Alkaline xyloglucanase

Abstract

A xyloglucanase having a relative xyloglucanase activity of atleast 50% at pH7 and either no or an insignificant cellulolytic activity is obtainable e.g. from a strain of Bacillus. A xyloglucanase comprising an amino acid sequence as shown in positions 30-261 of SEQ ID NO:2 or homologues may be derived from e.g. Bacillus licheniformis, ATCC 14580, and may be encoded by polynucleotide molecules comprising a nucleotide sequence as shown in SEQ ID NO:1 from nucleotide 88 to nucleotide 783; and a xyloglucanase comprising an amino acid sequence as shown in positions 1-537 of SEQ ID NO:4 or homologues may be derived from e.g. B. agaradhaerens, NCIMB 40482, and may be encoded by polynucleotide molecules comprising a nucleotide sequence as shown in SEQ ID NO:3 from nucleotide 1 to nucleotide 1611. The xyloglucanases are useful e.g. in cleaning compositions and for treatment of cellulosic fibres.

Description

[0001] The present invention relates to alkaline xyloglucanases, i.e. enzymes exhibiting xyloglucanase activity as their main enzymatic activity in the neutral and alkaline pH range; to processes for the preparation of these enzymes; also Methods involving the use of these enzymes in the textile, detergent and cellulosic fiber processing industries. Background of the invention [0002] Xyloglucan is a major structural polysaccharide in the primary (growing) cell wall of plants. Structurally, xyloglucan consists of a cellulose-like β-1,4-linked glucose backbone frequently substituted with various side chains. The xyloglucans of most dicots, some monocots and gymnosperms are highly branched polysaccharides in which about 75% of the glucose residues in the backbone bear glycosyl side chains at positions 0-6. The sugar groups directly attached to the branched glucose residues are all α-D-xylose. Since the xylose residue has a β-D-galactose or α-L-fucose-(1-2)-β-D-galactose compo...

AI Technical Summary

Problems solved by technology

True xyloglucanases, however, are true xyloglucan-specific enzymes that catalyze the hydrolysis of xyloglucan to xyloglucan oligosaccharides, but without substantial cellulose Decomposing activity, e.g. activity to hydrolyze the commonly used cellulose-like substrates CMC (carboxymethyl cellulose), HE cellulose and Avicel (microcrystalline cellulose)