Maltooligosaccharide-forming amylases (MFAses) are specific and promising because they can hydrolyze starch into functional maltooligosaccharides,which are usually composed of 2-10 α-D-glucopyranosyl units linked by α-1,4 glycosidic bonds.During past decades,MFAses have been extensively studied,and shown promise in various industrial applications.Recently the gene of a novel maltooligosaccharide-forming amylase derived from Bacillus stearothermophilus was successfully cloned and expressed by B.subtilis WB600.