Fungal cellulase composition containing alkaline CMC-endoglucanase and essentially no cellobiohydrolase and method of making thereof
AssigneeNovo Nordisk A/S
InventorsMartin Schulein, Kirsten B.o slashed.egh Levring
Life of this patent
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Abstract
A cellulase preparation useful for reducing the harshness of cotton-containing fabrics and for reducing the rate at which such fabrics become harsh comprises about 40% or more (based on the total protein content) of an endoglucanase component with a pH optimum of about 7.5-10.0 with a high CMC-endoase activity and affinity towards cellulose and essentially no cellobiohydrolase activity. The cellulase composition is endogenous to a strain of Humicola, Myceliophthora, or Fusarium. A method for the recombinant production of said cellulase preparation is provided.
Claims21
A method for producing a cellulase preparation which comprises a substantially homogeneous endoglucanase, comprising:
- (a) introducing a recombinant DNA vector carrying a first DNA sequence encoding the endoglucanase operably linked to control sequences permitting the expression of said first DNA sequence into a host cell;
- (b) cultivating the host cell in a culture medium under conditions permitting the expression of the endoglucanase;
- and
- (c) recovering the endoglucanase from the culture medium;
- wherein the endoglucanase is endogenous to a strain of Myceliophthora, Fusarium or Humicola and
- (i) has a pH optimum of about 7.5-10.0;
- (ii) exhibits a carboxymethylcellulose (CMC) endoase activity of at least about 10 CMC-endoase units per mg of total protein;
- (iii) exhibits a cellulose affinity viscosity unit (CAVU) activity of at least about 50% at a pH of 7.0-12.0;
- and
- (iv) has essentially no cellobiohydrolase activity.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.