Carbohydrate degrading polypeptide and uses thereof

A nucleic acid sequence coding for a hemicellulase, whereby the nucleic acid sequence is selected from the group consisting of:

• (a) a nucleic acid sequence having at least 90% sequence identity with a nucleic acid sequence selected from the group consisting of SEQ ID NOs:
• 36, 39, and 40, and containing at least one substitution modification relative to said nucleic acid sequence;
• (b) a nucleic acid sequence hybridizing with the complement of a nucleic acid sequence having at least 90% sequence identity with a nucleic acid sequence selected from the group consisting of SEQ ID NOs:
• 36, 39, and 40, and containing at least one substitution modification relative to said nucleic acid sequence;
• (c) a nucleic acid sequence encoding an amino acid sequence having at least 90% sequence identity with SEQ ID NO:37, and containing at least one substitution modification relative to said sequence;
• or
• (d) a nucleic acid sequence which is the reverse complement of a nucleic acid sequence as defined in (a), (b) or (c).

A method for producing a sugar from a lignocellulosic material, comprising:

• (a) pretreatment of the lignocellulosic material;
• and
• (b) contacting the pretreated lignocellulosic material with a polypeptide having hemicellulase activity, comprising:
• (i) an amino acid sequence having at least 90% sequence identity to SEQ ID NO:
• 37;
• (ii) an amino acid sequence encoded by a nucleic acid sequence having at least 90% sequence identity to a sequence selected from the group consisting of SEQ ID NOs:
• 36, 39, and 40;
• (iii) an amino acid sequence encoded by a nucleic acid sequence hybridizing with the complement of a nucleic acid sequence having at least 90% sequence identity with a nucleic acid sequence selected from the group consisting of SEQ ID NOs:
• 36, 39, and 40;
• or
• (iv) an amino acid sequence encoded by a nucleic acid sequence which is the reverse complement of a nucleic acid sequence as defined in (i), (ii) or (iii).

A method for treating a substrate comprising hemicellulose, comprising:

• (a) pretreatment of the substrate;
• and
• (b) contacting the pretreated substrate with a polypeptide having hemicellulase activity, comprising:
• (i) an amino acid sequence having at least 90% sequence identity to SEQ ID NO:37;
• (ii) an amino acid sequence encoded by a nucleic acid sequence having at least 90% sequence identity to a sequence selected from the group consisting of SEQ ID NOs:
• 36, 39, and 40;
• (iii) an amino acid sequence encoded by a nucleic acid sequence hybridizing with the complement of a nucleic acid sequence having at least 90% sequence identity with a nucleic acid sequence selected from the group consisting of SEQ ID NOs:
• 36, 39, and 40;
• or
• (iv) an amino acid sequence encoded by a nucleic acid sequence which is the reverse complement of a nucleic acid sequence as defined in (i), (ii) or (iii).

A method for preparing a polypeptide having hemicellulase activity, comprising cultivating a cell under conditions which allow for expression of said polypeptide and, optionally, recovering the expressed polypeptide, wherein said polypeptide comprises:

• (i) an amino acid sequence having at least 90% sequence identity to SEQ ID NO:37;
• (ii) an amino acid sequence encoded by a nucleic acid sequence having at least 90% sequence identity to a sequence selected from the group consisting of SEQ ID NOs:
• 36, 39, and 40;
• (iii) an amino acid sequence encoded by a nucleic acid sequence hybridizing with the complement of a nucleic acid sequence having at least 90% sequence identity with a nucleic acid sequence selected from the group consisting of SEQ ID NOs:
• 36, 39, and 40;
• or
• (iv) an amino acid sequence encoded by a nucleic acid sequence which is the reverse complement of a nucleic acid sequence as defined in (i), (ii) or (iii).