Novamyl is a thermostable five-domain maltogenic alpha-amylase that shows s
equence and structural homology with the cyclodextrin glycosyltransferases
(CGTases), Comparing X-ray crystal structures of Novamyl and CGTases, two m
ajor differences in the active site cleft were observed: Novamyl contains a
loop insertion consisting of five residues (residues 191-195) and the loca
tion of an aromatic residue known to be essential to obtain an efficient cy
clization reaction. To convert Novamyl into a cyclodextrin (CD)producing en
zyme, the loop was deleted and two substitutions, F188L and T189Y, were int
roduced. Unlike the parent Novamyl, the obtained variant is able to produce
beta-CD and showed an overall conversion of starch to CD of 9%, compared w
ith CGTases which are able to convert up to 40%. The lower conversion compa
red with the CGTase is probably due to additional differences in the active
site cleft and in the starch-binding E domain. A variant with only the fiv
e-residue loop deleted was not able to form beta-CD.