AN ALPHA-AMYLASE FROM PYROCOCCUS

A DNA construct encoding an enzyme exhibiting amylolytic activity and a) comprising a DNA sequence encoding at least one of the partial amino acid sequences (a) AKYLELEEGG(SEQ ID NO 10); (b) VIMQAFYWDV(SEQ ID NO 11); (c) PGGGIWWDHI(SEQ ID NO 12); (d) RSKIPEWYEA(SEQ ID NO 13); (e) GISAIWLPPP(SEQ ID NO 14); (f) SKGMSGGYSM(SEQ ID NO 15); (g) GYDPYDYFDL(SEQ ID NO 16); (h) GEYYQKGTVE(SEQ ID NO 17); (i) TRFGSKEELV(SEQ ID NO 18); (j) RLIQTAHAYG(SEQ ID NO 19); (k) IKVIADWIN(SEQ ID NO 20); (l) HRAGGDLEWN(SEQ ID NO 21); (m) PFVGDYTWTD(SEQ ID NO 22); (n) FSKVASGKYT(SEQ ID NO 23); (o) ANYLDFHPNE(SEQ ID NO 24); (p) LHCCDEGTFG(SEQ ID NO 25); (q) GFPDICHHKE(SEQ ID NO 26); (r) WDQYWLWKSN(SEQ ID NO 27); (s) ESYAAYLRSI(SEQ ID NO 28); (t) GFDGWRFDYV(SEQ ID NO 29); (u) KGYGAWVVRD(SEQ ID NO 30); (v) WLNWWGGWAV(SEQ ID NO 31); (x) GEYWDTNVDA(SEQ ID NO 32); (y) LLSWAYESGA(SEQ ID NO 33); (z) KVFDFPLYYK(SEQ ID NO 34); (A) MDEAFDNNNI(SEQ ID NO 35); (B) PALVYALQNG(SEQ ID NO 36); (C) QTVVSRDPFK(SEQ ID NO 37); (D) AVTFVANHDT(SEQ ID NO 38); (E) DIIWNKYPAY(SEQ ID NO 39); (F) AFILTYEGQP(SEQ ID NO 40); (G) VIFYRDFEEW(SEQ ID NO 41); (H) LNKDKLINLI(SEQ ID NO 42); (I) WIHDHLAGGS(SEQ ID NO 43); (J) TTIVYYDNDE(SEQ ID NO 44); (K) LIFVRNGDSR(SEQ ID NO 45); (L) RPGLITYINL(SEQ ID NO 46); (M) SPNWVGRWVY(SEQ ID NO 47); (N) VPKFAGACIH(SEQ ID NO 48); (O) EYTGNLGGWV(SEQ ID NO 49); (P) DKRVDSSGWV(SEQ ID NO 50); (Q) YLEAPPHDPA(SEQ ID NO 51); (R) NGYYGYSVWSYCGVG (SEQ ID NO 52), and/or b) comprises a DNA sequence hybridizing with an oligonucleotide probe prepared on the basis of any of the DNA sequence shown in SEQ ID Nos. 1-6, on the basis of the amino acid sequence encoded by any of the said DNA sequences or the amino acid sequence shown in SEQ ID No. 9, or on the basis of any of the partial amino acid sequences (a)-(R) listed in a) above, and/or c) encodes a polypeptide being at least 70% homologous with the amino acid sequence shown in SEQ ID No. 9, as well as an amylolytic enzyme encoded by the DNA construct. The amylolytic enzyme is preferably of archaebacterial origin, such as derivable from a strain of Pyrococcus sp., e.g. P. furiosus, and may, e.g., be used for starch liquefaction.