There are actually two main types of amylase:

* α-amylase: This is the primary enzyme responsible for breaking down amylose (and amylopectin) into smaller polysaccharides and disaccharides. It's found in saliva (salivary amylase) and pancreatic juice (pancreatic amylase).

* β-amylase: This enzyme breaks down amylose from the non-reducing end, producing maltose units. It's found in plants and some bacteria.

So, while both α-amylase and β-amylase can break down amylose, α-amylase is the primary enzyme responsible for this process in humans.