The present invention is directed to C-terminal truncated .alpha.-amylase
polypeptides, nucleic acid sequences encoding the truncated
.alpha.-amylase polypeptides, and methods of using the same. Further
provided are expression cassettes, plants and plant parts expressing the
nucleic acid sequence encoding the truncated .alpha.-amylase. Expression
of the truncated .alpha.-amylase in a plant cell results in enhanced
accumulation of biologically-active .alpha.-amylase, or enhanced
secretion of the .alpha.-amylase from the plant cell, compared to the
accumulation or secretion of a full length .alpha.-amylase.