The present invention relates to a variant
pullulanase, having increased thermo-stability and / or increased thermo-activity compared to a parent
pullulanase, comprising a substitution at least a one position selected from a position corresponding to positions 432, 486, 370, 17, 77, 103, 106, 107, 190, 196, 197, 262, 279, 283, 321, 367, 375, 382, 399, 401, 402, 411, 412, 434, 435, 443, 446, 459, 460, 479, 490, 498, 514, 529, 531, 533, 541, 545, 581, 583, 595, 649, 665, 688, 700, 709, 804, 811 of SEQ ID NO: 1, and optionally a deletion of one or more, e.g., all amino acids at positions 821, 822, 823, 824, 825, 826, 827, and 828, wherein the variant has
pullulanase activity, and wherein the variant has at least 70%, at least 75%, at least 80%, at least 85%, at least 90%, at least 95%, at least 96%, at least 97%, at least 98%, or at least 99%, but less than 100%
sequence identity to a parent
alpha amylase selected from the group consisting of SEQ ID NO: 1, SEQ ID NO: 3, SEQ ID NO: 4, SEQ ID NO: 5.Further aspect the present invention relates to a process for liquefying
starch-containing material at a temperature above the initial gelatinization temperature using an alpha-
amylase and a thermo-stable pullulanase of the invention.