The extracellular alpha-amylase was purified to homogenity from the culture filtrate of starch grown Sch. castellii CBS 2863. The purified enzyme was glycoprotein with a molecular weight of about 56 kDa. The pH and temperature optimum were 5.5 and 40C, respectively. The enzyme was fairly stable up to 40C and at acid pH range (pH 4.0-7.0). The apparent Km and Vmax of the enzyme toward starch was 1.0mg/ml and 100U/mg protein, respectively. The analysis of amino acid composition was found to be acidic protein. The amino acid sequence of N-terminal peptide consisted of Asp-Val-Ser-Ser-Ala-X-X-Thr-Arg-Ser-Glu-Ser-Ile-Tyr.