Alpha-amylase variants and polynucleotides encoding same

A process of producing a fermentation product from starch-containing material comprising the steps of:

• (a) liquefying starch-containing material above the initial gelatinization temperature of said starch-containing material in the presence of an alpha amylase;
• (b) saccharifying the liquefied material;
• and (c) fermenting with a fermenting organism;
• wherein step (b) is carried out in the presence of at least a variant alpha-amylase, and optionally a glucoamylase, wherein the variant alpha-amylase comprises a N196W substitution and an alteration at one or more positions corresponding to positions 196, 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 13, 15, 28, 38, 39, 43, 54, 56, 57, 67, 68, 70, 71, 86, 89, 90, 94, 96, 99, 101, 103, 107, 110, 113, 114, 117, 127, 134, 138, 142, 150, 151, 152, 156, 169, 171, 174, 179, 183, 193, 199, 200, 204, 205, 207, 208, 209, 212, 218, 221, 222, 224, 233, 241, 245, 259, 275, 278, 281, 282, 283, 284, 285, 308, 323, 335, 348, 359, 382, 386, 388, 392, 394, 396, 412, 414, 417, 424, 428, 457, 459, 466, 479, 489, 511, 533, 534, 543, 545, 547, 549, 550, 551, 560, 566, 570, 575, 576, 577, 578, 580, 582, 589, 592, 599, 603, 605, 608, 614, 619, or 626 of the polypeptide of SEQ ID NO:
• 1, wherein the variant has alpha-amylase activity and wherein the variant has at least 70%, but less than 100% sequence identity, to the polypeptide of SEQ ID NO:
• 1.

A process of producing a syrup product from starch-containing material, comprising the step of:

• (a) liquefying starch-containing material at a temperature above the initial gelatinization temperature of said starch-containing material in the presence of an alpha-amylase;
• (b) saccharifying the liquefied material in the presence of at least a variant alpha-amylase, and optionally a glucoamylase, wherein the variant alpha-amylase comprises a N196W substitution and an alteration at one or more positions corresponding to positions 196, 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 13, 15, 28, 38, 39, 43, 54, 56, 57, 67, 68, 70, 71, 86, 89, 90, 94, 96, 99, 101, 103, 107, 110, 113, 114, 117, 127, 134, 138, 142, 150, 151, 152, 156, 169, 171, 174, 179, 183, 193, 199, 200, 204, 205, 207, 208, 209, 212, 218, 221, 222, 224, 233, 241, 245, 259, 275, 278, 281, 282, 283, 284, 285, 308, 323, 335, 348, 359, 382, 386, 388, 392, 394, 396, 412, 414, 417, 424, 428, 457, 459, 466, 479, 489, 511, 533, 534, 543, 545, 547, 549, 550, 551, 560, 566, 570, 575, 576, 577, 578, 580, 582, 589, 592, 599, 603, 605, 608, 614, 619, or 626 of the polypeptide of SEQ ID NO:
• 1, wherein the variant has alpha-amylase activity and wherein the variant has at least 70%, but less than 100% sequence identity, to the polypeptide of SEQ ID NO:
• 1.