A novel gene belonging to the alpha-amylase family was isolated directly from community DNA obtained from soil sediments collected from Bor Khleung hot spring in Thailand. Partial sequences harboring four conserved regions of the alpha-amylase family were amplified by PCR using degenerate primers.
BACKGROUND
Pullulanase is an important debranching enzyme and has been widely utilized to hydrolyse the α-1,6 glucosidic linkages in starch/sugar industry. Selecting new bacterial strains or improving bacterial strains is a prerequisite and effective solution in industrial applications. Although