NOVELTY - Isolated polypeptide having (a) a polypeptide comprising an amino acid sequence of mature polypeptide of SEQ ID NO: 2, 4, or 6, (b) a polypeptide comprising an amino acid sequence having at least at least 80% sequence identity to the polypeptide in the step (a), (c) a polypeptide encoded by a polynucleotide having at least 80%, sequence identity to a mature polypeptide coding sequence of SEQ ID NO: 1, 3, or 5, (d) a polypeptide encoded by a polynucleotide, and (e) a fragment, is new (where sequences not defined here may be found at ftp://ftp.wipo.int/pub/published-pct-sequences/publication).    USE - The isolated polypeptide is useful for producing fermentation product such as: fuel ethanol; portable alcohol; a beverage; organic compounds (claimed) such as citric acid, itaconic acid, lactic acid, gluconic acid, sodium gluconate, calcium gluconate, potassium gluconate, glucono delta lactone and sodium erythorbate; ketones; amino acids such as glutamic acid (sodium monoglutaminate); complex compounds such as antibiotics e.g. penicillin; tetracyclin; enzymes; vitamins such as riboflavin and vitamin B12; beta -carotene; and hormones.    ADVANTAGE - The isolated polypeptide has improved alpha -amylase activity and raw starch degrading activity, and easily produces the fermentation product with improved quality, nutritional value, palatability, and rheological properties.    DETAILED DESCRIPTION - Isolated polypeptide having alpha -amylase activity, comprising (a) a polypeptide comprising an amino acid sequence of the mature polypeptide of the amino acid sequence of SEQ ID NO: 2, SEQ ID NO:4, or SEQ ID NO:6, (b) a polypeptide comprising an amino acid sequence having at least at least 80%, sequence identity to the mature polypeptide of the amino acid sequence of SEQ ID NO: 2, SEQ ID NO:4, or SEQ ID NO:6, (c) a polypeptide encoded by a polynucleotide having at least 80%, sequence identity to the mature polypeptide coding sequence of SEQ ID NO: 1 , SEQ ID NO:3, or SEQ ID NO:5, (d) a polypeptide encoded by a polynucleotide that hybridizes under medium stringency conditions with the mature polypeptide coding sequence of SEQ ID NO: 1 , SEQ ID NO:3, or SEQ ID NO: 5, and (e) a fragment of the above polypeptides, is new (where sequences not defined here may be found at ftp://ftp.wipo.int/pub/published-pct-sequences/publication). INDEPENDENT CLAIMS are included for:    (1) an isolated polynucleotide encoding the polypeptide;    (2) a nucleic acid construct or expression vector comprising the polynucleotide linked to one or more control sequences that direct the production of the polypeptide in an expression host;    (3) a recombinant host cell comprising the polynucleotide linked to one or more control sequences that direct the production of the polypeptide;    (4) producing the polypeptide having alpha -amylase activity;    (5) a transgenic plant, plant part or plant cell transformed with a polynucleotide encoding the polypeptide; and    (6) producing a fermentation product, comprising either (a1) treating a starch-containing material with the polypeptide, and (b1) fermenting the material using a fermenting organism, or (a2) treating a starch-containing material with an alpha -amylase at a temperature below the initial gelatinization temperature of the starch-containing material, and (b2) fermenting the treated starch material.