Replacement of the regulatory sequence of the Bacillus amyloliquefaciens alpha-amylase gene (AMY1) by the yeast alcohol dehydrogenase gene promoter (ADC1(P)) resulted in increased levels of extracellular alpha-amylase production in Saccharomyces cerevisiae. Negative regulation of glucoamylase synthesis by the STA10-encoded repressor was alleviated by replacing the native STA2 gene promoter from S. cerevisiae var. diastaticus with ADC1(P). Enhanced degradation of starch was achieved when the modified versions of the AMY1 and STA2 genes were introduced jointly into S. cerevisiae.