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Source: Thermococcales (thermostable bacterium)
Function: The gene encodes a thermostable alpha-amylase. This  enzyme splits starch into smaller sugar subunits (saccharification). Splitting starch into sugar is the first step in producing bioethanol from plants.
Plants like maize naturally contain their own amylases. They get destroyed, however, when maize is subjected to high temperatures for ethanol production. Typically, supplemental amylase preparations must be added. Heat stable amalyse expressed in 3273 makes this step unneccessary. |