Amylases are secreted proteins that hydrolyze 1,4-alpha-glucoside bonds in oligosaccharides and polysaccharides, and thus catalyze the first step in digestion of dietary starch and glycogen. The human genome has a cluster of several amylase genes that are expressed at high levels in either salivary gland or pancreas. This gene encodes an amylase isoenzyme produced by the pancreas. [provided by RefSeq, Jul 2008].
van der Maarel, van der Veen, Uitdehaag, Leemhuis, Dijkhuizen: "Properties and applications of starch-converting enzymes of the alpha-amylase family." in: Journal of biotechnology, Vol. 94, Issue 2, pp. 137-55, (2002) (PubMed).