Phytases, nucleic acids encoding them and methods of making and using them

A formulation comprising:

• (A) a polypeptide having phytase activity wherein the polypeptide is encoded by a nucleic acid comprising a variant of the nucleic acid of SEQ ID NO:7, wherein said variant has a nucleotide sequence which differs from SEQ ID NO:7 solely by:
• (i) substituting nucleotide 389 with G, substituting nucleotide 390 with A, substituting nucleotide 437 with T, substituting nucleotide 438 with G, substituting nucleotide 439 with G, substituting nucleotide 470 with C, substituting nucleotide 472 with T, substituting nucleotide 476 with T, substituting nucleotide 477 with G, substituting nucleotide 478 with T, substituting nucleotide 689 with G, substituting nucleotide 690 with A, substituting nucleotide 691 with G, substituting nucleotide 728 with T, substituting nucleotide 729 with A, substituting nucleotide 730 with T, substituting nucleotide 863 with T, substituting 864 with G, substituting nucleotide 1016 with G, or any combination thereof;
• or
• (ii) substituting nucleotide 389 with G, substituting nucleotide 390 with A, substituting nucleotide 437 with T, substituting nucleotide 438 with G, substituting nucleotide 439 with G, substituting nucleotide 470 with C, substituting nucleotide 472 with T, substituting nucleotide 476 with T, substituting nucleotide 477 with G, substituting nucleotide 478 with T, substituting nucleotide 689 with G, substituting nucleotide 690 with A, substituting nucleotide 691 with G, substituting nucleotide 728 with T, substituting nucleotide 729 with A, substituting nucleotide 730 with T, substituting nucleotide 863 with T, substituting 864 with G, and substituting nucleotide 1016 with G;
• (B) a polypeptide having phrase activity wherein said polypeptide comprises an amino acid sequence which is a variant of SEQ ID NO:8, wherein said variant differs from SEQ ID NO:8 solely by:
• (i) substituting amino acid 68 with E, substituting amino acid 84 with W, substituting amino acid 95 with P, substituting amino acid 97 with C, substituting amino acid 168 with E, substituting amino acid 181 with Y, substituting amino acid 226 with C, substituting amino acid 277 with D, or any combination thereof;
• or
• (ii) substituting amino acid 68 with E, substituting amino acid 84 with W, substituting amino acid 95 with P, substituting amino acid 97 with C, substituting amino acid 168 with E, substituting amino acid 181 with Y, substituting amino acid 226 with C, and substituting amino acid 277 with D;
• (C) the polypeptide of (A) or (B) wherein the polypeptide lacks a leader sequence;
• (D) the polypeptide of(A), (B) or (C) wherein the polypeptide further comprises a heterologous sequence;
• (E) the polypeptide of (D) wherein the heterologous sequence encodes a leader or signal peptide, or an N-terminal identification peptide which provides stabilization or allows for simplified purification;
• (F) the polypeptide of (A), (B), (C), (D) or (E) wherein the polypeptide is glycosylated;
• (G) the polypeptide of (A), (B), (C), (D), (E) or (F) and a stabilizing agent;
• or
• (H) the polypeptide of (A), (B), (C), (D), (E), (F) or (G) and a stabilizing agent which comprises urea, polyol, sorbitol, and/or glycerol.