Lys, Met, Phe, Pro, Ser, Thr, Trp, Tyr, or Val, e.g., Pro.
  • a difference may be at the position corresponding to position 459, i.e., the amino acid is Ala, Arg, Asn, Asp, Cys, Gln, Glu, Gly, His, Ile, Leu, Lys, Met, Phe, Pro, Ser, Trp, Tyr, or Val, e.g., Pro.
  • a difference may be at the position corresponding to position 475, i.e., the amino acid is Ala, Arg, Asn, Asp, Cys, Gln, Glu, Gly, His, Ile, Leu, Lys, Met, Phe, Pro, Ser, Trp, Tyr, or Val, e.g., Gln or Lys.
  • the C-domain of the variant is different from any of the C-domains of SEQ ID NOS: 1-12 at the positions corresponding to positions 407 and 430.
  • the amino acids at the positions corresponding to positions 407 and 430 are Asp.
  • the C-domain of the variant is different from any of the C-domains of SEQ ID NOS: 1-12 at the positions corresponding to positions 407, 430, and 432.
  • the amino acids at the positions corresponding to positions 407, 430, and 432 are Asp, Asp, and Pro, respectively.
  • the C-domain of the variant is different from any of the C-domains of SEQ ID NOS: 1-12 at the positions corresponding to positions 407 and 432.
  • the amino acids at the positions corresponding to positions 407 and 432 are Asp and Pro, respectively.
  • the C-domain of the variant is different from any of the C-domains of SEQ ID NOS: 1-12 at the positions corresponding to positions 430 and 432.
  • the amino acids at the positions corresponding to positions 430 and 432 are Asp and Pro, respectively.
  • the alpha-amylase variants have a ratio of activity measured by the Phadebas activity to the activity measured by the G7-pNG assay greater than 0.1, preferably of more than 0.25, even more preferred more than 0.5 and most preferred more than 1.
  • the Phadebas assay is an assay for determining alpha-amylase activity using a cross-linked insoluble blue-colored starch polymer. (Phadebas® Amylase Test, supplied by Magle Life Sciences, Lund, Sweden).
  • the G7-pNG assay is an assay for determining alpha-amylase activity using a soluble chromogen compound, p-nitrophenyl-alpha-D-maltoheptaoside.
  • Kits containing PNP-G7 substrate and alpha-glucosidase is manufactured by Boehringer-Mannheim (cat. no. 1054635).
  • the reference alpha-amylase which is considered to have the same activity when measured by the Phadebas and the G7-pNG assays, is the Bacillus licheniformis alpha-amylase sold by Novozymes NS under the tradename Termamyl®, which has the sequence of SEQ ID NO: 3.
  • the reference alpha-amylase has a ratio of 1 when measuring the activity by the Phadebas assay relative to the activity measured by the G7-pNP assay.
  • the ratio of activity on insoluble substrate to activity on soluble substrate is determined by measuring the activities on the two particular selected substrates and calculating the ratio.
  • the ratio is at least 1.5 fold higher than for the calcium-insensitive alpha-amylase, e.g., at least 2 fold higher, at least 2.5 fold higher and at least 3 fold higher.
  • the B. circulans alpha-amylase having the amino acid sequence of SEQ ID NO: 13 was found to have a ratio of approximately 0.014.
  • the alpha-amylases of the invention may comprise one or more substitutions, insertions and/or deletions known in the art to improve the properties of alpha-amylases.
  • oxidizable amino acid residues may be substituted with a non-oxidizable amino acid residue in order to improve the stability of the enzyme under oxidizing conditions, e.g., in the presence of bleach, in accordance with the teachings of WO 94/02597 and WO 94/18314, which are incorporated herein by reference.
  • the variants of the present invention preferably consist of 481 to 515, 481 to 493, or 481 to 486 amino acids.
  • the present invention also relates to methods for obtaining a variant having alpha-amylase activity, comprising: (a) introducing into a parent alpha-amylase a substitution at one or more (several) positions corresponding to positions 8, 52, 53, 59, 91, 220, 224, 242, 244, 245, 282, 284, 301, 303, 304, 307, 348, 386, 388, 407, 430, 432, and 459, wherein the variant has alpha-amylase activity; and (b) recovering the variant.
  • the variants can be prepared according to any mutagenesis procedure known in the art, such as site-directed mtagenesis, synthetic gene construction, semi-synthetic gene construction, random mutagenesis, shuffling, etc.
  • Site-directed mutagenesis is a technique in which one or more (several) mutations are created at a defined site in a polynucleotide molecule encoding the parent alpha-amylase.
  • the technique can be performed in vitro or in vivo.
  • Synthetic gene construction entails in vitro synthesis of a designed polynucleotide molecule to encode a polypeptide molecule of interest. Gene synthesis can be performed utilizing a number of techniques, such as the multiplex microchip-based technology described by Tian et al., 2004 , Nature 432: 1050-1054, and similar technologies wherein olgionucleotides are synthesized and assembled upon photo-programable microfluidic chips.
  • Site-directed mutagenesis can be accomplished in vitro by PCR involving the use of oligonucleotide primers containing the desired mutation. Site-directed mutagenesis can also be performed in vitro by cassette mutagenesis involving the cleavage by a restriction enzyme at a site in the plasmid comprising a polynucleotide encoding the parent alpha-amylase and subsequent ligation of an oligonucleotide containing the mutation in the polynucleotide. Usually the restriction enzyme that digests at the plasmid and the oligonucleotide is the same, permitting sticky ends of the plasmid and insert to ligate to one another.
  • Site-directed mutagenesis can be accomplished in vivo by methods known in the art. See, for example, U.S. Patent Application Publication No. 2004/0171154; Storici et al., 2001 , Nature Biotechnology 19: 773-776; Kren et al., 1998 , Nat. Med. 4: 285-290; and Calissano and Macino, 1996 , Fungal Genet. Newslett. 43: 15-16.
  • Any site-directed mutagenesis procedure can be used in the present invention.
  • Single or multiple amino acid substitutions, deletions, and/or insertions can be made and tested using known methods of mutagenesis, recombination, and/or shuffling, followed by a relevant screening procedure, such as those disclosed by Reidhaar-Olson and Sauer, 1988 , Science 241: 53-57; Bowie and Sauer, 1989 , Proc. Natl. Acad. Sci. USA 86: 2152-2156; WO 95/17413; or WO 95/22625.
  • Other methods that can be used include error-prone PCR, phage display (e.g., Lowman et al., 1991 , Biochemistry 30: 10832-10837; U.S. Pat. No. 5,223,409; WO 92/06204) and region-directed mutagenesis (Derbyshire et al., 1986 , Gene 46: 145; Ner et al., 1988 , DNA 7: 127).
  • Mutagenesis/shuffling methods can be combined with high-throughput, automated screening methods to detect activity of cloned, mutagenized polypeptides expressed by host cells.
  • Mutagenized DNA molecules that encode active polypeptides can be recovered from the host cells and rapidly sequenced using standard methods in the art. These methods allow the rapid determination of the importance of individual amino acid residues in a polypeptide of interest.
  • Semi-synthetic gene construction is accomplished by combining aspects of synthetic gene construction, and/or site-directed mutagenesis, and/or random mutagenesis, and/or shuffling.
  • Semi-synthetic construction is typified by a process utilizing polynucleotide fragments that are synthesized, in combination with PCR techniques. Defined regions of genes may thus be synthesized de novo, while other regions may be amplified using site-specific mutagenic primers, while yet other regions may be subjected to error-prone PCR or non-error prone PCR amplification. Polynucleotide fragments may then be shuffled.
  • the present invention also relates to isolated polynucleotides that encode any of the variants of the present invention.
  • the present invention also relates to nucleic acid constructs comprising a polynucleotide encoding a variant of the present invention operably linked to one or more (several) control sequences that direct the expression of the coding sequence in a suitable host cell under conditions compatible with the control sequences.
  • An isolated polynucleotide encoding a variant may be manipulated in a variety of ways to provide for expression of the variant. Manipulation of the polynucleotide prior to its insertion into a vector may be desirable or necessary depending on the expression vector. The techniques for modifying polynucleotides utilizing recombinant DNA methods are well known in the art.
  • the control sequence may be a promoter sequence, which is recognized by a host cell for expression of the polynucleotide.
  • the promoter sequence contains transcriptional control sequences that mediate the expression of the variant.
  • the promoter may be any nucleic acid sequence that shows transcriptional activity in the host cell including mutant, truncated, and hybrid promoters, and may be obtained from genes encoding extracellular or intracellular polypeptides either homologous or heterologous to the host cell.
  • suitable promoters for directing the transcription of the nucleic acid constructs of the present invention are the promoters obtained from the Bacillus amyloliquefaciens alpha-amylase gene (amyQ), Bacillus licheniformis alpha-amylase gene (amyL), Bacillus licheniformis penicillinase gene (penP), Bacillus stearothermophilus maltogenic amylase gene (amyM), Bacillus subtilis levansucrase gene (sacB), Bacillus subtilis xylA and xylB genes, E.
  • Bacillus amyloliquefaciens alpha-amylase gene as Bacillus amyloliquefaciens alpha-amylase gene (amyQ), Bacillus licheniformis alpha-amylase gene (amyL), Bacillus licheniformis penicillinase gene (penP), Bacillus stearothermophilus maltogenic amylase gene (
  • promoters for directing the transcription of the nucleic acid constructs of the present invention in a filamentous fungal host cell are promoters obtained from the genes for Aspergillus nidulans acetamidase, Aspergillus niger neutral alpha-amylase, Aspergillus niger acid stable alpha-amylase, Aspergillus niger or Aspergillus awamori glucoamylase (glaA), Aspergillus oryzae TAKA amylase, Aspergillus oryzae alkaline protease, Aspergillus oryzae triose phosphate isomerase, Fusarium oxysporum trypsin-like protease (WO 96/00787), Fusarium venenatum amyloglucosidase (WO 00/56900), Fusarium venenatum Dana (WO 00/56900), Fusarium venenatum Quinn
  • useful promoters are obtained from the genes for Saccharomyces cerevisiae enolase (ENO-1), Saccharomyces cerevisiae galactokinase (GAL1), Saccharomyces cerevisiae alcohol dehydrogenase/glyceraldehyde-3-phosphate dehydrogenase (ADH1, ADH2/GAP), Saccharomyces cerevisiae triose phosphate isomerase (TPI), Saccharomyces cerevisiae metallothionein (CUP1), and Saccharomyces cerevisiae 3-phosphoglycerate kinase.
  • ENO-1 Saccharomyces cerevisiae enolase
  • GAL1 Saccharomyces cerevisiae galactokinase
  • ADH1, ADH2/GAP Saccharomyces cerevisiae triose phosphate isomerase
  • TPI Saccharomyces cerevisiae metallothionein
  • the control sequence may also be a suitable transcription terminator sequence, which is recognized by a host cell to terminate transcription.
  • the terminator sequence is operably linked to the 3′-terminus of the polynucleotide encoding the variant. Any terminator that is functional in the host cell may be used in the present invention.
  • Preferred terminators for filamentous fungal host cells are obtained from the genes for Aspergillus nidulans anthranilate synthase, Aspergillus niger alpha-glucosidase, Aspergillus niger glucoamylase, Aspergillus oryzae TAKA amylase, and Fusarium oxysporum trypsin-like protease.
  • Preferred terminators for yeast host cells are obtained from the genes for Saccharomyces cerevisiae enolase, Saccharomyces cerevisiae cytochrome C (CYC1), and Saccharomyces cerevisiae glyceraldehyde-3-phosphate dehydrogenase.
  • Other useful terminators for yeast host cells are described by Romanos et al., 1992, supra.
  • the control sequence may also be a suitable leader sequence, a nontranslated region of an mRNA that is important for translation by the host cell.
  • the leader sequence is operably linked to the 5′-terminus of the polynucleotide encoding the variant. Any leader sequence that is functional in the host cell may be used in the present invention.
  • Preferred leaders for filamentous fungal host cells are obtained from the genes for Aspergillus oryzae TAKA amylase and Aspergillus nidulans triose phosphate isomerase.
  • Suitable leaders for yeast host cells are obtained from the genes for Saccharomyces cerevisiae enolase (ENO-1), Saccharomyces cerevisiae 3-phosphoglycerate kinase, Saccharomyces cerevisiae alpha-factor, and Saccharomyces cerevisiae alcohol dehydrogenase/glyceraldehyde-3-phosphate dehydrogenase (ADH2/GAP).
  • ENO-1 Saccharomyces cerevisiae enolase
  • Saccharomyces cerevisiae 3-phosphoglycerate kinase Saccharomyces cerevisiae alpha-factor
  • Saccharomyces cerevisiae alcohol dehydrogenase/glyceraldehyde-3-phosphate dehydrogenase ADH2/GAP
  • the control sequence may also be a polyadenylation sequence, a sequence operably linked to the 3′-terminus of the polypeptide-encoding sequence and, when transcribed, is recognized by the host cell as a signal to add polyadenosine residues to transcribed mRNA. Any polyadenylation sequence that is functional in the host cell may be used in the present invention.
  • Preferred polyadenylation sequences for filamentous fungal host cells are obtained from the genes for Aspergillus nidulans anthranilate synthase, Aspergillus niger glucoamylase, Aspergillus niger alpha-glucosidase, Aspergillus oryzae TAKA amylase, and Fusarium oxysporum trypsin-like protease.
  • yeast host cells Useful polyadenylation sequences for yeast host cells are described by Guo and Sherman, 1995 , Mol. Cellular Biol. 15: 5983-5990.
  • the control sequence may also be a signal peptide coding region that codes for an amino acid sequence linked to the amino terminus of a variant and directs the encoded polypeptide into the cell's secretory pathway.
  • the 5′-end of the coding sequence of the polynucleotide may inherently contain a signal peptide coding region naturally linked in translation reading frame with the segment of the coding region that encodes the secreted variant.
  • the 5′-end of the coding sequence may contain a signal peptide coding region that is foreign to the coding sequence.
  • the foreign signal peptide coding region may be required where the coding sequence does not naturally contain a signal peptide coding region.
  • the foreign signal peptide coding region may simply replace the natural signal peptide coding region in order to enhance secretion of the variant.
  • any signal peptide coding region that directs the expressed polypeptide into the secretory pathway of a host cell may be used in the present invention.
  • Effective signal peptide coding sequences for bacterial host cells are the signal peptide coding sequences obtained from the genes for Bacillus NCIB 11837 maltogenic amylase, Bacillus licheniformis subtilisin, Bacillus licheniformis beta-lactamase, Bacillus stearothermophilus alpha-amylase, Bacillus stearothermophilus neutral proteases (nprT, nprS, nprM), and Bacillus subtilis prsA. Further signal peptides are described by Simonen and Palva, 1993 , Microbiological Reviews 57: 109-137.
  • Effective signal peptide coding sequences for filamentous fungal host cells are the signal peptide coding sequences obtained from the genes for Aspergillus niger neutral amylase, Aspergillus niger glucoamylase, Aspergillus oryzae TAKA amylase, Humicola insolens cellulase, Humicola insolens endoglucanase V, Humicola lanuginosa lipase, and Rhizomucor miehei aspartic proteinase.
  • Useful signal peptides for yeast host cells are obtained from the genes for Saccharomyces cerevisiae alpha-factor and Saccharomyces cerevisiae invertase. Other useful signal peptide coding sequences are described by Romanos et al., 1992, supra.
  • the control sequence may also be a propeptide coding region that codes for an amino acid sequence positioned at the amino terminus of a variant.
  • the resultant polypeptide is known as a proenzyme or propolypeptide (or a zymogen in some cases).
  • a propolypeptide is generally inactive and can be converted to a mature active polypeptide by catalytic or autocatalytic cleavage of the propeptide from the propolypeptide.
  • the propeptide coding region may be obtained from the genes for Myceliophthora thermophila laccase (WO 95/33836), Rhizomucor miehei aspartic proteinase, and Saccharomyces cerevisiae alpha-factor.
  • the propeptide region is positioned next to the amino terminus of a polypeptide and the signal peptide region is positioned next to the amino terminus of the propeptide region.
  • regulatory systems that allow the regulation of the expression of the variant relative to the growth of the host cell.
  • regulatory systems are those that cause the expression of the gene to be turned on or off in response to a chemical or physical stimulus, including the presence of a regulatory compound.
  • Regulatory systems in prokaryotic systems include the lac, tac, and trp operator systems.
  • yeast the ADH2 system or GAL1 system may be used.
  • filamentous fungi the Aspergillus niger glucoamylase promoter, Aspergillus oryzae TAKA alpha-amylase promoter, and Aspergillus oryzae glucoamylase promoter may be used as regulatory sequences.
  • regulatory sequences are those that allow for gene amplification.
  • these regulatory sequences include the dihydrofolate reductase gene that is amplified in the presence of methotrexate, and the metallothionein genes that are amplified with heavy metals.
  • the polynucleotide encoding the variant would be operably linked with the regulatory sequence.
  • the present invention also relates to recombinant expression vectors comprising a polynucleotide encoding a variant of the present invention, a promoter, and transcriptional and translational stop signals.
  • the various nucleotide and control sequences described above may be joined together to produce a recombinant expression vector that may include one or more (several) convenient restriction sites to allow for insertion or substitution of the polynucleotide encoding the variant at such sites.
  • the polynucleotide may be expressed by inserting the polynucleotide or a nucleic acid construct comprising the polynucleotide into an appropriate vector for expression.
  • the coding sequence is located in the vector so that the coding sequence is operably linked with the appropriate control sequences for expression.
  • the recombinant expression vector may be any vector (e.g., a plasmid or virus) that can be conveniently subjected to recombinant DNA procedures and can bring about the expression of the polynucleotide.
  • the choice of the vector will typically depend on the compatibility of the vector with the host cell into which the vector is to be introduced.
  • the vectors may be linear or closed circular plasmids.
  • the vector may be an autonomously replicating vector, i.e., a vector that exists as an extrachromosomal entity, the replication of which is independent of chromosomal replication, e.g., a plasmid, an extrachromosomal element, a minichromosome, or an artificial chromosome.
  • the vector may contain any means for assuring self-replication.
  • the vector may be one that, when introduced into the host cell, is integrated into the genome and replicated together with the chromosome(s) into which it has been integrated.
  • a single vector or plasmid or two or more vectors or plasmids that together contain the total DNA to be introduced into the genome of the host cell, or a transposon may be used.
  • the vectors of the present invention preferably contain one or more (several) selectable markers that permit easy selection of transformed, transfected, transduced, or the like cells.
  • a selectable marker is a gene the product of which provides for biocide or viral resistance, resistance to heavy metals, prototrophy to auxotrophs, and the like.
  • bacterial selectable markers are the dal genes from Bacillus subtilis or Bacillus licheniformis , or markers that confer antibiotic resistance such as ampicillin, kanamycin, chloramphenicol, or tetracycline resistance.
  • Suitable markers for yeast host cells are ADE2, HIS3, LEU2, LYS2, MET3, TRP1, and URA3.
  • Selectable markers for use in a filamentous fungal host cell include, but are not limited to, amdS (acetamidase), argB (ornithine carbamoyltransferase), bar (phosphinothricin acetyltransferase), hph (hygromycin phosphotransferase), niaD (nitrate reductase), pyrG (orotidine-5′-phosphate decarboxylase), sC (sulfate adenyltransferase), and trpC (anthranilate synthase), as well as equivalents thereof.
  • Preferred for use in an Aspergillus cell are the amdS and pyrG genes of Aspergillus nidulans or Aspergillus oryzae and the bar gene of Streptomyces hygroscopicus.
  • the vectors of the present invention preferably contain an element(s) that permits integration of the vector into the host cell's genome or autonomous replication of the vector in the cell independent of the genome.
  • the vector may rely on the polynucleotide's sequence encoding the polypeptide or any other element of the vector for integration into the genome by homologous or non-homologous recombination.
  • the vector may contain additional nucleotide sequences for directing integration by homologous recombination into the genome of the host cell at a precise location(s) in the chromosome(s).
  • the integrational elements should preferably contain a sufficient number of nucleic acids, such as 100 to 10,000 base pairs, preferably 400 to 10,000 base pairs, and most preferably 800 to 10,000 base pairs, which have a high degree of identity to the corresponding target sequence to enhance the probability of homologous recombination.
  • the integrational elements may be any sequence that is homologous with the target sequence in the genome of the host cell.
  • the integrational elements may be non-encoding or encoding nucleotide sequences.
  • the vector may be integrated into the genome of the host cell by non-homologous recombination.
  • the vector may further comprise an origin of replication enabling the vector to replicate autonomously in the host cell in question.
  • the origin of replication may be any plasmid replicator mediating autonomous replication that functions in a cell.
  • the term “origin of replication” or “plasmid replicator” is defined herein as a nucleotide sequence that enables a plasmid or vector to replicate in vivo.
  • bacterial origins of replication are the origins of replication of plasmids pBR322, pUC19, pACYC177, and pACYC184 permitting replication in E. coli , and pUB110, pE194, pTA1060, and pAMR1 permitting replication in Bacillus.
  • origins of replication for use in a yeast host cell are the 2 micron origin of replication, ARS1, ARS4, the combination of ARS1 and CEN3, and the combination of ARS4 and CEN6.
  • AMA1 and ANSI examples of origins of replication useful in a filamentous fungal cell are AMA1 and ANSI (Gems et al., 1991 , Gene 98: 61-67; Cullen et al., 1987 , Nucleic Acids Research 15: 9163-9175; WO 00/24883). Isolation of the AMA1 gene and construction of plasmids or vectors comprising the gene can be accomplished according to the methods disclosed in WO 00/24883.
  • More than one copy of a polynucleotide of the present invention may be inserted into the host cell to increase production of an alpha-amylase variant.
  • An increase in the copy number of the polynucleotide can be obtained by integrating at least one additional copy of the sequence into the host cell genome or by including an amplifiable selectable marker gene with the polynucleotide where cells containing amplified copies of the selectable marker gene, and thereby additional copies of the polynucleotide, can be selected for by cultivating the cells in the presence of the appropriate selectable agent.
  • the present invention also relates to recombinant host cells, comprising a polynucleotide encoding a variant, which are advantageously used in the recombinant production of the variant.
  • a vector comprising a polynucleotide of the present invention is introduced into a host cell so that the vector is maintained as a chromosomal integrant or as a self-replicating extra-chromosomal vector as described earlier.
  • the choice of a host cell will to a large extent depend upon the gene encoding the polypeptide and its source.
  • the host cell may be any cell useful in the recombinant production of a variant, e.g., a prokaryote or a eukaryote.
  • the prokaryotic host cell may be any gram-positive bacterium or gram-negative bacterium.
  • Gram-positive bacteria include, but are not limited to, Bacillus, Clostridium, Enterococcus, Geobacillus, Lactobacillus, Lactococcus, Oceanobacillus, Staphylococcus, Streptococcus , and Streptomyces .
  • Gram-negative bacteria include, but are not limited to, Campylobacter, E. coli, Flavobacterium, Fusobacterium, Helicobacter, Ilyobacter, Neisseria, Pseudomonas, Salmonella , and Ureaplasma.
  • the bacterial host cell may be any Bacillus cell, including, but not limited to, Bacillus alkalophilus, Bacillus amyloliquefaciens, Bacillus brevis, Bacillus circulans, Bacillus clausii, Bacillus coagulans, Bacillus firmus, Bacillus lautus, Bacillus lentus, Bacillus licheniformis, Bacillus megaterium, Bacillus pumilus, Bacillus stearothermophilus, Bacillus subtilis , and Bacillus thuringiensis cells.
  • Bacillus alkalophilus Bacillus amyloliquefaciens
  • Bacillus brevis Bacillus circulans
  • Bacillus clausii Bacillus coagulans
  • Bacillus firmus Bacillus lautus
  • Bacillus lentus Bacillus licheniformis
  • Bacillus megaterium Bacillus pumilus
  • Bacillus stearothermophilus Bacillus subtilis
  • the bacterial host cell may also be any Streptococcus cell, including, but not limited to, Streptococcus equisimilis, Streptococcus pyogenes, Streptococcus uberis , and Streptococcus equi subsp. Zooepidemicus cells.
  • the bacterial host cell may also be any Streptomyces cell, including, but not limited to, Streptomyces achromogenes, Streptomyces avermitilis, Streptomyces coelicolor, Streptomyces griseus , and Streptomyces lividans cells.
  • the introduction of DNA into a Bacillus cell may, for instance, be effected by protoplast transformation (see, e.g., Chang and Cohen, 1979 , Mol. Gen. Genet. 168: 111-115), by using competent cells (see, e.g., Young and Spizizen, 1961 , J. Bacteriol. 81: 823-829, or Dubnau and Davidoff-Abelson, 1971 , J. Mol. Biol. 56: 209-221), by electroporation (see, e.g., Shigekawa and Dower, 1988 , Biotechniques 6: 742-751), or by conjugation (see, e.g., Koehler and Thorne, 1987 , J. Bacteriol.
  • the introduction of DNA into an E coli cell may, for instance, be effected by protoplast transformation (see, e.g., Hanahan, 1983 , J. Mol. Biol. 166: 557-580) or electroporation (see, e.g., Dower et al., 1988 , Nucleic Acids Res. 16: 6127-6145).
  • the introduction of DNA into a Streptomyces cell may, for instance, be effected by protoplast transformation and electroporation (see, e.g., Gong et al., 2004 , Folia Microbiol .
  • the introduction of DNA into a Streptococcus cell may, for instance, be effected by natural competence (see, e.g., Perry and Kuramitsu, 1981 , Infect. Immun. 32: 1295-1297), by protoplast transformation (see, e.g., Catt and Jollick, 1991 , Microbios 68: 189-2070, by electroporation (see, e.g., Buckley et al., 1999 , Appl. Environ. Microbiol. 65: 3800-3804) or by conjugation (see, e.g., Clewell, 1981 , Microbiol. Rev. 45: 409-436).
  • any method known in the art for introducing DNA into a host cell can be used.
  • the host cell may also be a eukaryote, such as a mammalian, insect, plant, or fungal cell.
  • the host cell is a fungal cell.
  • “Fungi” as used herein includes the phyla Ascomycota, Basidiomycota, Chytridiomycota, and Zygomycota as well as the Oomycota and all mitosporic fungi (as defined by Hawksworth et al., In, Ainsworth and Bisby's Dictionary of The Fungi, 8th edition, 1995, CAB International, University Press, Cambridge, UK).
  • the fungal host cell is a yeast cell.
  • yeast as used herein includes ascosporogenous yeast (Endomycetales), basidiosporogenous yeast, and yeast belonging to the Fungi Imperfecti (Blastomycetes). Since the classification of yeast may change in the future, for the purposes of this invention, yeast shall be defined as described in Biology and Activities of Yeast (Skinner, F. A., Passmore, S. M., and Davenport, R. R., eds, Soc. App. Bacteriol. Symposium Series No. 9, 1980).
  • the yeast host cell is a Candida, Hansenula, Kluyveromyces, Pichia, Saccharomyces, Schizosaccharomyces , or Yarrowia cell.
  • the yeast host cell is a Kluyveromyces lactis, Saccharomyces carlsbergensis, Saccharomyces cerevisiae, Saccharomyces diastaticus, Saccharomyces douglasii, Saccharomyces kluyveri, Saccharomyces norbensis, Saccharomyces oviformis , or Yarrowia lipolytica cell.
  • the fungal host cell is a filamentous fungal cell.
  • “Filamentous fungi” include all filamentous forms of the subdivision Eumycota and Oomycota (as defined by Hawksworth et al., 1995, supra).
  • the filamentous fungi are generally characterized by a mycelial wall composed of chitin, cellulose, glucan, chitosan, mannan, and other complex polysaccharides. Vegetative growth is by hyphal elongation and carbon catabolism is obligatory aerobic. In contrast, vegetative growth by yeasts such as Saccharomyces cerevisiae is by budding of a unicellular thallus and carbon catabolism may be fermentative.
  • the filamentous fungal host cell is an Acremonium, Aspergillus, Aureobasidium, Bjerkandera, Ceriporiopsis, Chrysosporium, Coprinus, Coriolus, Cryptococcus, Filibasidium, Fusarium, Humicola, Magnaporthe, Mucor, Myceliophthora, Neocallimastix, Neurospora, Paecilomyces, Penicillium, Phanerochaete, Phlebia, Piromyces, Pleurotus, Schizophyllum, Talaromyces, Thermoascus, Thielavia, Tolypocladium, Trametes , or Trichoderma cell.
  • the filamentous fungal host cell is an Aspergillus awamori, Aspergillus foetidus, Aspergillus fumigatus, Aspergillus japonicus, Aspergillus nidulans, Aspergillus niger, Aspergillus oryzae, Bjerkandera adusta, Ceriporiopsis aneirina, Ceriporiopsis caregiea, Ceriporiopsis gilvescens, Ceriporiopsis pannocinta, Ceriporiopsis rivulosa, Ceriporiopsis subrufa, Ceriporiopsis subvermispora, Chrysosporium inops, Chrysosporium keratinophilum, Chrysosporium lucknowense, Chrysosporium merdarium, Chrysosporium pannicola, Chrysosporium queenslandicum, Chrysosporium tropicum, Chrysosporium zona
  • Fungal cells may be transformed by a process involving protoplast formation, transformation of the protoplasts, and regeneration of the cell wall in a manner known per se. Suitable procedures for transformation of Aspergillus and Trichoderma host cells are described in EP 238023 and Yelton et al., 1984 , Proc. Natl. Acad. Sci. USA 81: 1470-1474. Suitable methods for transforming Fusarium species are described by Malardier et al., 1989 , Gene 78: 147-156, and WO 96/00787. Yeast may be transformed using the procedures described by Becker and Guarente, In Abelson, J. N. and Simon, M.
  • the present invention also relates to methods of producing a variant, comprising: (a) cultivating a host cell of the present invention under conditions suitable for the expression of the variant; and (b) recovering the variant from the cultivation medium.
  • the host cells are cultivated in a nutrient medium suitable for production of the variant using methods known in the art.
  • the cell may be cultivated by shake flask cultivation, or small-scale or large-scale fermentation (including continuous, batch, fed-batch, or solid state fermentations) in laboratory or industrial fermentors performed in a suitable medium and under conditions allowing the polypeptide to be expressed and/or isolated.
  • the cultivation takes place in a suitable nutrient medium comprising carbon and nitrogen sources and inorganic salts, using procedures known in the art. Suitable media are available from commercial suppliers or may be prepared according to published compositions (e.g., in catalogues of the American Type Culture Collection). If the polypeptide is secreted into the nutrient medium, the polypeptide can be recovered directly from the medium. If the polypeptide is not secreted, it can be recovered from cell lysates.
  • the variant is not recovered, but rather a host cell of the present invention expressing a variant is used as a source of the variant.
  • the variant may be detected using methods known in the art that are specific for the variants. These detection methods may include use of specific antibodies, formation of an enzyme product, or disappearance of an enzyme substrate. For example, an enzyme assay may be used to determine the activity of the polypeptide as described herein in the Examples.
  • the variant may be recovered by methods known in the art.
  • the polypeptide may be recovered from the nutrient medium by conventional procedures including, but not limited to, collection, centrifugation, filtration, extraction, spray-drying, evaporation, or precipitation.
  • a variant of the present invention may be purified by a variety of procedures known in the art including, but not limited to, chromatography (e.g., ion exchange, affinity, hydrophobic, chromatofocusing, and size exclusion), electrophoretic procedures (e.g., preparative isoelectric focusing), differential solubility (e.g., ammonium sulfate precipitation), SDS-PAGE, or extraction (see, e.g., Protein Purification , J.-C. Janson and Lars Ryden, editors, VCH Publishers, New York, 1989) to obtain substantially pure variants.
  • chromatography e.g., ion exchange, affinity, hydrophobic, chromatofocusing, and size exclusion
  • electrophoretic procedures e.g., preparative isoelectric focusing
  • differential solubility e.g., ammonium sulfate precipitation
  • SDS-PAGE or extraction
  • the present invention also relates to plants, e.g., a transgenic plant, plant part, or plant cell, comprising an isolated polynucleotide encoding a variant of the present invention so as to express and produce the variant in recoverable quantities.
  • the variant may be recovered from the plant or plant part.
  • the plant or plant part containing the recombinant variant may be used as such for improving the quality of a food or feed, e.g., improving nutritional value, palatability, and rheological properties, or to destroy an antinutritive factor.
  • the transgenic plant can be dicotyledonous (a dicot) or monocotyledonous (a monocot).
  • monocot plants are grasses, such as meadow grass (blue grass, Poa ), forage grass such as Festuca, Lolium , temperate grass, such as Agrostis , and cereals, e.g., wheat, oats, rye, barley, rice, sorghum, and maize (corn).
  • dicot plants are tobacco, legumes, such as lupins, potato, sugar beet, pea, bean and soybean, and cruciferous plants (family Brassicaceae), such as cauliflower, rape seed, and the closely related model organism Arabidopsis thaliana.
  • plant parts are stem, callus, leaves, root, fruits, seeds, and tubers as well as the individual tissues comprising these parts, e.g., epidermis, mesophyll, parenchyme, vascular tissues, meristems.
  • Specific plant cell compartments such as chloroplasts, apoplasts, mitochondria, vacuoles, peroxisomes and cytoplasm are also considered to be a plant part.
  • any plant cell whatever the tissue origin, is considered to be a plant part.
  • plant parts such as specific tissues and cells isolated to facilitate the utilization of the invention are also considered plant parts, e.g., embryos, endosperms, aleurone and seed coats.
  • the transgenic plant or plant cell expressing a variant of the present invention may be constructed in accordance with methods known in the art.
  • the plant or plant cell is constructed by incorporating one or more (several) expression constructs encoding the variant into the plant host genome or chloroplast genome and propagating the resulting modified plant or plant cell into a transgenic plant or plant cell.
  • the expression construct is conveniently a nucleic acid construct that comprises a polynucleotide encoding the variant operably linked with appropriate regulatory sequences required for expression of the nucleotide sequence in the plant or plant part of choice.
  • the expression construct may comprise a selectable marker useful for identifying host cells into which the expression construct has been integrated and DNA sequences necessary for introduction of the construct into the plant in question (the latter depends on the DNA introduction method to be used).
  • regulatory sequences such as promoter and terminator sequences and optionally signal or transit sequences
  • expression of the gene encoding a variant may be constitutive or inducible, or may be developmental, stage or tissue specific, and the gene product may be targeted to a specific tissue or plant part such as seeds or leaves.
  • Regulatory sequences are, for example, described by Tague et al., 1988 , Plant Physiol. 86: 506.
  • the 35S-CaMV, the maize ubiquitin 1, and the rice actin 1 promoter may be used (Franck et al., 1980, Cell 21: 285-294; Christensen et al., 1992 , Plant Mol. Biol. 18: 675-689; Zhang et al., 1991 , Plant Cell 3: 1155-1165).
  • Organ-specific promoters may be, for example, a promoter from storage sink tissues such as seeds, potato tubers, and fruits (Edwards and Coruzzi, 1990 , Ann. Rev. Genet. 24: 275-303), or from metabolic sink tissues such as meristems (Ito et al., 1994 , Plant Mol. Biol.
  • a seed specific promoter such as the glutelin, prolamin, globulin, or albumin promoter from rice (Wu et al., 1998 , Plant Cell Physiol. 39: 885-889), a Vicia faba promoter from the legumin B4 and the unknown seed protein gene from Vicia faba (Conrad et al., 1998 , J. Plant Physiol. 152: 708-711), a promoter from a seed oil body protein (Chen et al., 1998 , Plant Cell Physiol.
  • the storage protein napA promoter from Brassica napus , or any other seed specific promoter known in the art, e.g., as described in WO 91/14772.
  • the promoter may be a leaf specific promoter such as the rbcs promoter from rice or tomato (Kyozuka et al., 1993 , Plant Physiol. 102: 991-1000, the chlorella virus adenine methyltransferase gene promoter (Mitra and Higgins, 1994 , Plant Mol. Biol. 26: 85-93), or the aldP gene promoter from rice (Kagaya et al., 1995 , Mol. Gen. Genet.
  • the promoter may inducible by abiotic treatments such as temperature, drought, or alterations in salinity or induced by exogenously applied substances that activate the promoter, e.g., ethanol, oestrogens, plant hormones such as ethylene, abscisic acid, and gibberellic acid, and heavy metals.
  • a promoter enhancer element may also be used to achieve higher expression of a polypeptide of the present invention in the plant.
  • the promoter enhancer element may be an intron that is placed between the promoter and the nucleotide sequence encoding a polypeptide of the present invention.
  • Xu et al., 1993, supra disclose the use of the first intron of the rice actin 1 gene to enhance expression.
  • the selectable marker gene and any other parts of the expression construct may be chosen from those available in the art.
  • the nucleic acid construct is incorporated into the plant genome according to conventional techniques known in the art, including Agrobacterium -mediated transformation, virus-mediated transformation, microinjection, particle bombardment, biolistic transformation, and electroporation (Gasser et al., 1990 , Science 244: 1293; Potrykus, 1990 , Bio/Technology 8: 535; Shimamoto et al., 1989 , Nature 338: 274).
  • Agrobacterium tumefaciens -mediated gene transfer is the method of choice for generating transgenic dicots (for a review, see Hooykas and Schilperoort, 1992 , Plant Mol. Biol. 19: 15-38) and can also be used for transforming monocots, although other transformation methods are often used for these plants.
  • the method of choice for generating transgenic monocots is particle bombardment (microscopic gold or tungsten particles coated with the transforming DNA) of embryonic calli or developing embryos (Christou, 1992 , Plant J. 2: 275-281; Shimamoto, 1994 , Curr. Opin. Biotechnol.
  • the transformants comprising the expression construct are selected and regenerated into whole plants according to methods well known in the art.
  • the transformation procedure is designed for the selective elimination of selection genes either during regeneration or in the following generations by using, for example, co-transformation with two separate T-DNA constructs or site specific excision of the selection gene by a specific recombinase.
  • transgenic plants may be made by crossing a plant having a construct of the present invention to a second plant lacking the construct.
  • a construct encoding a variant or a portion thereof can be introduced into a particular plant variety by crossing, without the need for ever directly transforming a plant of that given variety. Therefore, the present invention not only encompasses a plant directly regenerated from cells which have been transformed in accordance with the present invention, but also the progeny of such plants.
  • progeny may refer to the offspring of any generation of a parent plant prepared in accordance with the present invention.
  • Such progeny may include a DNA construct prepared in accordance with the present invention, or a portion of a DNA construct prepared in accordance with the present invention.
  • Crossing results in a transgene of the present invention being introduced into a plant line by cross pollinating a starting line with a donor plant line that includes a transgene of the present invention.
  • Non-limiting examples of such steps are further articulated in U.S. Pat. No. 7,151,204.
  • Plants may be generated through a process of backcross conversion.
  • plants include plants referred to as a backcross converted genotype, line, inbred, or hybrid.
  • Genetic markers may be used to assist in the introgression of one or more transgenes of the invention from one genetic background into another. Marker assisted selection offers advantages relative to conventional breeding in that it can be used to avoid errors caused by phenotypic variations. Further, genetic markers may provide data regarding the relative degree of elite germplasm in the individual progeny of a particular cross. For example, when a plant with a desired trait which otherwise has a non-agronomically desirable genetic background is crossed to an elite parent, genetic markers may be used to select progeny which not only possess the trait of interest, but also have a relatively large proportion of the desired germplasm. In this way, the number of generations required to introgress one or more traits into a particular genetic background is minimized.
  • the present invention also relates to methods of producing a variant of the present invention comprising: (a) cultivating a transgenic plant or a plant cell comprising a polynucleotide encoding the variant under conditions conducive for production of the variant; and (b) recovering the variant.
  • the present invention also relates to compositions comprising an alpha-amylase variant and at least one additional enzyme.
  • the additional enzyme(s) may be selected from the group consisting of beta-amylase, cellulase (beta-glucosidase, cellobiohydrolase and endoglucanase), glucoamylase, hemicellulsae (e.g., xylanase), isoamylase, isomerase, lipase, phytase, protease, pullulanase, and/or other enzymes useful in a commercial process in conjunction with an alpha-amylase.
  • the additional enzyme may also be a second alpha-amylase.
  • Such enzymes are known in the art in starch processing, sugar conversion, fermentations for alcohol and other useful end-products, commercial detergents and cleaning aids, stain removal, fabric treatment or desizing, and the like.
  • the variants of the present invention possess valuable properties allowing for a variety of industrial applications.
  • the variants may be used in detergents, in particular laundry detergent compositions and dishwashing detergent compositions, hard surface cleaning compositions, and for desizing textiles, fabrics or garments, production of pulp and paper, beer making, ethanol production, and starch conversion processes.
  • the alpha-amylase variants may be used for starch processes, in particular starch conversion, especially liquefaction of starch (see, e.g., U.S. Pat. No. 3,912,590, EP 252730 and EP 063909, WO 99/19467, and WO 96/28567, which are all hereby incorporated by reference). Also contemplated are compositions for starch conversion purposes, which may beside the variant of the invention also comprise an AMG, pullulanase, and other alpha-amylases.
  • variants are particularly useful in the production of sweeteners and ethanol (see, e.g., U.S. Pat. No. 5,231,017, which is hereby incorporated by reference), such as fuel, drinking and industrial ethanol, from starch or whole grains.
  • the variants may also be used for desizing of textiles, fabrics, and garments (see, e.g., WO 95/21247, U.S. Pat. No. 4,643,736, and EP 119920, which are incorporated herein by reference), beer making or brewing, and in pulp and paper production or related processes.
  • Native starch consists of microscopic granules, which are insoluble in water at room temperature. When an aqueous starch slurry is heated, the granules swell and eventually burst, dispersing the starch molecules into the solution. During this “gelatinization” process there is a dramatic increase in viscosity. As the solids level is 30-40% in a typical industrial process, the starch has to be thinned or “liquefied” so that it can be suitably processed. This reduction in viscosity is primarily attained by enzymatic degradation in current commercial practice.
  • the conversion process degrading starch to lower molecular weight carbohydrate components such as sugars or fat replacers includes a debranching step.
  • the starch is depolymerized.
  • a depolymerization process consists of, e.g., a pre-treatment step and two or three consecutive process steps, i.e., a liquefaction process, a saccharification process, and depending on the desired end-product, an optional isomerization process.
  • the dextrose syrup may be converted into fructose.
  • the pH is increased to a value in the range of 6-8, preferably pH 7.5, and the calcium is removed by ion exchange.
  • the dextrose syrup is then converted into high fructose syrup using, e.g., an immobilized glucose isomerase.
  • alcohol production from whole grain can be separated into 4 main steps: milling, liquefaction, saccharification, and fermentation.
  • the grain is milled in order to open up the structure and allow for further processing.
  • Two processes used are wet or dry milling. In dry milling, the whole kernel is milled and used in the remaining part of the process. Wet milling gives a very good separation of germ and meal (starch granules and protein) and is with a few exceptions applied at locations where there is a parallel production of syrups.
  • the starch granules are solubilized by hydrolysis to maltodextrins mostly of a DP higher than 4.
  • the hydrolysis may be carried out by acid treatment or enzymatically by an alpha-amylase. Acid hydrolysis is used on a limited basis.
  • the raw material can be milled whole grain or a side stream from starch processing.
  • the long-chained starch is degraded into branched and linear shorter units (maltodextrins) by an alpha-amylase.
  • Enzymatic liquefaction is generally carried out as a three-step hot slurry process. The slurry is heated to between 60-95° C. (e.g., 77-86° C., 80-85° C., or 83-85° C.) and the enzyme(s) is (are) added. The liquefaction process is carried out at 85° C. for 1-2 hours. The pH is generally between 5.5 and 6.2. In order to ensure optimal enzyme stability under these conditions, 1 mM of calcium is added (to provide about 40 ppm free calcium ions). After such treatment, the liquefied starch will have a “dextrose equivalent” (DE) of 10-15.
  • DE dedextrose equivalent
  • the slurry is subsequently jet-cooked at between 95-140° C., e.g., 105-125° C., cooled to 60-95° C. and more enzyme(s) is (are) added to obtain the final hydrolysis.
  • the liquefaction process is carried out at pH 4.5-6.5, typically at a pH between 5 and 6. Milled and liquefied grain is also known as mash.
  • Liquefied starch-containing material is saccharified in the presence of saccharifying enzymes such as glucoamylases.
  • the saccharification process may last for 12 hours to 120 hours (e.g., 12 to 90 hours, 12 to 60 hours and 12 to 48 hours).
  • simultaneous saccharification and fermentation a complete saccharification during fermentation referred to as simultaneous saccharification and fermentation (SSF).
  • the pH is usually between 4.2-4.8, e.g., 4.5.
  • SSF simultaneous saccharification and fermentation
  • maltodextrins produced during liquefaction are converted into dextrose by adding a glucoamylase and a debranching enzyme, such as an isoamylase (U.S. Pat. No. 4,335,208) or a pullulanase.
  • a glucoamylase U.S. Pat. No. 4,335,208
  • the temperature is lowered to 60° C., prior to the addition of a glucoamylase and debranching enzyme.
  • the saccharification process proceeds for 24-72 hours.
  • the pH Prior to addition of the saccharifying enzymes, the pH is reduced to below 4.5, while maintaining a high temperature (above 95° C.), to inactivate the liquefying alpha-amylase.
  • This process reduces the formation of short oligosaccharide called “panose precursors,” which cannot be hydrolyzed properly by the debranching enzyme.
  • panose precursors short oligosaccharide called “panose precursors,” which cannot be hydrolyzed properly by the debranching enzyme.
  • Normally, about 0.2-0.5% of the saccharification product is the branched trisaccharide panose (Glc p ⁇ 1-6Glc p ⁇ 1-4Glc), which cannot be degraded by a pullulanase.
  • active amylase from the liquefaction remains present during saccharification (i.e., no denaturing)
  • the amount of panose can be as high as 1-2%, which is highly undesirable since it lowers the saccharification yield significantly
  • Fermentable sugars e.g., dextrins, monosaccharides, particularly glucose
  • These fermentable sugars may be further purified and/or converted to useful sugar products.
  • the sugars may be used as a fermentation feedstock in a microbial fermentation process for producing end-products, such as alcohol (e.g., ethanol and butanol), organic acids (e.g., succinic acid and lactic acid), sugar alcohols (e.g., glycerol), ascorbic acid intermediates (e.g., gluconate, 2-keto-D-gluconate, 2,5-diketo-D-gluconate, and 2-keto-L-gulonic acid), amino acids (e.g., lysine), proteins (e.g., antibodies and fragment thereof).
  • alcohol e.g., ethanol and butanol
  • organic acids e.g., succinic acid and lactic acid
  • sugar alcohols e.g., glycerol
  • the fermentable sugars obtained during the liquefaction process steps are used to produce alcohol and particularly ethanol.
  • an SSF process is commonly used wherein the saccharifying enzymes and fermenting organisms (e.g., yeast) are added together and then carried out at a temperature of 30-40° C.
  • the organism used in fermentation will depend on the desired end-product. Typically, if ethanol is the desired end product yeast will be used as the fermenting organism.
  • the ethanol-producing microorganism is a yeast and specifically Saccharomyces such as strains of S. cerevisiae (U.S. Pat. No. 4,316,956).
  • S. cerevisiae are commercially available and these include but are not limited to FALI (Fleischmann's Yeast), SUPERSTART (Alltech), FERMIOL (DSM Specialties), RED STAR (Lesaffre) and Angel alcohol yeast (Angel Yeast Company, China).
  • the amount of starter yeast employed in the methods is an amount effective to produce a commercially significant amount of ethanol in a suitable amount of time, (e.g., to produce at least 10% ethanol from a substrate having between 25-40% DS in less than 72 hours).
  • Yeast cells are generally supplied in amounts of about 10 4 to about 10 12 , and preferably from about 10 7 to about 10 10 viable yeast count per mL of fermentation broth. After yeast is added to the mash, it is typically subjected to fermentation for about 24-96 hours, e.g., 35-60 hours.
  • the temperature is between about 26-34° C., typically at about 32° C., and the pH is from pH 3-6, e.g., around pH 4-5.
  • the fermentation may include, in addition to a fermenting microorganisms (e.g., yeast), nutrients, and additional enzymes, including phytases.
  • yeast e.g., yeast
  • additional enzymes including phytases.
  • fermentation end product including, e.g., glycerol, 1,3-propanediol, gluconate, 2-keto-D-gluconate, 2,5-diketo-D-gluconate, 2-keto-L-gulonic acid, succinic acid, lactic acid, amino acids, and derivatives thereof. More specifically when lactic acid is the desired end product, a Lactobacillus sp. ( L. casei ) may be used; when glycerol or 1,3-propanediol are the desired end-products E.
  • L. casei Lactobacillus sp.
  • Pantoea citrea may be used as the fermenting microorganism.
  • the above enumerated list are only examples and one skilled in the art will be aware of a number of fermenting microorganisms that may be used to obtain a desired end product.
  • the invention relates to processes for producing fermentation products from starch-containing material without gelatinization (i.e., without cooking) of the starch-containing material.
  • the fermentation product such as ethanol
  • a process of the invention includes saccharifying (e.g., milled) starch-containing material, e.g., granular starch, below the initial gelatinization temperature, preferably in the presence of alpha-amylase and/or carbohydrate-source generating enzyme(s) to produce sugars that can be fermented into the fermentation product by a suitable fermenting organism.
  • the desired fermentation product e.g., ethanol
  • the desired fermentation product is produced from ungelatinized (i.e., uncooked), preferably milled, cereal grains, such as corn.
  • the invention relates to processes for producing fermentation products from starch-containing material comprising simultaneously saccharifying and fermenting starch-containing material using a carbohydrate-source generating enzyme and a fermenting organism at a temperature below the initial gelatinization temperature of said starch-containing material.
  • a protease is also present.
  • the protease may be any acid fungal protease or metalloprotease.
  • the fermentation product e.g., ethanol, may optionally be recovered after fermentation, e.g., by distillation.
  • amylase(s) such as glucoamylase(s) and/or other carbohydrate-source generating enzymes, and/or alpha-amylase(s)
  • amylase(s) and/or other carbohydrate-source generating enzymes are(are) present during fermentation.
  • glucoamylases and other carbohydrate-source generating enzymes include raw starch hydrolyzing glucoamylases.
  • alpha-amylase(s) include acid alpha-amylases such as acid fungal alpha-amylases.
  • fermenting organisms include yeast, e.g., a strain of Saccharomyces cerevisiae .
  • the term “initial gelatinization temperature” means the lowest temperature at which starch gelatinization commences.
  • starch heated in water begins to gelatinize between about 50° C. and 75° C.; the exact temperature of gelatinization depends on the specific starch and can readily be determined by the skilled artisan.
  • the initial gelatinization temperature may vary according to the plant species, to the particular variety of the plant species as well as with the growth conditions.
  • the initial gelatinization temperature of a given starch-containing material may be determined as the temperature at which birefringence is lost in 5% of the starch granules using the method described by Gorinstein and Lii, 1992, Starch/Starke 44(12): 461-466.
  • a slurry of starch-containing material such as granular starch, having 10-55, e.g., 25-45 and 30-40, w/w % dry solids (DS) of starch-containing material may be prepared.
  • the slurry may include water and/or process waters, such as stillage (backset), scrubber water, evaporator condensate or distillate, side-stripper water from distillation, or process water from other fermentation product plants. Because the process of the invention is carried out below the initial gelatinization temperature, and thus no significant viscosity increase takes place, high levels of stillage may be used if desired.
  • the aqueous slurry contains from about 1 to about 70 vol. %, preferably 15-60 vol.
  • the starch-containing material may be prepared by reducing the particle size, preferably by dry or wet milling, to 0.05 to 3.0 mm, preferably 0.1-0.5 mm.
  • a process in this aspect of the invention is conducted at a temperature below the initial gelatinization temperature, which means that the temperature typically lies in the range between 30-75° C., preferably between 45-60° C. In a preferred embodiment the process carried at a temperature from 25° C. to 40° C., such as from 28° C.
  • the process is carried out so that the sugar level, such as glucose level, is kept at a low level, such as below 6 w/w %, such as below about 3 w/w %, such as below about 2 w/w %, such as below about 1 w/w %, such as below about 0.5 w/w %, or below 0.25 w/w %, such as below about 0.1 w/w %.
  • a low levels of sugar can be accomplished by simply employing adjusted quantities of enzyme and fermenting organism. A skilled person in the art can easily determine which doses/quantities of enzyme and fermenting organism to use.
  • the employed quantities of enzyme and fermenting organism may also be selected to maintain low concentrations of maltose in the fermentation broth.
  • the maltose level may be kept below about 0.5 w/w %, such as below about 0.2 w/w %.
  • the process of the invention may be carried out at a pH from about 3 and 7, preferably from pH 3.5 to 6, or more preferably from pH 4 to 5. In an embodiment fermentation is ongoing for 6 to 120 hours, in particular 24 to 96 hours.
  • the invention relates to processes for producing fermentation products, especially ethanol, from starch-containing material, which process includes a liquefaction step and sequentially or simultaneously performed saccharification and fermentation steps. Consequently, the invention relates to processes for producing fermentation products from starch-containing material comprising the steps of:
  • step (b) saccharifying the liquefied material obtained in step (a) using a carbohydrate-source generating enzyme
  • a pullulanase such as a family GH57 pullulanase is also used in the liquefaction step.
  • a protease such as an acid fungal protease or a metallo protease is added before, during and/or after liquefaction.
  • the metalloprotease is derived from a strain of Thermoascus, e.g., a strain of Thermoascus aurantiacus , especially Thermoascus aurantiacus CGMCC No. 0670.
  • the carbohydrate-source generating enzyme is a glucoamylase derived from a strain of Aspergillus , e.g., Aspergillus niger or Aspergillus awamori , a strain of Talaromyces , especially Talaromyces emersonii ; or a strain of Athelia , especially Athelia rolfsii ; a strain of Trametes , e.g., Trametes cingulata ; a strain of the genus Pachykytospora , e.g., a strain of Pachykytospora papyracea ; or a strain of the genus Leucopaxillus , e.g., Leucopaxillus giganteus ; or a strain of the genus Peniophora , e.g., a strain of the species Peniophora rufomarginata ; or a mixture thereof.
  • Saccharification step (b) and fermentation step (c) may be carried out either sequentially or simultaneously.
  • a pullulanase and/or metalloprotease may be added during saccharification and/or fermentation when the process is carried out as a sequential saccharification and fermentation process and before or during fermentation when steps (b) and (c) are carried out simultaneously (SSF process).
  • the pullulanase and/or metalloprotease may also advantageously be added before liquefaction (pre-liquefaction treatment), i.e., before or during step (a), and/or after liquefaction (post liquefaction treatment), i.e., after step (a).
  • the pullulanase is most advantageously added before or during liquefaction, i.e., before or during step (a).
  • the fermentation product such as especially ethanol, may optionally be recovered after fermentation, e.g., by distillation.
  • the fermenting organism is preferably yeast, preferably a strain of Saccharomyces cerevisiae .
  • the process of the invention further comprises, prior to step (a), the steps of:
  • x reducing the particle size of the starch-containing material, preferably by milling (e.g., using a hammer mill);
  • the particle size is smaller than a #7 screen, e.g., a #6 screen.
  • a #7 screen is usually used in conventional prior art processes.
  • the aqueous slurry may contain from 10-55 w/w % dry solids (DS), e.g., 25-45 and 30-40 w/w % dry solids (DS) of starch-containing material.
  • DS dry solids
  • the slurry is heated to above the gelatinization temperature and an alpha-amylase variant may be added to initiate liquefaction (thinning).
  • the slurry may in an embodiment be jet-cooked to further gelatinize the slurry before being subjected to alpha-amylase in step (a).
  • Liquefaction may in an embodiment be carried out as a three-step hot slurry process.
  • the slurry is heated to between 60-95° C., preferably between 70-90° C., such as preferably between 80-85° C. at pH 4-6, preferably 4.5-5.5, and alpha-amylase variant, optionally together with a pullulanase and/or protease, preferably metalloprotease, are added to initiate liquefaction (thinning).
  • the slurry may then be jet-cooked at a temperature between 95-140° C., preferably 100-135° C., such as 105-125° C., for about 1-15 minutes, preferably for about 3-10 minutes, especially around about 5 minutes.
  • the slurry is cooled to 60-95° C.
  • alpha-amylase variant and optionally pullulanase variant and/or protease, preferably metalloprotease, is(are) added to finalize hydrolysis (secondary liquefaction).
  • the liquefaction process is usually carried out at pH 4.0-6, in particular at a pH from 4.5 to 5.5.
  • Saccharification step (b) may be carried out using conditions well known in the art. For instance, a full saccharification process may last up to from about 24 to about 72 hours, however, it is common only to do a pre-saccharification of typically 40-90 minutes at a temperature between 30-65° C., typically about 60° C., followed by complete saccharification during fermentation in a simultaneous saccharification and fermentation process (SSF process).
  • SSF process simultaneous saccharification and fermentation process
  • Saccharification is typically carried out at temperatures from 20-75° C., preferably from 40-70° C., typically around 60° C., and at a pH between 4 and 5, normally at about pH 4.5.
  • the most widely used process to produce a fermentation product, especially ethanol is a simultaneous saccharification and fermentation (SSF) process, in which there is no holding stage for the saccharification, meaning that a fermenting organism, such as yeast, and enzyme(s), may be added together.
  • SSF may typically be carried out at a temperature from 25° C. to 40° C., such as from 28° C. to 35° C., such as from 30° C. to 34° C., preferably around about 32° C.
  • fermentation is ongoing for 6 to 120 hours, in particular 24 to 96 hours.
  • the alpha-amylase variants may also be used in a beer-making process and similar fermentations; the alpha-amylases will typically be added during the mashing process.
  • the process is substantially similar to the milling, liquefaction, saccharification, and fermentation processes described above.
  • Milled starch-containing material is combined with water and recycled thin-stillage resulting in an aqueous slurry.
  • the slurry can comprise between 15 to 55% ds w/w (e.g., 20 to 50%, 25 to 50%, 25 to 45%, 25 to 40%, 20 to 35% and 30-36% ds).
  • the recycled thin-stillage (backset) is in the range of about 10 to 70% v/v (e.g., 10 to 60%, 10 to 50%, 10 to 40%, 10 to 30%, 10 to 20%, 20 to 60%, 20 to 50%, 20 to 40% and also 20 to 30%).
  • the pH of the slurry will be in the range of about pH 4.5 to less than about 6.0 (e.g., pH 4.5 to 5.8, pH 4.5 to 5.6, pH 4.8 to 5.8, pH 5.0 to 5.8, pH 5.0 to 5.4, pH 5.2 to 5.5 and pH 5.2 to 5.9).
  • the pH of the slurry may be between about pH 4.5 and 5.2 depending on the amount of thin stillage added to the slurry and the type of material comprising the thin stillage.
  • the pH of the thin stillage may be between pH 3.8 and pH 4.5.
  • acids can be added to lower the pH in the beer well, to reduce the risk of microbial contamination prior to distillation.
  • a phytase is added to the slurry.
  • an alpha-amylase is added to the slurry.
  • a phytase and alpha-amylase are added to the slurry sequentially.
  • a phytase and alpha-amylase are added simultaneously.
  • the slurry comprising a phytase and optionally, an alpha-amylase are incubated (pretreated) for a period of about 5 minutes to about 8 hours (e.g., 5 minutes to 6 hours, 5 minutes to 4 hours, 5 minutes to 2 hours, and 15 minutes to 4 hours).
  • the slurry is incubated at a temperature in the range of about 40 to 115° C. (e.g., 45 to 80° C., 50 to 70° C., 50 to 75° C., 60 to 110° C., 60 to 95° C., 70 to 110° C., 70 to 85° C. and 77 to 86° C.).
  • the slurry is incubated at a temperature of about 0 to about 30° C. (e.g., 0 to 25° C., 0 to 20° C., 0 to 15° C., 0 to 10° C. and 0 to 5° C.) below the starch gelatinization temperature of the starch-containing material.
  • the temperature is below about 68° C., below about 65° C., below about 62° C., below about 60° C. and below about 55° C.
  • the temperature is above about 45° C., above about 50° C., above about 55° C. and above about 60° C.
  • the incubation of the slurry comprising a phytase and an alpha-amylase at a temperature below the starch gelatinization temperature is referred to as a primary (1°) liquefaction.
  • the milled starch-containing material is corn or milo.
  • the slurry comprises 25 to 40% DS, the pH is in the range of 4.8 to 5.2, and the slurry is incubated with a phytase and optionally an alpha-amylase for 5 minutes to 2 hours, at a temperature range of 60 to 75° C.
  • the incubated or pretreated starch-containing material is exposed to an increase in temperature such as about 0 to about 45° C. above the starch gelatinization temperature of the starch-containing material (e.g., 70° C. to 120° C., 70° C. to 110° C., and 70° C. to 90° C.) for a period of time of about 2 minutes to about 6 hours (e.g., 2 minutes to 4 hrs, 90 minutes, 140 minutes and 90 to 140 minutes) at a pH of about 4.0 to 5.5 more preferably between 1 hour to 2 hours.
  • the temperature can be increased by a conventional high temperature jet cooking system for a short period of time, for example, for 1 to 15 minutes.
  • the starch maybe further hydrolyzed at a temperature ranging from about 75° C. to 95° C. (e.g., 80° C. to 90° C. and 80° C. to 85° C.) for a period of about 15 to 150 minutes (e.g., 30 to 120 minutes).
  • the pH is not adjusted during these process steps and the pH of the liquefied mash is in the range of about pH 4.0 to pH 5.8 (e.g., pH 4.5 to 5.8, pH 4.8 to 5.4, and pH 5.0 to 5.2).
  • a second dose of thermostable alpha-amylase is added to the secondary liquefaction step, but in other embodiments there is no additional dosage of alpha-amylase.
  • the incubation and liquefaction steps may be followed by saccharification and fermentation steps well known in the art.
  • an alcohol e.g., ethanol
  • ethanol may be extracted by, for example, distillation and optionally followed by one or more process steps.
  • the yield of ethanol produced by the methods provided herein is at least 8%, at least 10%, at least 12%, at least 14%, at least 15%, at least 16%, at least 17% and at least 18% (v/v) and at least 23% v/v.
  • the ethanol obtained according to the process provided herein may be used as, for example, fuel ethanol, drinking ethanol, i.e., potable neutral spirits, or industrial ethanol.
  • the end product may include the fermentation co-products such as distiller's dried grains (DDG) and distiller's dried grain plus solubles (DDGS), which may be used, for example, as an animal feed.
  • DDG distiller's dried grains
  • DDGS distiller's dried grain plus solubles
  • the saccharification and fermentation may be carried out simultaneously or separately.
  • the alpha-amylase variants may also be used in the production of lignocellulosic materials, such as pulp, paper and cardboard, from starch reinforced waste paper and cardboard, especially where re-pulping occurs at pH above 7 and where amylases facilitate the disintegration of the waste material through degradation of the reinforcing starch.
  • the alpha-amylase variants are especially useful in a process for producing a papermaking pulp from starch-coated printed-paper. The process may be performed as described in WO 95/14807, comprising the following steps:
  • step a) treating with a starch-degrading enzyme before, during or after step a), and
  • the alpha-amylase variants may also be useful in modifying starch where enzymatically modified starch is used in papermaking together with alkaline fillers such as calcium carbonate, kaolin and clays. With the alpha-amylase variants it is possible to modify the starch in the presence of the filler thus allowing for a simpler integrated process.
  • alpha-amylase variants may also be very useful in textile, fabric or garment desizing.
  • alpha-amylases are traditionally used as auxiliaries in the desizing process to facilitate the removal of starch-containing size, which has served as a protective coating on weft yarns during weaving. Complete removal of the size coating after weaving is important to ensure optimum results in the subsequent processes, in which the fabric is scoured, bleached and dyed. Enzymatic starch breakdown is preferred because it does not involve any harmful effect on the fiber material.
  • the desizing process is sometimes combined with the scouring and bleaching steps.
  • non-enzymatic auxiliaries such as alkali or oxidation agents are typically used to break down the starch, because traditional alpha-amylases are not very compatible with high pH levels and bleaching agents.
  • the non-enzymatic breakdown of the starch size leads to some fiber damage because of the rather aggressive chemicals used. Accordingly, it would be desirable to use the alpha-amylase variants as they have an improved performance in alkaline solutions.
  • the alpha-amylase variants may be used alone or in combination with a cellulase when desizing cellulose-containing fabric or textile.
  • Desizing and bleaching processes are well known in the art. For instance, such processes are described in, e.g., WO 95/21247, U.S. Pat. No. 4,643,736, EP 119920, which are hereby incorporated by reference.
  • the alpha-amylase variants may be added as a component of a detergent composition for various cleaning or washing processes, including laundry and dishwashing.
  • the variants may be used in the detergent compositions described in WO 96/23874 and WO 97/07202.
  • the alpha-amylase variants may be incorporated in detergents at conventionally employed concentrations.
  • a variant of the invention may be incorporated in an amount corresponding to 0.00001-10 mg (calculated as pure, active enzyme protein) of alpha-amylase per liter of wash/dishwash liquor using conventional dosing levels of detergent.
  • the detergent composition may for example be formulated as a hand or machine laundry detergent composition, including a laundry additive composition suitable for pretreatment of stained fabrics and a rinse added fabric softener composition or be formulated as a detergent composition for use in general household hard surface cleaning operations, or be formulated for hand or machine dishwashing operations.
  • the detergent composition may further comprise one or more other enzymes, such as a lipase, peroxidase, protease, another amylolytic enzyme, e.g., another alpha-amylase, glucoamylase, maltogenic amylase, CGTase, cellulase, mannanase (such as MannawayTM from Novozymes, Denmark)), pectinase, pectin lyase, cutinase, and/or laccase.
  • enzymes such as a lipase, peroxidase, protease, another amylolytic enzyme, e.g., another alpha-amylase, glucoamylase, maltogenic amylase, CGTase, cellulase, mannanase (such as MannawayTM from Novozymes, Denmark)), pectinase, pectin lyase, cutinase, and/or laccase
  • the properties of the chosen enzyme(s) should be compatible with the selected detergent (i.e., pH-optimum, compatibility with other enzymatic and non-enzymatic ingredients, etc.), and the enzyme(s) should be present in effective amounts.
  • the detergent enzyme(s) may be included in a detergent composition by adding separate additives containing one or more enzymes, or by adding a combined additive comprising all of these enzymes.
  • a detergent additive e.g., a separate additive or a combined additive, can be formulated, e.g., granulate, a liquid, a slurry, etc.
  • Preferred detergent additive formulations are granulates, in particular non-dusting granulates, liquids, in particular stabilized liquids, or slurries.
  • Non-dusting granulates may be produced, e.g., as disclosed in U.S. Pat. Nos. 4,106,991 and 4,661,452 and may optionally be coated by methods known in the art.
  • waxy coating materials are poly(ethylene oxide) products (polyethyleneglycol, PEG) with mean molar weights of 1000 to 20000; ethoxylated nonyl-phenols having from 16 to 50 ethylene oxide units; ethoxylated fatty alcohols in which the alcohol contains from 12 to 20 carbon atoms and in which there are 15 to 80 ethylene oxide units; fatty alcohols, fatty acids; and mono- and di- and triglycerides of fatty acids.
  • Liquid enzyme preparations may, for instance, be stabilized by adding a polyol such as propylene glycol, a sugar or sugar alcohol, lactic acid or boric acid according to established methods.
  • Protected enzymes may be prepared according to the method disclosed in EP 238216.
  • the detergent composition may be in any convenient form, e.g., a bar, a tablet, a powder, a granule, a paste or a liquid.
  • a liquid detergent may be aqueous, typically containing up to about 70% water and 0 to about 30% organic solvent, or non-aqueous.
  • the detergent composition comprises one or more surfactants, which may be non-ionic including semi-polar and/or anionic and/or cationic and/or zwitterionic.
  • the surfactants are typically present at a level of from about 0.1% to 60% by weight.
  • the detergent When included therein the detergent will usually contain from about 1% to about 40% of an anionic surfactant such as linear alkylbenzenesulfonate, alpha-olefinsulfonate, alkyl sulfate (fatty alcohol sulfate), alcohol ethoxysulfate, secondary alkanesulfonate, alpha-sulfo fatty acid methyl ester, alkyl- or alkenylsuccinic acid or soap.
  • an anionic surfactant such as linear alkylbenzenesulfonate, alpha-olefinsulfonate, alkyl sulfate (fatty alcohol sulfate), alcohol ethoxysulfate, secondary alkanesulfonate, alpha-sulfo fatty acid methyl ester, alkyl- or alkenylsuccinic acid or soap.
  • the detergent When included therein the detergent will usually contain from about 0.2% to about 40% of a non-ionic surfactant such as alcohol ethoxylate, nonyl-phenol ethoxylate, alkylpolyglycoside, alkyldimethylamine-oxide, ethoxylated fatty acid monoethanol-amide, fatty acid monoethanolamide, polyhydroxy alkyl fatty acid amide, or N-acyl N-alkyl derivatives of glucosamine (“glucamides”).
  • a non-ionic surfactant such as alcohol ethoxylate, nonyl-phenol ethoxylate, alkylpolyglycoside, alkyldimethylamine-oxide, ethoxylated fatty acid monoethanol-amide, fatty acid monoethanolamide, polyhydroxy alkyl fatty acid amide, or N-acyl N-alkyl derivatives of glucosamine (“glucamides”).
  • the detergent may contain 0 to about 65% of a detergent builder or complexing agent such as zeolite, diphosphate, triphosphate, phosphonate, carbonate, citrate, nitrilotriacetic acid, ethylenediaminetetraacetic acid, diethylenetriaminepentaacetic acid, alkyl- or alkenylsuccinic acid, soluble silicates or layered silicates (e.g., SKS-6 from Hoechst).
  • a detergent builder or complexing agent such as zeolite, diphosphate, triphosphate, phosphonate, carbonate, citrate, nitrilotriacetic acid, ethylenediaminetetraacetic acid, diethylenetriaminepentaacetic acid, alkyl- or alkenylsuccinic acid, soluble silicates or layered silicates (e.g., SKS-6 from Hoechst).
  • the detergent may comprise one or more polymers.
  • examples are carboxymethylcellulose, poly(vinyl-pyrrolidone), poly (ethylene glycol), poly(vinyl alcohol), poly(vinylpyridine-N-oxide), poly(vinylimidazole), polycarboxylates such as polyacrylates, maleiclacrylic acid copolymers and lauryl methacrylate/acrylic acid co-polymers.
  • the detergent may contain a bleaching system, which may comprise a H 2 O 2 source such as perborate or percarbonate which may be combined with a peracid-forming bleach activator such as tetraacetylethylenediamine or nonanoyloxyben-zenesul-fonate.
  • a bleaching system may comprise peroxy acids of, e.g., the amide, imide, or sulfone type.
  • the enzyme(s) of the detergent composition may be stabilized using conventional stabilizing agents, e.g., a polyol such as propylene glycol or glycerol, a sugar or sugar alcohol, lactic acid, boric acid, or a boric acid derivative, e.g., an aromatic borate ester, or a phenyl boronic acid derivative such as 4-formylphenyl boronic acid, and the composition may be formulated as described in, e.g., WO 92/19708 and WO 92/19709.
  • a polyol such as propylene glycol or glycerol
  • a sugar or sugar alcohol lactic acid, boric acid, or a boric acid derivative, e.g., an aromatic borate ester, or a phenyl boronic acid derivative such as 4-formylphenyl boronic acid
  • the detergent may also contain other conventional detergent ingredients such as, e.g., fabric conditioners including clays, foam boosters, suds suppressors, anti-corrosion agents, soil-suspending agents, anti-soil re-deposition agents, dyes, bactericides, optical brighteners, hydrotropes, tarnish inhibitors, or perfumes.
  • fabric conditioners including clays, foam boosters, suds suppressors, anti-corrosion agents, soil-suspending agents, anti-soil re-deposition agents, dyes, bactericides, optical brighteners, hydrotropes, tarnish inhibitors, or perfumes.
  • the detergent compositions may comprise any enzyme in an amount corresponding to 0.01-100 mg of enzyme protein per liter of wash liquor, preferably 0.055 mg of enzyme protein per liter of wash liquor, in particular 0.1-1 mg of enzyme protein per liter of wash liquor.
  • variant enzymes described herein may additionally be incorporated in the detergent formulations disclosed in WO 97/07202, which is hereby incorporated as reference.
  • Fermentation may be performed by methods well known in the art or as follows:
  • a B. subtilis strain harboring the relevant expression plasmid is streaked on a LB-agar plate with a relevant antibiotic, and grown overnight at 37° C.
  • the colonies are transferred to 100 ml BPX media supplemented with a relevant antibiotic (for instance 10 mg/l chloroamphinicol) in a 500 ml shaking flask.
  • a relevant antibiotic for instance 10 mg/l chloroamphinicol
  • composition of BPX medium Composition of BPX medium:
  • the culture is shaken at 37° C. at 270 rpm for 4 to 5 days.
  • Phadebas® tablets Phadebas tablets (Phadebas® Amylase Test, supplied by Magle Life Sciences, Lund, Sweden) contain a cross-linked insoluble blue-colored starch polymer, which has been mixed with bovine serum albumin and a buffer substance and tabletted.
  • 575 microliters substrate solution is equilibrated at the selected temperature for 5 minutes.
  • the hydrolysis is started by adding 25 microliters amylase solution to the substrate solution and incubating the sample under gentle mixing for 15 minutes at the selected temperature.
  • the reaction is stopped by adding 100 microliters 1 M NaOH and immediately cooling on an ice bath after mixing. After centrifugation at 500 g av for 3 minutes, 200 microliters of the supernatant is transferred to a microtiter plate, and the absorbance at 620 nm is read (A amyl ).
  • the blind is prepared as described but where the 25 microliters amylase solution is replaced by 25 microliters 50 mM Britton-Robison buffer.
  • the absorbance of the blind at 620 nm is A b .
  • the standard curve is prepared similarly by making a dilution series of Termamyl with a known activity and measuring the release of blue color to the solution as described above.
  • the absorbance of the standards at 620 nm is A s .
  • the standard curve is a plot of A s -A b against the Termamyl activity in the sample.
  • the activity of the amylase of interest can be determined by comparing A amyl -A b to the Termamyl standard curve.
  • the measured 620 nm absorbance after 15 minutes of incubation is in the range of 0.2 to 2.0 absorbance units at 620 nm. In this absorbance range there is linearity between activity and absorbance (Lambert-Beer law).
  • the dilution of the enzyme (both amylase of interest and standard) must therefore be adjusted to fit this criterion. Under a specified set of conditions (temperature, pH, reaction time, buffer conditions), 1 mg of a given alpha-amylase will hydrolyze a certain amount of substrate and a blue color will be produced.
  • Alpha-amylase activity may also be determined by a method employing the PNP-G7 substrate.
  • PNP-G7 which is an abbreviation for p-nitrophenyl-alpha-D-maltoheptaoside, is a blocked oligosaccharide which can be cleaved by an endo-amylase.
  • Kits containing PNP-G7 substrate and alpha-glucosidase is manufactured by Roche/Hitachi (cat. no.
  • the G7-PNP substrate from this kit contains 22 mmol/L 4,6-ethylidene-G7-PNP and 52.4 mmol/L HEPES (2-[4-(2-hydroxyethyl)-1-piperazinyl]-ethanesulfonic acid), pH 7.0) and the alpha-glucosidase contains 52.4 mmol/L HEPES, 87 mmol/L NaCl, 12.6 mmol/L MgCl 2 , 0.075 mmol/L CaCl 2 , ⁇ 4 kU/L alpha-glucosidase).
  • the amylase sample to be analyzed is diluted in 50 mM EPPS (4-(2-hydroxyethyl)-1-piperazinepropanesulfonic acid (Sigma, E9502)), 0.01% TRITON® X100, 1 mM CaCl 2 , pH 7.0.
  • EPPS 4-(2-hydroxyethyl)-1-piperazinepropanesulfonic acid
  • TRITON® X100 1 mM CaCl 2 , pH 7.0.
  • substrate working solution was made by mixing 1 mL of the alpha-glucosidase containing reagent with 0.2 mL 4,6-ethylidene-G7-PNP containing reagent from kit.
  • residual activity buffer 50 mM EPPS, 0.01% TRITON® X100, 1 mM CaCl 2 , pH7.0).
  • the assay is performed by transferring 20 microliters diluted enzyme samples to a 96 well microtiter plate and adding 80 microliters substrate working solution. The solution is mixed and pre-incubated 1 minute at room temperature and absorption is measured every 20 sec. over 5 minutes at OD 405 nm.
  • the slope (absorbance per minute) of the time dependent absorption-curve is directly proportional to the specific activity (activity per mg enzyme) of the alpha-amylase in question under the given set of conditions.
  • the amylase sample should be diluted to a level where the slope is below 0.4 absorbance units per minute.
  • Alpha-amylase activity may also be determined by a method employing the EnzChek® substrate.
  • the substrate in the EnzChek® Ultra Amylase Assay Kit (E33651, Invitrogen, La Jolla, Calif., USA) is a corn starch derivative, DQTM starch, which is corn starch labeled with BODIPY® FL dye to such a degree that fluorescence is quenched.
  • One vial containing approx. 1 mg lyophilized substrate is dissolved in 100 microliters of 50 mM sodium acetate (pH 4.0). The vial is vortexed for 20 seconds and left at room temperature, in the dark, with occasional mixing until dissolved. Then 900 microliters of 100 mM acetate, 0.01% (w/v) TRITON® X100, 0.12 mM CaCl 2 , pH 5.5 is added, vortexed thoroughly and stored at room temperature, in the dark until ready to use.
  • the substrate working solution is prepared by diluting 10-fold in residual activity buffer (100 mM acetate, 0.01% (w/v) TRITON® X100, 0.12 mM CaCl 2 , pH 5.5) giving a substrate concentration of 100 micrograms/ml. Immediately after incubation the enzyme is diluted to a concentration of 20 ng enzyme protein/mL in 100 mM acetate, 0.01% (W/v) TRITON® X100, 0.12 mM CaCl 2 , pH 5.5.
  • the assay 25 microliters of the substrate working solution is mixed for 10 second with 25 microliters of the diluted enzyme in a black 384 well microtiter plate.
  • the fluorescence intensity is measured (excitation: 485 nm, emission: 555 nm) once every minute for 15 minutes in each well at 25° C. and the V max is calculated as the slope of the plot of fluorescence intensity against time.
  • the plot should be linear and the residual activity assay has been adjusted so that the diluted reference enzyme solution is within the linear range of the activity assay.
  • Hybrid 1 the amino acid residues 106-215 of SEQ ID NO: 7 were removed and replaced with the amino acid residues 103-211 of SEQ ID NO: 13, which results in SEQ ID NO: 17, and the following alterations were introduced: E182*, N183*, E188W, N189E and D192T (using SEQ ID NO: 17 numbering), which correspond to E181*, N182*, E187W, N188E and D191T using SEQ ID NO: 27 numbering.
  • the sequence of this hybrid is shown in SEQ ID NO: 18.
  • Hybrid 2 the amino acid residues 106-214 of SEQ ID NO: 7 were removed and replaced with the amino acid residues 103-210 of SEQ ID NO: 13, which results in SEQ ID NO: 19, and the following alterations were introduced: E182*, N183*, E188W, N189E and D192T (using SEQ ID NO: 19 numbering), which correspond to E181*, N182*, E187W, N188E and D191T using SEQ ID NO: 27 numbering.
  • the sequence of this hybrid is shown in SEQ ID NO: 20.
  • Hybrid 3 the amino acid residues 106-213 of SEQ ID NO: 7 were removed and replaced with the amino acid residues 103-209 of SEQ ID NO: 13, which results in SEQ ID NO: 21, and the following alterations were introduced: E182*, N183*, E188W, N189E and D192T (using SEQ ID NO: 21 numbering), which correspond to E181*, N182*, E187W, N188E and D191T using SEQ ID NO: 27 numbering.
  • the sequence of this hybrid is shown in SEQ ID NO: 22.
  • Enzyme samples were incubated in buffer pH 8.0 (50 mM EPPS, 0.01% TRITON®X100, pH 8.0) with 1.5% final concentration of DTPA at 49° C. for 1 hour and reference samples were incubated at 4° C. for 1 hour.
  • enzyme samples were incubated in buffer pH 10.0 (50 mM EPPS, 0.01% TRITON® X100, pH 10.0) with 1.5% final concentration of DTPA at 42° C. for 1 hour and reference samples were incubated at 4° C. for 1 hour.
  • amylase stability in buffer pH 8 and pH 10 with DTPA the enzymes to be tested were adjusted to 0.25 and 0.5 mg enzyme protein/mL by diluting in 5 mM EPPS, 0.01% TRITON® X100, pH 8.0.
  • 160 microliters stability buffer 50 mM EPPS, 0.01% TRITON® X100, 1.875% DTPA, pH 8.0 or pH 10.0
  • 40 microliters of the amylase solution were transferred to a 96-well PCR microtiter plate in duplicate and the content was mixed for 1 minute. Final concentration of DTPA was 1.5% in each well. 20 microliters from each well was transferred to a new PCR microtiter plate, which was placed at 4° C. (reference sample).
  • the PCR MTP was incubated in PCR machine for 1 hour at 49° C. when buffer had pH 8.0 (pH 8, 49° C. samples) and for 1 hour at 42° C. when buffer had pH 10.0 (pH 10, 42° C. samples).
  • both reference and pH 8, 49° C. samples/pH 10, 42° C. samples were diluted to the same concentration before being analyzed for residual activity.
  • the activity of both the reference samples and the pH 8, 49° C. samples or pH 10, 42° C. samples were determined on the same 96 well plate.
  • the residual activity was calculated as 100*V max (pH 8, 42° C. or pH 10, 49° C. sample)/V max (reference sample).
  • Hybrids 1, 2 and 3 are highly stable and have 100% residual activity after incubation for 1 hour at both pH 8, 49° C. and pH 10, 42° C.
  • SEQ ID NO: 7 with the deletions D183*+T184* has less than 20% residual activity at these conditions and SEQ ID NO: 7 and SP707 have even less residual activity.
  • alpha-amylases were prepared:
  • Hybrid 4 the amino acid residues 106-212 of SEQ ID NO: 5 were removed and replaced with the amino acid residues 103-208 of SEQ ID NO: 13, which results in SEQ ID NO: 23, and the following alterations were introduced: E182*, N183*, E188W, N189E and D192T (using SEQ ID NO: 23 numbering), which correspond to E181*, N182*, E187W, N188E and D191T in SEQ ID NO: 27 numbering.
  • the sequence of this hybrid is shown in SEQ ID NO: 24.
  • Hybrid 5 the amino acid residues 106-212 of SEQ ID NO: 8 were removed and replaced with the amino acid residues 103-208 of SEQ ID NO: 13, which results in SEQ ID NO: 25, and the following alterations were introduced: E182*, N183*, E188W, N189E and D192T (using SEQ ID NO: 25 numbering), which correspond to E181*, N182*, E187W, N188E and D191T in SEQ ID NO: 27 numbering.
  • the sequence of this hybrid is shown in SEQ ID NO: 26.
  • Hybrids 4 and 5 (SEQ ID NOS: 24 and 26), a variant of SEQ ID NO: 5 with the alterations E182*, N183*, E188W, N189E and D192T (using SEQ ID NO: 5 numbering), which correspond to E181*, N182*, E187W, N188E and D191T in SEQ ID NO: 27 numbering, and the alpha-amylase of SEQ ID NO: 8 were incubated with DTPA as described in Example 2. The results show that hybrids 4 and 5 had almost 100% residual activity after the incubations, whereas the other alpha-amylases lost most of their activity during the incubations.
  • a reference alpha-amylase with the amino acid sequence of SEQ ID NO: 28 (a hybrid of Bacillus stearothermophilus and Bacillus circulans alpha-amylases (SEQ ID NO: 27) with the alterations E181*+G182*+E187W+N188E+D191T+D407N+D430N+P432D) and alpha-amylase variants thereof was determined by incubating the reference alpha-amylase and variants at pH 4.5 and 5.5 and temperatures of 75° C. and 85° C. with 0.12 mM CaCl 2 followed by residual activity determination using the EnzChek® substrate (EnzChek® Ultra Amylase assay kit, E33651, Molecular Probes, Invitrogen, La Jolla, Calif., USA).
  • Purified enzyme samples were diluted to working concentrations of 0.5 and 1 or 5 and 10 ppm (micrograms/ml) in enzyme dilution buffer (10 mM acetate, 0.01% TRITON® X100, 0.12 mM CaCl 2 , pH 5.0). Twenty microliters enzyme sample was transferred to 48-well PCR MTP and 180 microliters stability buffer (150 mM acetate, 150 mM MES, 0.01% TRITON® X100, 0.12 mM CaCl 2 , pH 4.5 or 5.5) was added to each well and mixed. The assay was performed using two concentrations of enzyme in duplicates. Before incubation at 75° C.
  • the reference samples and samples from the PCR machine were diluted to 20 ng/ml in residual activity buffer (100 mM acetate, 0.01% TRITON® X100, 0.12 mM CaCl 2 , pH 5.5) and 25 microliters diluted enzyme was transferred to black 384-MTP. Residual activity was determined using the EnzChek® substrate as described in the section for the Enzchek® amylase activity assay. In brief, 25 microliters substrate working solution (100 micrograms/ml) is added to each well with diluted enzyme. Fluorescence was determined every minute for 15 minutes using excitation filter at 485-P nm and emission filter at 555 nm (fluorescence reader is Polarstar, BMG). The residual activity was normalized to control samples for each setup.
  • residual activity buffer 100 mM acetate, 0.01% TRITON® X100, 0.12 mM CaCl 2 , pH 5.5
  • Residual activity was determined using the EnzChek® substrate as
  • T1 ⁇ 2(min) T(min)*LN(0.5)/LN(% RA/100), where T is the assay incubation time in minutes, and % RA is the % residual activity determined in the assay.
  • Three small scale mashes of a Bacillus stearothermophilus alpha-amylase variant sold by Novozymes under the name LIQUOZYME SC® and two alpha-amylase variants described in Example 4 were prepared as follows: about 54 g corn ground, about 51 g tap water, and about 45 g backset were mixed in a 250 mL plastic bottle to a total slurry weight of 150 g. The pH of the corn slurry was adjusted to 4.5. The enzymes were added to the mashes at 2 micrograms of amylase per gram of dry solids. For liquefaction, the alpha-amylases were added to the bottles and the bottles were mixed thoroughly and placed into a preheated 85° C. water bath.
  • the samples were held in the water bath for 2 hours at pH 4.5 while being shaken every 10 minutes for the first 30 minutes and every 30 minutes thereafter for the remainder of the 2 hour liquefaction.
  • the samples were then cooled in an ice bath; pH was adjusted to 5.0, and 0.75 mL urea and 0.45 mL penicillin were added to reach final concentrations of 1000 and 3 ppm in the mashes, respectively.
  • the samples were then subjected to simultaneous saccharification and fermentation (SSF) with Spirizyme Fuel® (a glucoamylase product sold by Novozymes).
  • SSF simultaneous saccharification and fermentation
  • the Mini Wash has a number of beakers with each beaker able to hold up to 80 ml enzyme-detergent solution. Water hardness is adjusted to 10° dH by addition of CaCl 2 , MgCl 2 , and NaHCO 3 to the test system.
  • a textile sample, in this case CS-28, is attached to a frame designed to dip the textile into the enzyme-detergent solution with a frequency of 40 submersions per min. The temperature of the enzyme-detergent solution is controlled during wash. After wash the textile is rinsed in running tap water and subsequently dried in the dark. The wash performance of the enzyme-detergent solution is evaluated by measuring the remission at 460 nm with a ZEISS MCS 521 VIS Spectrophotometer.
  • CS-28 is a technical rice starch stained cotton textile that can be obtained from Center For Test materials BV, P.O. Box 120, 3133 KT Vlaardingen, the Netherlands.
  • Detergent Commercial Tide 2X Ultra inactivated by boiling for 15 minutes
  • Detergent dosage 0.78 g/L Test solution volume 60 mL pH After wash pH was measured to 8.3 Wash time 20 minutes followed by 5 minutes rinse Temperature 40° C.
  • the wash performance of the alpha-amylases was normalized to the wash performance of the alpha-amylase having the amino acid sequence of SEQ ID NO: 7 with the deletions D183*+T184*.
  • SEQ ID NO: 7 Dose (mg with the enzyme deletions protein/L) D183* + T184* Hybrid 1 Hybrid 2 Hybrid 3 0 100.0 100.0 100.0 100.0 0.03 100.0 108.8 105.6 93.7 0.06 100.0 109.4 103.4 92.9 0.12 100.0 108.7 104.5 90.4 0.2 100.0 106.2 99.6 94.4 1 100.0 101.2 99.2 96.7
  • Hybrid 6 the amino acid residues 106-213 in a variant of SEQ ID NO: 5 having the substitutions M9L+R118K+G149A+G182T+G186A+D183*+G184*+N195F+M202L+V214V+T257I+Y295F+N299Y+R320K+M323T+A339S+E345R+R458K (using SEQ ID NO: 5 numbering) were removed and replaced with the amino acid residues 103-209 of SEQ ID NO: 13, and the following alterations were introduced: E182*, N183*, E188W, N189E and D192T, which correspond to E181*, N182*, E187W, N188E and D191T using SEQ ID NO: 27 numbering.
  • Hybrid 7 the amino acid residues 106-213 in a variant of SEQ ID NO: 8 (using SEQ ID NO: 8 numbering) were removed and replaced with the amino acid residues 103-209 of SEQ ID NO: 13.
  • the sequence of this hybrid is shown in SEQ ID NO: 33.
  • Hybrid 8 the amino acid residues 104-208 in a variant of SEQ ID NO: 3 having amino acids 1-35 replaced by amino acids 1-33 of SEQ ID NO: 1 and having the substitutions G48A+T49I+G107A+H156Y+A181T+N190F+1201F+A209V+Q264S (using SEQ ID NO: 3 numbering) were removed and replaced with the amino acid residues 103-209 of SEQ ID NO: 13, and the following alterations were introduced: N102D, Q147T, E178*, N179*, K181A, E184W, N185E and D188T, which correspond to N105D, Q150T, E181*, N182*, K184A, E187W, N188E and D191T using SEQ ID NO: 27 numbering.
  • the sequence of this hybrid is shown in SEQ ID NO: 34.
  • Paragraph 1 An isolated alpha-amylase, comprising an A-domain of a calcium-sensitive alpha-amylase which has at least 70% and less than 100% sequence identity with any of the A-domains of SEQ ID NOS: 1-12, 29, and 30, a B-domain of a calcium-insensitive alpha-amylase, and a C-domain of a calcium-sensitive alpha-amylase, wherein the alpha-amylase has alpha-amylase activity.
  • An isolated alpha-amylase comprising an A-domain of a calcium-sensitive alpha-amylase, a B-domain of a calcium-insensitive alpha-amylase, and a C-domain of a calcium-sensitive alpha-amylase which has at least 70% and less than 100% sequence identity with any of the C-domains of SEQ ID NOS: 1-12, 29, and 30, wherein the alpha-amylase has alpha-amylase activity.
  • Paragraph 10 10.
  • Paragraph 19 The alpha-amylase of any of paragraphs 1-17, wherein the A1-domain has at least 60% sequence identity, e.g., at least 65%, at least 70%, at least 75%, at least 80%, at least 85%, at least 90%, at least 91%, at least 92%, at least 93%, at least 94%, at least 95%, at least 96%, at least 97%, at least 98%, at least 99%, or 100% sequence identity with the sequence starting at a position in the range of positions 1-5 and ending a position in the range of positions 95-115, e.g., starting at a position in the range of positions 1-3 and ending at a position in the range of positions 100-105 or starting at a position in the range of positions 1-3 and ending at a position in the range of positions 105-110, in particular positions 1-105 of SEQ ID NO: 2.
  • Paragraph 20 The alpha-amylase of any of paragraphs 1-17, wherein the A1-domain has at least 60% sequence identity, e.g., at least 65%, at least 70%, at least 75%, at least 80%, at least 85%, at least 90%, at least 91%, at least 92%, at least 93%, at least 94%, at least 95%, at least 96%, at least 97%, at least 98%, at least 99%, or 100% sequence identity with the sequence starting at a position in the range of positions 1-5 and ending a position in the range of positions 93-113, e.g., starting at a position in the range of positions 1-3 and ending at a position in the range of positions 98-103 or starting at a position in the range of positions 1-3 and ending at a position in the range of positions 103-108, in particular positions 1-103 of SEQ ID NO: 3.
  • Paragraph 21 The alpha-amylase of any of paragraphs 1-17, wherein the A1-domain has at least 60% sequence identity, e.g., at least 65%, at least 70%, at least 75%, at least 80%, at least 85%, at least 90%, at least 91%, at least 92%, at least 93%, at least 94%, at least 95%, at least 96%, at least 97%, at least 98%, at least 99%, or 100% sequence identity with the sequence starting at a position in the range of positions 1-5 and ending a position in the range of positions 94-114, e.g., starting at a position in the range of positions 1-3 and ending at a position in the range of positions 99-104 or starting at a position in the range of positions 1-3 and ending at a position in the range of positions 104-109, in particular positions 1-104 of SEQ ID NO: 4.
  • Paragraph 22 The alpha-amylase of any of paragraphs 1-17, wherein the A1-domain has at least 60% sequence identity, e.g., at least 65%, at least 70%, at least 75%, at least 80%, at least 85%, at least 90%, at least 91%, at least 92%, at least 93%, at least 94%, at least 95%, at least 96%, at least 97%, at least 98%, at least 99%, or 100% sequence identity with the sequence starting at a position in the range of positions 1-5 and ending a position in the range of positions 95-115, e.g., starting at a position in the range of positions 1-3 and ending at a position in the range of positions 100-105 or starting at a position in the range of positions 1-3 and ending at a position in the range of positions 105-110, in particular positions 1-105 of SEQ ID NO: 5.
  • Paragraph 23 The alpha-amylase of any of paragraphs 1-17, wherein the A1-domain has at least 60% sequence identity, e.g., at least 65%, at least 70%, at least 75%, at least 80%, at least 85%, at least 90%, at least 91%, at least 92%, at least 93%, at least 94%, at least 95%, at least 96%, at least 97%, at least 98%, at least 99%, or 100% sequence identity with the sequence starting at a position in the range of positions 1-5 and ending a position in the range of positions 95-115, e.g., starting at a position in the range of positions 1-3 and ending at a position in the range of positions 100-105 or starting at a position in the range of positions 1-3 and ending at a position in the range of positions 105-110, in particular positions 1-105 of SEQ ID NO: 6.
  • Paragraph 24 The alpha-amylase of any of paragraphs 1-17, wherein the A1-domain has at least 60% sequence identity, e.g., at least 65%, at least 70%, at least 75%, at least 80%, at least 85%, at least 90%, at least 91%, at least 92%, at least 93%, at least 94%, at least 95%, at least 96%, at least 97%, at least 98%, at least 99%, or 100% sequence identity with the sequence starting at a position in the range of positions 1-5 and ending a position in the range of positions 95-115, e.g., starting at a position in the range of positions 1-3 and ending at a position in the range of positions 100-105 or starting at a position in the range of positions 1-3 and ending at a position in the range of positions 105-110, in particular positions 1-105 of SEQ ID NO: 7.
  • Paragraph 25 The alpha-amylase of any of paragraphs 1-17, wherein the A1-domain has at least 60% sequence identity, e.g., at least 65%, at least 70%, at least 75%, at least 80%, at least 85%, at least 90%, at least 91%, at least 92%, at least 93%, at least 94%, at least 95%, at least 96%, at least 97%, at least 98%, at least 99%, or 100% sequence identity with the sequence starting at a position in the range of positions 1-5 and ending a position in the range of positions 95-115, e.g., starting at a position in the range of positions 1-3 and ending at a position in the range of positions 100-105 or starting at a position in the range of positions 1-3 and ending at a position in the range of positions 105-110, in particular positions 1-105 of SEQ ID NO: 8.
  • Paragraph 26 The alpha-amylase of any of paragraphs 1-17, wherein the A1-domain has at least 60% sequence identity, e.g., at least 65%, at least 70%, at least 75%, at least 80%, at least 85%, at least 90%, at least 91%, at least 92%, at least 93%, at least 94%, at least 95%, at least 96%, at least 97%, at least 98%, at least 99%, or 100% sequence identity with the sequence starting at a position in the range of positions 1-5 and ending a position in the range of positions 95-115, e.g., starting at a position in the range of positions 1-3 and ending at a position in the range of positions 100-105 or starting at a position in the range of positions 1-3 and ending at a position in the range of positions 105-110, in particular positions 1-105 of SEQ ID NO: 9.
  • Paragraph 27 The alpha-amylase of any of paragraphs 1-17, wherein the A1-domain has at least 60% sequence identity, e.g., at least 65%, at least 70%, at least 75%, at least 80%, at least 85%, at least 90%, at least 91%, at least 92%, at least 93%, at least 94%, at least 95%, at least 96%, at least 97%, at least 98%, at least 99%, or 100% sequence identity with the sequence starting at a position in the range of positions 1-5 and ending a position in the range of positions 95-115, e.g., starting at a position in the range of positions 1-3 and ending at a position in the range of positions 100-105 or starting at a position in the range of positions 1-3 and ending at a position in the range of positions 105-110, in particular positions 1-105 of SEQ ID NO: 10.
  • Paragraph 28 The alpha-amylase of any of paragraphs 1-17, wherein the A1-domain has at least 60% sequence identity, e.g., at least 65%, at least 70%, at least 75%, at least 80%, at least 85%, at least 90%, at least 91%, at least 92%, at least 93%, at least 94%, at least 95%, at least 96%, at least 97%, at least 98%, at least 99%, or 100% sequence identity with the sequence starting at a position in the range of positions 1-5 and ending a position in the range of positions 95-115, e.g., starting at a position in the range of positions 1-3 and ending at a position in the range of positions 100-105 or starting at a position in the range of positions 1-3 and ending at a position in the range of positions 105-110, in particular positions 1-105 of SEQ ID NO: 11.
  • Paragraph 29 The alpha-amylase of any of paragraphs 1-17, wherein the A1-domain has at least 60% sequence identity, e.g., at least 65%, at least 70%, at least 75%, at least 80%, at least 85%, at least 90%, at least 91%, at least 92%, at least 93%, at least 94%, at least 95%, at least 96%, at least 97%, at least 98%, at least 99%, or 100% sequence identity with the sequence starting at a position in the range of positions 1-5 and ending a position in the range of positions 95-115, e.g., starting at a position in the range of positions 1-3 and ending at a position in the range of positions 100-105 or starting at a position in the range of positions 1-3 and ending at a position in the range of positions 105-110, in particular positions 1-105 of SEQ ID NO: 12.
  • Paragraph 30 The alpha-amylase of any of paragraphs 1-17, wherein the A1-domain has at least 60% sequence identity, e.g., at least 65%, at least 70%, at least 75%, at least 80%, at least 85%, at least 90%, at least 91%, at least 92%, at least 93%, at least 94%, at least 95%, at least 96%, at least 97%, at least 98%, at least 99%, or 100% sequence identity with the sequence starting at a position in the range of positions 1-5 and ending a position in the range of positions 94-114, e.g., starting at a position in the range of positions 1-3 and ending at a position in the range of positions 99-104 or starting at a position in the range of positions 1-3 and ending at a position in the range of positions 104-109, in particular positions 1-104 of SEQ ID NO: 29.
  • sequence identity e.g., at least 65%, at least 70%, at least 75%, at least 80%, at least 85%, at
  • Paragraph 31 The alpha-amylase of any of paragraphs 1-17, wherein the A1-domain has at least 60% sequence identity, e.g., at least 65%, at least 70%, at least 75%, at least 80%, at least 85%, at least 90%, at least 91%, at least 92%, at least 93%, at least 94%, at least 95%, at least 96%, at least 97%, at least 98%, at least 99%, or 100% sequence identity with the sequence starting at a position in the range of positions 1-5 and ending a position in the range of positions 92-112, e.g., starting at a position in the range of positions 1-3 and ending at a position in the range of positions 97-102 or starting at a position in the range of positions 1-3 and ending at a position in the range of positions 102-107, in particular positions 1-102 of SEQ ID NO: 30.
  • sequence identity e.g., at least 65%, at least 70%, at least 75%, at least 80%, at least 85%, at least
  • Paragraph 32 The alpha-amylase of any of paragraphs 1-31, wherein the amino acid at the position corresponding to position 8 is Ala, Arg, Asn, Asp, Cys, Gln, Glu, Gly, His, Ile, Leu, Lys, Phe, Pro, Ser, Thr, Trp, Tyr, or Val, e.g., Leu.
  • Paragraph 33 The alpha-amylase of any of paragraphs 1-32, wherein the amino acid at the position corresponding to position 27 is Arg, Asn, Asp, Cys, Gln, Glu, Gly, His, Ile, Leu, Lys, Met, Phe, Pro, Ser, Thr, Trp, Tyr, or Val, e.g., Gln.
  • Paragraph 34 The alpha-amylase of any of paragraphs 1-33, wherein the amino acid at the position corresponding to position 34 is Ala, Arg, Asn, Asp, Cys, Gln, Glu, Gly, His, Ile, Leu, Lys, Phe, Pro, Thr, Trp, Tyr, or Val, e.g., Lys.
  • Paragraph 35 The alpha-amylase of any of paragraphs 1-33, wherein the amino acid at the position corresponding to position 34 is Ala, Arg, Asn, Asp, Cys, Gln, Glu, Gly, His, Ile, Leu, Lys, Phe, Pro, Thr, Trp, Tyr, or Val, e.g., Lys. Paragraph 35.
  • Paragraph 37 The alpha-amylase of any of paragraphs 1-36, wherein the amino acid at the position corresponding to position 59 is Ala, Arg, Asn, Asp, Cys, Gln, Glu, Gly, His, Ile, Leu, Lys, Met, Phe, Pro, Ser, Thr, Trp, or Tyr, e.g., Ala.
  • Paragraph 38 The alpha-amylase of any of paragraphs 1-37, wherein the amino acid at the position corresponding to position 80 is Ala, Arg, Asn, Asp, Cys, Gln, Glu, Gly, His, Ile, Leu, Lys, Met, Phe, Pro, Ser, Trp, Tyr, or Val, e.g., Asp.
  • Paragraph 39 The alpha-amylase of any of paragraphs 1-38, wherein the amino acid at the position corresponding to position 86 is Ala, Arg, Asn, Asp, Cys, Glu, Gly, His, Ile, Leu, Lys, Met, Phe, Pro, Ser, Thr, Trp, Tyr, or Val, e.g., Ser. Paragraph 40.
  • the alpha-amylase of any of paragraphs 1-39, wherein the amino acid at the position corresponding to position 90 is Arg, Asn, Asp, Cys, Gln, Glu, Gly, His, Ile, Leu, Lys, Met, Phe, Pro, Ser, Thr, Trp, Tyr, or Val, e.g., Ser. Paragraph 41.
  • the alpha-amylase of any of paragraphs 1-41, wherein the amino acid at the position corresponding to position 100 is Arg, Asn, Asp, Cys, Gln, Glu, Gly, His, Ile, Leu, Lys, Met, Phe, Pro, Ser, Thr, Trp, Tyr, or Val, e.g., Gly or Leu.
  • Paragraph 43 The alpha-amylase of any of paragraphs 1-42, wherein the amino acid at the position corresponding to position 204 is Ala, Arg, Asn, Asp, Cys, Gln, Glu, Gly, His, Leu, Lys, Met, Phe, Pro, Ser, Thr, Trp, Tyr, or Val, e.g., Leu. Paragraph 44.
  • the alpha-amylase of any of paragraphs 1-43 wherein the amino acid at the position corresponding to position 206 is Ala, Arg, Asn, Asp, Cys, Gln, Glu, Gly, His, Ile, Leu, Lys, Met, Phe, Pro, Ser, Thr, Trp, or Val, e.g., Met.
  • Paragraph 45 The alpha-amylase of any of paragraphs 1-44, wherein the amino acid at the position corresponding to position 220 is Ala, Arg, Asn, Asp, Cys, Gln, Glu, Gly, His, Ile, Leu, Met, Phe, Pro, Ser, Thr, Trp, Tyr, or Val, e.g., Pro.
  • Paragraph 46 The alpha-amylase of any of paragraphs 1-45, wherein the amino acid at the position corresponding to position 222 is Ala, Arg, Asn, Asp, Cys, Gln, Glu, Gly, His, Ile, Leu, Lys, Met, Phe, Pro, Ser, Thr, Trp, or Val, e.g., Val.
  • Paragraph 47 The alpha-amylase of any of paragraphs 1-46, wherein the amino acid at the position corresponding to position 224 is Ala, Arg, Asp, Cys, Gln, Glu, Gly, His, Ile, Leu, Lys, Met, Phe, Pro, Ser, Thr, Trp, Tyr, or Val, e.g., Leu. Paragraph 48.
  • Paragraph 51 The alpha-amylase of any of paragraphs 1-50, wherein the amino acid at the position corresponding to position 245 is Ala, Arg, Asn, Asp, Cys, Gln, Glu, Gly, His, Ile, Leu, Lys, Met, Phe, Ser, Thr, Trp, Tyr, or Val, e.g., Ala or Lys.
  • Paragraph 52 The alpha-amylase of any of paragraphs 1-50, wherein the amino acid at the position corresponding to position 245 is Ala, Arg, Asn, Asp, Cys, Gln, Glu, Gly, His, Ile, Leu, Lys, Met, Phe, Ser, Thr, Trp, Tyr, or Val, e.g., Ala or Lys.
  • the alpha-amylase of any of paragraphs 1-52, wherein the amino acid at the position corresponding to position 282 is Ala, Arg, Asn, Asp, Cys, Gln, Glu, His, Ile, Leu, Lys, Met, Phe, Pro, Ser, Thr, Trp, Tyr, or Val, e.g., Trp. Paragraph 54.
  • the alpha-amylase of any of paragraphs 1-54 wherein the amino acid at the position corresponding to position 301 is Ala, Arg, Asn, Asp, Cys, Gln, Glu, Gly, His, Ile, Leu, Lys, Met, Phe, Pro, Thr, Trp, Tyr, or Val, e.g., Lys. Paragraph 56.
  • the alpha-amylase of any of paragraphs 1-55 wherein the amino acid at the position corresponding to position 303 is Ala, Arg, Asn, Asp, Cys, Gln, Glu, His, Ile, Leu, Lys, Met, Phe, Pro, Ser, Thr, Trp, Tyr, or Val, e.g., Arg.
  • Paragraph 57 The alpha-amylase of any of paragraphs 1-56, wherein the amino acid at the position corresponding to position 304 is Arg, Asn, Asp, Cys, Gln, Glu, Gly, His, Ile, Leu, Lys, Met, Phe, Pro, Ser, Thr, Trp, Tyr, or Val, e.g., Asp. Paragraph 58.
  • the alpha-amylase of any of paragraphs 1-57 wherein the amino acid at the position corresponding to position 307 is Ala, Arg, Asn, Asp, Cys, Gln, Glu, Gly, His, Ile, Leu, Lys, Phe, Pro, Ser, Thr, Trp, Tyr, or Val, e.g., Leu. Paragraph 59.
  • the alpha-amylase of any of paragraphs 1-58, wherein the amino acid at the position corresponding to position 348 is Ala, Arg, Asn, Asp, Cys, Gln, Glu, Gly, His, Ile, Leu, Lys, Met, Phe, Pro, Thr, Trp, Tyr, or Val, e.g., Thr.
  • Paragraph 60 The alpha-amylase of any of paragraphs 1-59, wherein the amino acid at the position corresponding to position 386 is Ala, Arg, Asn, Asp, Cys, Gln, Glu, Gly, His, Ile, Leu, Lys, Met, Phe, Ser, Thr, Trp, Tyr, or Val, e.g., Gln, Glu, Thr, or Val.
  • Paragraph 61 The alpha-amylase of any of paragraphs 1-59, wherein the amino acid at the position corresponding to position 386 is Ala, Arg, Asn, Asp, Cys, Gln, Glu, Gly, His, Ile, Leu, Lys, Met, Phe, Ser, Thr, Trp, Tyr, or Val, e.g., Gln, Glu, Thr, or Val.
  • Paragraph 62. The alpha-amylase of any of paragraphs 1-61, wherein the A-domain of the variant is different from any of the A-domains of SEQ ID NOS: 1-12, 29, and 30 at the positions corresponding to positions 52 and 53, e.g., the amino acids at the positions corresponding to positions 52 and 53 are Gly and Tyr, respectively.
  • Paragraph 63 The alpha-amylase of any of paragraphs 1-60, wherein the amino acid at the position corresponding to position 388 is Ala, Arg, Asn, Asp, Cys, Gln, Glu, Gly, His, Ile, Lys,
  • alpha-amylase of any of paragraphs 1-62 wherein the A-domain of the variant is different from any of the A-domains of SEQ ID NOS: 1-12, 29, and 30 at the positions corresponding to positions 59, 242, and 307, e.g., the amino acids at the positions corresponding to positions 59, 242, and 307 are Ala; Gln or Glu; and Leu, respectively.
  • Paragraph 64 the amino acids at the positions corresponding to positions 59, 242, and 307 are Ala; Gln or Glu; and Leu, respectively.
  • alpha-amylase of any of paragraphs 1-65 wherein the A-domain of the variant is different from any of the A-domains of SEQ ID NOS: 1-12, 29, and 30 at the positions corresponding to positions 242 and 284, e.g., the amino acids at the positions corresponding to positions 242 and 284 are Gln or Glu; and Gln, Thr, or Val, respectively.
  • Paragraph 67 the amino acids at the positions corresponding to positions 242 and 284 are Gln or Glu; and Gln, Thr, or Val, respectively.
  • alpha-amylase of any of paragraphs 1-66 wherein the A-domain of the variant is different from any of the A-domains of SEQ ID NOS: 1-12, 29, and 30 at the positions corresponding to positions 242, 284, and 307, e.g., the amino acids at the positions corresponding to positions 242, 284, and 307 are Gln or Glu; Gln, Thr, or Val; and Leu, respectively.
  • Paragraph 68 Paragraph 68.
  • alpha-amylase of any of paragraphs 1-69 wherein the A-domain of the variant is different from any of the A-domains of SEQ ID NOS: 1-12, 29, and 30 at the positions corresponding to positions 244, 284, and 307, e.g., the amino acids at the positions corresponding to positions 244, 284, and 307 are Tyr; Gln, Thr, or Val; and Leu, respectively.
  • Paragraph 71 the amino acids at the positions corresponding to positions 244, 284, and 307 are Tyr; Gln, Thr, or Val; and Leu, respectively.
  • Paragraph 72. The alpha-amylase of any of paragraphs 1-71, wherein the A-domain of the variant is different from any of the A-domains of SEQ ID NOS: 1-12, 29, and 30 at the positions corresponding to positions 284 and 307, e.g., the amino acids at the positions corresponding to positions 284 and 307 are Gln, Thr, or Val; and Leu, respectively.
  • Paragraph 73 The alpha-amylase of any of paragraphs 1-72, wherein the A-domain of the variant is different from any of the A-domains of SEQ ID NOS: 1-12, 29, and 30 at the positions corresponding to positions 301, 303, and 304, e.g., the amino acids at the positions corresponding to positions 301, 303, and 304 are Lys, Arg, and Asp, respectively.
  • Paragraph 74 The alpha-amylase of any of paragraphs 1-72, wherein the A-domain of the variant is different from any of the A-domains of SEQ ID NOS: 1-12, 29, and 30 at the positions corresponding to positions 301, 303, and 304, e.g., the amino acids at the positions corresponding to positions 301, 303, and 304 are Lys, Arg, and Asp, respectively.
  • the B-domain has at least 60% sequence identity, e.g., at least 65%, at least 70%, at least 75%, at least 80%, at least 85%, at least 90%, at least 91%, at least 92%, at least 93%, at least 94%, at least 95%, at least 96%, at least 97%, at least 98%, at least 99%, or 100% sequence identity with the B-domain of SEQ ID NO: 13.
  • Paragraph 75 At least 60% sequence identity, e.g., at least 65%, at least 70%, at least 75%, at least 80%, at least 85%, at least 90%, at least 91%, at least 92%, at least 93%, at least 94%, at least 95%, at least 96%, at least 97%, at least 98%, at least 99%, or 100% sequence identity with the B-domain of SEQ ID NO: 13.
  • Paragraph 76 Paragraph 76.
  • the B-domain has at least 60% sequence identity, e.g., at least 65%, at least 70%, at least 75%, at least 80%, at least 85%, at least 90%, at least 91%, at least 92%, at least 93%, at least 94%, at least 95%, at least 96%, at least 97%, at least 98%, at least 99%, or 100% sequence identity with the B-domain of SEQ ID NO: 15. Paragraph 77.
  • Paragraph 80 The alpha-amylase of any of paragraphs 1-79, wherein the B-domain has at least 60% sequence identity, e.g., at least 65%, at least 70%, at least 75%, at least 80%, at least 85%, at least 90%, at least 91%, at least 92%, at least 93%, at least 94%, at least 95%, at least 96%, at least 97%, at least 98%, at least 99%, or 100% sequence identity with the sequence starting at a position in the range of positions 93-113 and ending at a position in the range of positions 195-215, e.g., starting at a position in the range of positions 97-109 and ending at a position in the range of positions 199-211 or starting at a position in the range of positions 100-106 and ending at a position in the range of positions 202-208, in particular positions 104-207 of SEQ ID NO: 14.
  • Paragraph 81 The alpha-amylase of any of paragraphs 1-80, wherein the B-domain has at least 60% sequence identity, e.g., at least 65%, at least 70%, at least 75%, at least 80%, at least 85%, at least 90%, at least 91%, at least 92%, at least 93%, at least 94%, at least 95%, at least 96%, at least 97%, at least 98%, at least 99%, or 100% sequence identity with the sequence starting at a position in the range of positions 93-113 and ending at a position in the range of positions 195-215, e.g., starting at a position in the range of positions 97-109 and ending at a position in the range of positions 199-211 or starting at a position in the range of positions 100-106 and ending at a position in the range of positions 202-208, in particular positions 104-207 of SEQ ID NO: 15.
  • Paragraph 82 The alpha-amylase of any of paragraphs 1-81, wherein the B-domain has at least 60% sequence identity, e.g., at least 65%, at least 70%, at least 75%, at least 80%, at least 85%, at least 90%, at least 91%, at least 92%, at least 93%, at least 94%, at least 95%, at least 96%, at least 97%, at least 98%, at least 99%, or 100% sequence identity with the sequence starting at a position in the range of positions 100-120 and ending at a position in the range of positions 161-181, e.g., starting at a position in the range of positions 105-115 and ending at a position in the range of positions 166-171 or starting at a position in the range of positions 107-113 and ending at a position in the range of positions 171-176, in particular positions 110-171 of SEQ ID NO: 16.
  • Paragraph 83 The alpha-amylase of any of paragraphs 1-82, wherein the B-domain has at least 60% sequence identity, e.g., at least 65%, at least 70%, at least 75%, at least 80%, at least 85%, at least 90%, at least 91%, at least 92%, at least 93%, at least 94%, at least 95%, at least 96%, at least 97%, at least 98%, at least 99%, or 100% sequence identity with the sequence starting at a position in the range of positions 100-120 and ending at a position in the range of positions 161-181, e.g., starting at a position in the range of positions 105-115 and ending at a position in the range of positions 166-171 or starting at a position in the range of positions 107-113 and ending at a position in the range of positions 171-176, in particular positions 110-171 of SEQ ID NO: 31.
  • Paragraph 84 The alpha-amylase of any of paragraphs 1-83, wherein the B-domain has at least 55% and less than 100% sequence identity with the B-domain of SEQ ID NO: 13.
  • Paragraph 85 The alpha-amylase of any of paragraphs 1-84, wherein the amino acid at the position corresponding to position 105 is Ala, Arg, Asn, Asp, Cys, Gln, Glu, Gly, His, Ile, Leu, Lys, Met, Phe, Pro, Ser, Thr, Trp, Tyr, or Val, e.g., Asp. Paragraph 86.
  • Paragraph 88 The alpha-amylase of any of paragraphs 1-87, wherein the amino acid at the position corresponding to position 129 is Ala, Arg, Asn, Asp, Cys, Gln, Gly, His, Ile, Leu, Lys, Met, Phe, Pro, Ser, Thr, Trp, Tyr, or Val, e.g., Val. Paragraph 89.
  • the alpha-amylase of any of paragraphs 1-89, wherein the amino acid at the position corresponding to position 134 is Ala, Arg, Asn, Asp, Cys, Gln, Glu, Gly, His, Ile, Leu, Lys, Met, Pro, Ser, Thr, Trp, Tyr, or Val, e.g., Glu or Tyr.
  • Paragraph 91 The alpha-amylase of any of paragraphs 1-90, wherein the amino acid at the position corresponding to position 135 is Ala, Arg, Asn, Asp, Cys, Gln, Gly, His, Ile, Leu, Lys, Met, Phe, Pro, Ser, Thr, Trp, Tyr, or Val, e.g., Asn or Gln.
  • Paragraph 92 The alpha-amylase of any of paragraphs 1-90, wherein the amino acid at the position corresponding to position 135 is Ala, Arg, Asn, Asp, Cys, Gln, Gly, His, Ile, Leu, Lys, Met, Phe, Pro, Ser, Thr, Trp, Tyr, or Val, e.g., Asn or Gln.
  • the alpha-amylase of any of paragraphs 1-92, wherein the amino acid at the position corresponding to position 157 is Ala, Arg, Asp, Cys, Gln, Glu, Gly, His, Ile, Leu, Lys, Met, Phe, Pro, Ser, Thr, Trp, Tyr, or Val, e.g., Tyr.
  • Paragraph 94 The alpha-amylase of any of paragraphs 1-91, wherein the amino acid at the position corresponding to position 150 is Ala, Arg, Asn, Asp, Cys, Glu, Gly, His, Ile, Leu, Lys,
  • the alpha-amylase of any of paragraphs 1-94, wherein the amino acid at the position corresponding to position 160 is Ala, Arg, Asn, Asp, Cys, Gln, Glu, Gly, Ile, Leu, Lys, Met, Phe, Pro, Ser, Thr, Trp, Tyr, or Val, e.g., Tyr.
  • Paragraph 96 The alpha-amylase of any of paragraphs 1-93, wherein the amino acid at the position corresponding to position 159 is Ala, Arg, Asn, Asp, Cys, Gln, Gly, His, Ile, Leu, Ly
  • the alpha-amylase of any of paragraphs 1-96, wherein the amino acid at the position corresponding to position 166 is Ala, Arg, Asn, Asp, Cys, Gln, Glu, Gly, His, Ile, Leu, Lys, Met, Pro, Ser, Thr, Trp, Tyr, or Val, e.g., Trp.
  • Paragraph 98 The alpha-amylase of any of paragraphs 1-97, wherein the amino acid at the position corresponding to position 168 is Arg, Asn, Asp, Cys, Gln, Glu, Gly, His, Ile, Leu, Lys, Met, Phe, Pro, Ser, Thr, Trp, Tyr, or Val, e.g., Glu.
  • Paragraph 99 The alpha-amylase of any of paragraphs 1-98, wherein the amino acid at the position corresponding to position 169 is Ala, Arg, Asn, Asp, Cys, Gln, Glu, Gly, His, Ile, Leu, Met, Phe, Pro, Ser, Thr, Trp, Tyr, or Val, e.g., Ser.
  • Paragraph 100 The alpha-amylase of any of paragraphs 1-99, wherein the amino acid at the position corresponding to position 170 is Ala, Arg, Asn, Asp, Cys, Gln, Glu, His, Ile, Leu, Lys, Met, Phe, Pro, Ser, Thr, Trp, Tyr, or Val, e.g., Arg.
  • Paragraph 101 The alpha-amylase of any of paragraphs 1-100, wherein the amino acid at the position corresponding to position 171 is Ala, Arg, Asn, Asp, Cys, Gln, Gly, His, Ile, Leu, Lys, Met, Phe, Pro, Ser, Thr, Trp, Tyr, or Val, e.g., Lys.
  • Paragraph 102 The alpha-amylase of any of paragraphs 1-101, wherein the amino acid at the position corresponding to position 172 is Ala, Asn, Asp, Cys, Gln, Glu, Gly, His, Ile, Leu, Lys, Met, Phe, Pro, Ser, Thr, Trp, Tyr, or Val, e.g., Leu. Paragraph 103.
  • the alpha-amylase of any of paragraphs 1-103, wherein the amino acid at the position corresponding to position 176 is Ala, Arg, Asn, Asp, Cys, Gln, Glu, Gly, His, Ile, Leu, Lys, Met, Pro, Ser, Thr, Trp, Tyr, or Val, e.g., Tyr.
  • Paragraph 105 The alpha-amylase of any of paragraphs 1-104, wherein the amino acid at the position corresponding to position 177 is Ala, Asn, Asp, Cys, Gln, Glu, Gly, His, Ile, Leu, Lys, Met, Phe, Pro, Ser, Thr, Trp, Tyr, or Val, e.g., Leu. Paragraph 106.
  • alpha-amylase of any of paragraphs 1-105 wherein the amino acid at the position corresponding to position 179 is Arg, Asn, Asp, Cys, Gln, Glu, Gly, His, Ile, Leu, Lys, Met, Phe, Pro, Ser, Thr, Trp, Tyr, or Val, e.g., Asn, Asp, Gln, or Glu, or is absent.
  • Paragraph 107 the amino acid at the position corresponding to position 179 is Arg, Asn, Asp, Cys, Gln, Glu, Gly, His, Ile, Leu, Lys, Met, Phe, Pro, Ser, Thr, Trp, Tyr, or Val, e.g., Asn, Asp, Gln, or Glu, or is absent.
  • Paragraph 108 the amino acid at the position corresponding to position 180 is Ala, Arg, Asn, Asp, Cys, Gln, Glu, His, Ile, Leu, Lys, Met, Phe, Pro, Ser, Thr, Trp, Tyr, or Val, e.g., Ala, Pro, or Ser, or is absent.
  • alpha-amylase of any of paragraphs 1-107, wherein the amino acid at the position corresponding to position 181 is Ala, Arg, Asn, Asp, Cys, Gln, Gly, His, Ile, Leu, Lys, Met, Phe, Pro, Ser, Thr, Trp, Tyr, or Val, e.g., Ala, Asp, Cys, Leu, or Pro, or is absent.
  • Paragraph 109 is Ala, Asp, Cys, Leu, or Pro, or is absent.
  • Paragraph 110 the amino acid at the position corresponding to position 182 is Ala, Arg, Asp, Cys, Gln, Glu, Gly, His, Ile, Leu, Lys, Met, Phe, Pro, Ser, Thr, Trp, Tyr, or Val, e.g., Ala, Pro, or Ser, or is absent.
  • the alpha-amylase of any of paragraphs 1-110, wherein the amino acid at the position corresponding to position 187 is Ala, Arg, Asn, Asp, Cys, Gln, Gly, His, Ile, Leu, Lys, Met, Phe, Pro, Ser, Thr, Trp, Tyr, or Val, e.g., Trp.
  • Paragraph 112 The alpha-amylase of any of paragraphs 1-111, wherein the amino acid at the position corresponding to position 188 is Ala, Arg, Asp, Cys, Gln, Glu, Gly, His, Ile, Leu, Lys, Met, Phe, Pro, Ser, Thr, Trp, Tyr, or Val, e.g., Glu. Paragraph 113.
  • Paragraph 115 The alpha-amylase of any of paragraphs 1-114, wherein the amino acid at the position corresponding to position 208 is Ala, Arg, Asn, Asp, Cys, Gln, Glu, Gly, Ile, Leu, Lys, Met, Phe, Pro, Ser, Thr, Trp, Tyr, or Val, e.g., Tyr.
  • Paragraph 116 The alpha-amylase of any of paragraphs 1-114, wherein the amino acid at the position corresponding to position 208 is Ala, Arg, Asn, Asp, Cys, Gln, Glu, Gly, Ile, Leu, Lys, Met, Phe, Pro, Ser, Thr, Trp, Tyr, or Val, e.g., Tyr.
  • Paragraph 129. The alpha-amylase of any of paragraphs 1-128, wherein the B-domain is different from the B-domain of SEQ ID NO: 3 at the positions corresponding to positions 105, 150, 184, and 206, e.g., the amino acids at the positions corresponding to positions 105, 150, 184, and 206 are Asp, Thr, Ala, and Met, respectively.
  • Paragraph 130 The alpha-amylase of any of paragraphs 1-129, wherein the B-domain is different from the B-domain of SEQ ID NO: 3 at the positions corresponding to positions 105, 157, 159, 160, 184, 208, and 210, e.g., the amino acids at the positions corresponding to positions 105, 157, 159, 160, 184, 208, and 210 are Asp; Tyr; Tyr; Tyr; Ala; Tyr; and Tyr or Val, respectively.
  • Paragraph 131 Paragraph 131.
  • Paragraph 132. The alpha-amylase of any of paragraphs 1-131, wherein the B-domain is different from the B-domain of SEQ ID NO: 3 at the positions corresponding to positions 105, 164, and 184, e.g., the amino acids at the positions corresponding to positions 105, 164, and 184 are Asp, Val, and Ala, respectively.
  • Paragraph 133 The alpha-amylase of any of paragraphs 1-130, wherein the B-domain is different from the B-domain of SEQ ID NO: 3 at the positions corresponding to positions 105, 160, and 184, e.g., the amino acids at the positions corresponding to
  • Paragraph 134 the amino acids at the positions corresponding to positions 105, 166, 168, and 171 are Asp, Trp, Glu, and Lys, respectively.
  • the alpha-amylase of any of paragraphs 1-133 wherein the B-domain is different from the B-domain of SEQ ID NO: 3 at the positions corresponding to positions 105, 179, and 184, e.g., the amino acids at the positions corresponding to positions 105, 179, and 184 are Asp; Asn, Asp, Gln, or Glu, or is absent; and Ala, respectively.
  • Paragraph 135. The alpha-amylase of any of paragraphs 1-134, wherein the B-domain is different from the B-domain of SEQ ID NO: 3 at the positions corresponding to positions 105 and 184, e.g., the amino acids at the positions corresponding to positions 105 and 184 are Asp and Ala, respectively.
  • Paragraph 136 The alpha-amylase of any of paragraphs 1-133, wherein the B-domain is different from the B-domain of SEQ ID NO: 3 at the positions corresponding to positions 105, 179, and 184, e.g., the amino
  • Paragraph 137. The alpha-amylase of any of paragraphs 1-136, wherein the B-domain is different from the B-domain of SEQ ID NO: 3 at the positions corresponding to positions 105 and 206, e.g., the amino acids at the positions corresponding to positions 105 and 206 are Asp and Met, respectively.
  • the alpha-amylase of any of paragraphs 1-138, wherein the B-domain is different from the B-domain of SEQ ID NO: 3 at the positions corresponding to positions 187, 188, and 191, e.g., the amino acids at the positions corresponding to positions 187, 188, and 191 are Trp, Glu, and Thr, respectively.
  • Paragraph 140 is
  • A2 and C-domains have at least 60% sequence identity, e.g., at least 65%, at least 70%, at least 75%, at least 80%, at least 85%, at least 90%, at least 91%, at least 92%, at least 93%, at least 94%, at least 95%, at least 96%, at least 97%, at least 98%, at least 99%, or 100% sequence identity with the sequence starting at a position in the range of positions 198-218 and ending at a position in the range of positions 478-483, e.g., starting at a position in the range of positions 203-208 and ending at a position in the range of positions 480-483 or starting at a position in the range of positions 208-213 and ending at a position in the range of positions 480-483, in particular positions 208-483 of SEQ ID NO: 1.
  • Paragraph 156 The alpha-amylase of any of paragraphs 1-155, wherein the A2 and C-domains have at least 60% sequence identity, e.g., at least 65%, at least 70%, at least 75%, at least 80%, at least 85%, at least 90%, at least 91%, at least 92%, at least 93%, at least 94%, at least 95%, at least 96%, at least 97%, at least 98%, at least 99%, or 100% sequence identity with the sequence starting at a position in the range of positions 202-222 and ending at a position in the range of positions 479-484, e.g., starting at a position in the range of positions 207-212 and ending at a position in the range of positions 481-484 or starting at a position in the range of positions 212-217 and ending at a position in the range of positions 481-484, in particular positions 212-484 of SEQ ID NO: 2.
  • Paragraph 157 The alpha-amylase of any of paragraphs 1-155, wherein the A2 and C-domains have at least 60% sequence identity, e.g., at least 65%, at least 70%, at least 75%, at least 80%, at least 85%, at least 90%, at least 91%, at least 92%, at least 93%, at least 94%, at least 95%, at least 96%, at least 97%, at least 98%, at least 99%, or 100% sequence identity with the sequence starting at a position in the range of positions 198-218 and ending at a position in the range of positions 478-483, e.g., starting at a position in the range of positions 203-208 and ending at a position in the range of positions 480-483 or starting at a position in the range of positions 208-213 and ending at a position in the range of positions 480-483, in particular positions 208-483 of SEQ ID NO: 3.
  • Paragraph 158 The alpha-amylase of any of paragraphs 1-155, wherein the A2 and C-domains have at least 60% sequence identity, e.g., at least 65%, at least 70%, at least 75%, at least 80%, at least 85%, at least 90%, at least 91%, at least 92%, at least 93%, at least 94%, at least 95%, at least 96%, at least 97%, at least 98%, at least 99%, or 100% sequence identity with the sequence starting at a position in the range of positions 201-221 and ending at a position in the range of positions 478-483, e.g., starting at a position in the range of positions 206-211 and ending at a position in the range of positions 480-483 or starting at a position in the range of positions 211-216 and ending at a position in the range of positions 480-483, in particular positions 211-483 of SEQ ID NO: 4.
  • Paragraph 159 The alpha-amylase of any of paragraphs 1-155, wherein the A2 and C-domains have at least 60% sequence identity, e.g., at least 65%, at least 70%, at least 75%, at least 80%, at least 85%, at least 90%, at least 91%, at least 92%, at least 93%, at least 94%, at least 95%, at least 96%, at least 97%, at least 98%, at least 99%, or 100% sequence identity with the sequence starting at a position in the range of positions 193-223 and ending at a position in the range of positions 482-485, e.g., starting at a position in the range of positions 208-213 and ending at a position in the range of positions 482-485 or starting at a position in the range of positions 213-218 and ending at a position in the range of positions 482-485, in particular positions 213-485 of SEQ ID NO: 5.
  • Paragraph 160 The alpha-amylase of any of paragraphs 1-155, wherein the A2 and C-domains have at least 60% sequence identity, e.g., at least 65%, at least 70%, at least 75%, at least 80%, at least 85%, at least 90%, at least 91%, at least 92%, at least 93%, at least 94%, at least 95%, at least 96%, at least 97%, at least 98%, at least 99%, or 100% sequence identity with the sequence starting at a position in the range of positions 203-223 and ending at a position in the range of positions 482-485, e.g., starting at a position in the range of positions 208-213 and ending at a position in the range of positions 482-485 or starting at a position in the range of positions 213-218 and ending at a position in the range of positions 482-485, in particular positions 213-485 of SEQ ID NO: 6.
  • Paragraph 161 The alpha-amylase of any of paragraphs 1-155, wherein the A2 and C-domains have at least 60% sequence identity, e.g., at least 65%, at least 70%, at least 75%, at least 80%, at least 85%, at least 90%, at least 91%, at least 92%, at least 93%, at least 94%, at least 95%, at least 96%, at least 97%, at least 98%, at least 99%, or 100% sequence identity with the sequence starting at a position in the range of positions 203-223 and ending at a position in the range of positions 482-485, e.g., starting at a position in the range of positions 208-213 and ending at a position in the range of positions 482-485 or starting at a position in the range of positions 213-218 and ending at a position in the range of positions 482-485, in particular positions 213-485 of SEQ ID NO: 7.
  • Paragraph 162 The alpha-amylase of any of paragraphs 1-155, wherein the A2 and C-domains have at least 60% sequence identity, e.g., at least 65%, at least 70%, at least 75%, at least 80%, at least 85%, at least 90%, at least 91%, at least 92%, at least 93%, at least 94%, at least 95%, at least 96%, at least 97%, at least 98%, at least 99%, or 100% sequence identity with the sequence starting at a position in the range of positions 203-223 and ending at a position in the range of positions 482-485, e.g., starting at a position in the range of positions 208-213 and ending at a position in the range of positions 482-485 or starting at a position in the range of positions 213-218 and ending at a position in the range of positions 482-485, in particular positions 213-485 of SEQ ID NO: 8.
  • Paragraph 163 The alpha-amylase of any of paragraphs 1-155, wherein the A2 and C-domains have at least 60% sequence identity, e.g., at least 65%, at least 70%, at least 75%, at least 80%, at least 85%, at least 90%, at least 91%, at least 92%, at least 93%, at least 94%, at least 95%, at least 96%, at least 97%, at least 98%, at least 99%, or 100% sequence identity with the sequence starting at a position in the range of positions 203-223 and ending at a position in the range of positions 481-484, e.g., starting at a position in the range of positions 208-213 and ending at a position in the range of positions 482-484 or starting at a position in the range of positions 213-218 and ending at a position in the range of positions 482-484, in particular positions 213-484 of SEQ ID NO: 9.
  • Paragraph 164 The alpha-amylase of any of paragraphs 1-155, wherein the A2 and C-domains have at least 60% sequence identity, e.g., at least 65%, at least 70%, at least 75%, at least 80%, at least 85%, at least 90%, at least 91%, at least 92%, at least 93%, at least 94%, at least 95%, at least 96%, at least 97%, at least 98%, at least 99%, or 100% sequence identity with the sequence starting at a position in the range of positions 203-223 and ending at a position in the range of positions 482-484, e.g., starting at a position in the range of positions 208-213 and ending at a position in the range of positions 482-484 or starting at a position in the range of positions 213-218 and ending at a position in the range of positions 482-484, in particular positions 213-484 of SEQ ID NO: 10.
  • Paragraph 165 The alpha-amylase of any of paragraphs 1-155, wherein the A2 and C-domains have at least 60% sequence identity, e.g., at least 65%, at least 70%, at least 75%, at least 80%, at least 85%, at least 90%, at least 91%, at least 92%, at least 93%, at least 94%, at least 95%, at least 96%, at least 97%, at least 98%, at least 99%, or 100% sequence identity with the sequence starting at a position in the range of positions 203-223 and ending at a position in the range of positions 482-485, e.g., starting at a position in the range of positions 208-213 and ending at a position in the range of positions 482-485 or starting at a position in the range of positions 213-218 and ending at a position in the range of positions 482-485, in particular positions 213-485 of SEQ ID NO: 11.
  • Paragraph 166 The alpha-amylase of any of paragraphs 1-155, wherein the A2 and C-domains have at least 60% sequence identity, e.g., at least 65%, at least 70%, at least 75%, at least 80%, at least 85%, at least 90%, at least 91%, at least 92%, at least 93%, at least 94%, at least 95%, at least 96%, at least 97%, at least 98%, at least 99%, or 100% sequence identity with the sequence starting at a position in the range of positions 203-223 and ending at a position in the range of positions 482-485, e.g., starting at a position in the range of positions 208-213 and ending at a position in the range of positions 482-485 or starting at a position in the range of positions 213-218 and ending at a position in the range of positions 482-485, in particular positions 213-485 of SEQ ID NO: 12.
  • Paragraph 167 The alpha-amylase of any of paragraphs 1-155, wherein the A2 and C-domains have at least 60% sequence identity, e.g., at least 65%, at least 70%, at least 75%, at least 80%, at least 85%, at least 90%, at least 91%, at least 92%, at least 93%, at least 94%, at least 95%, at least 96%, at least 97%, at least 98%, at least 99%, or 100% sequence identity with the sequence starting at a position in the range of positions 201-221 and ending at a position in the range of positions 478-483, e.g., starting at a position in the range of positions 206-211 and ending at a position in the range of positions 480-483 or starting at a position in the range of positions 211-216 and ending at a position in the range of positions 480-483, in particular positions 211-483 of SEQ ID NO: 29.
  • Paragraph 168 The alpha-amylase of any of paragraphs 1-155, wherein the A2 and C-domains have at least 60% sequence identity, e.g., at least 65%, at least 70%, at least 75%, at least 80%, at least 85%, at least 90%, at least 91%, at least 92%, at least 93%, at least 94%, at least 95%, at least 96%, at least 97%, at least 98%, at least 99%, or 100% sequence identity with the sequence starting at a position in the range of positions 199-219 and ending at a position in the range of positions 479-484, e.g., starting at a position in the range of positions 204-209 and ending at a position in the range of positions 481-484 or starting at a position in the range of positions 209-214 and ending at a position in the range of positions 481-484, in particular positions 209-484 of SEQ ID NO: 30.
  • Paragraph 169 The alpha-amylase of any of paragraphs 1-168, wherein the amino acid at the position corresponding to position 407 is Ala, Arg, Asp, Cys, Gln, Glu, Gly, His, Ile, Leu, Lys, Met, Phe, Pro, Ser, Thr, Trp, Tyr, or Val, e.g., Asp. Paragraph 170.
  • the alpha-amylase of any of paragraphs 1-170, wherein the amino acid at the position corresponding to position 432 is Ala, Arg, Asn, Cys, Gln, Glu, Gly, His, Ile, Leu, Lys, Met, Phe, Pro, Ser, Thr, Trp, Tyr, or Val, e.g., Pro.
  • Paragraph 172 The alpha-amylase of any of paragraphs 1-171, wherein the amino acid at the position corresponding to position 459 is Ala, Arg, Asn, Asp, Cys, Gln, Glu, Gly, His, Ile, Leu, Lys, Met, Phe, Pro, Ser, Trp, Tyr, or Val, e.g., Pro. Paragraph 173.
  • Paragraph 176. The alpha-amylase of any of paragraphs 1-175, wherein the C-domain is different from any of the C-domains of SEQ ID NOS: 1-12, 29, and 30 at the positions corresponding to positions 407 and 432, e.g., the amino acids at the positions corresponding to positions 407 and 432 are Asp and Pro, respectively.
  • Paragraph 177 The alpha-amylase of any of paragraphs 1-176, wherein the C-domain is different from any of the C-domains of SEQ ID NOS: 1-12, 29, and 30 at the positions corresponding to positions 430 and 432, e.g., the amino acids at the positions corresponding to positions 430 and 432 are Asp and Pro, respectively.
  • Paragraph 178 The alpha-amylase of any of paragraphs 1-177, wherein the alpha-amylase consists of 481 to 515, 481 to 493, or 481 to 486 amino acids.
  • Paragraph 179 The alpha-amylase of any of paragraphs 1-176, wherein the alpha-amylase consists of 481 to 515, 481 to 493, or 481 to 486 amino acids.
US13/516,891 2010-01-04 2011-01-04 Alpha-Amylases Abandoned US20120258497A1 (en)

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EP10150063.5 2010-01-04
EP10150062.7 2010-01-04
EP10150062 2010-01-04
EP10150063 2010-01-04
US30409210P 2010-02-12 2010-02-12
US33393010P 2010-05-12 2010-05-12
US35481710P 2010-06-15 2010-06-15
US35477510P 2010-06-15 2010-06-15
US35523010P 2010-06-16 2010-06-16
US36253610P 2010-07-08 2010-07-08
PCT/US2011/020135 WO2011082429A1 (fr) 2010-01-04 2011-01-04 Alpha-amylases
US13/516,891 US20120258497A1 (en) 2010-01-04 2011-01-04 Alpha-Amylases

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US13/515,437 Active 2032-07-12 US9416355B2 (en) 2010-01-04 2011-01-04 Alpha-amylase variants and polynucleotides encoding same
US13/514,727 Active US8435577B2 (en) 2010-01-04 2011-01-04 Alpha-amylases
US13/518,962 Expired - Fee Related US8900848B2 (en) 2010-01-04 2011-01-04 Stabilization of alpha-amylases towards calcium depletion and acidic PH
US13/516,780 Abandoned US20120270267A1 (en) 2010-01-04 2011-01-04 Alpha-Amylases
US13/516,891 Abandoned US20120258497A1 (en) 2010-01-04 2011-01-04 Alpha-Amylases
US13/857,431 Active US8591969B2 (en) 2010-01-04 2013-04-05 Alpha-amylases
US14/064,911 Expired - Fee Related US9139822B2 (en) 2010-01-04 2013-10-28 Alpha-amylases
US14/525,877 Expired - Fee Related US9273297B2 (en) 2010-01-04 2014-10-28 Stabilization of alpha-amylases towards calcium depletion and acidic pH
US14/696,979 Active US9506047B2 (en) 2010-01-04 2015-04-27 Alpha-amylases
US15/005,667 Expired - Fee Related US9394532B2 (en) 2010-01-04 2016-01-25 Stabilization of alpha-amylases towards calcium depletion and acidic pH
US15/137,852 Active 2031-11-26 US10550373B2 (en) 2010-01-04 2016-04-25 Alpha-amylase variants and polynucleotides encoding same
US15/185,910 Expired - Fee Related US9695405B2 (en) 2010-01-04 2016-06-17 Stabilization of alpha-amylases towards calcium depletion and acidic pH
US15/332,043 Active US9809806B2 (en) 2010-01-04 2016-10-24 Alpha-amylases
US16/715,041 Active 2031-03-21 US11603522B2 (en) 2010-01-04 2019-12-16 Alpha-amylase variants and polynucleotides encoding same
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US13/518,962 Expired - Fee Related US8900848B2 (en) 2010-01-04 2011-01-04 Stabilization of alpha-amylases towards calcium depletion and acidic PH
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US14/525,877 Expired - Fee Related US9273297B2 (en) 2010-01-04 2014-10-28 Stabilization of alpha-amylases towards calcium depletion and acidic pH
US14/696,979 Active US9506047B2 (en) 2010-01-04 2015-04-27 Alpha-amylases
US15/005,667 Expired - Fee Related US9394532B2 (en) 2010-01-04 2016-01-25 Stabilization of alpha-amylases towards calcium depletion and acidic pH
US15/137,852 Active 2031-11-26 US10550373B2 (en) 2010-01-04 2016-04-25 Alpha-amylase variants and polynucleotides encoding same
US15/185,910 Expired - Fee Related US9695405B2 (en) 2010-01-04 2016-06-17 Stabilization of alpha-amylases towards calcium depletion and acidic pH
US15/332,043 Active US9809806B2 (en) 2010-01-04 2016-10-24 Alpha-amylases
US16/715,041 Active 2031-03-21 US11603522B2 (en) 2010-01-04 2019-12-16 Alpha-amylase variants and polynucleotides encoding same
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US20160137996A1 (en) 2016-05-19
US20140075601A1 (en) 2014-03-13
US8900848B2 (en) 2014-12-02
WO2011080354A1 (fr) 2011-07-07
CA2786006A1 (fr) 2011-07-07
CN103068975A (zh) 2013-04-24
AU2011203460A1 (en) 2012-07-05
US9273297B2 (en) 2016-03-01
EP2521773A1 (fr) 2012-11-14
MX349630B (es) 2017-08-07
WO2011082425A3 (fr) 2011-09-29
EP2521775A1 (fr) 2012-11-14
US20120270267A1 (en) 2012-10-25
US8435577B2 (en) 2013-05-07
CN102884183B (zh) 2015-09-16
US9416355B2 (en) 2016-08-16
US20170037388A1 (en) 2017-02-09
US20120264171A1 (en) 2012-10-18
CN102884183A (zh) 2013-01-16
WO2011082425A2 (fr) 2011-07-07
CA2786006C (fr) 2020-03-10
MX2012007710A (es) 2012-08-15
US20120282658A1 (en) 2012-11-08
US20120264176A1 (en) 2012-10-18

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