Alpha-amylase variants for cold-water detergent stability
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Solution Overview
Problem
Current alpha-amylase enzymes used in detergents have reduced performance at low temperatures, making it difficult to effectively remove starchy stains in cold water washing cycles, and they are not stable in the presence of chelating agents and surfactants.
Innovation Solution
Development of alpha-amylase variants with specific deletions and alterations at positions R180, S181, T182, G183, Y48, E169, S170, R171, K172, L173, N174, L205, R309, M317, I390, which maintain high sequence identity with the parent enzyme but exhibit improved stability and activity in low-temperature detergents.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Loss of energy
If alpha-amylase is used in low-temperature detergents, then energy consumption is reduced and environmental friendliness is improved, but enzyme activity and wash performance deteriorate
Solution Approach 1:
The patent applies parameter changes by modifying the amino acid sequence of alpha-amylase through specific substitutions and deletions. The enzyme's structural parameters are altered to enable functional activity at lower temperatures while maintaining stability in detergent environments, directly resolving the contradiction between low-temperature operation and enzyme performance
2Productivity
If alpha-amylase is used in the presence of chelating agents and surfactants, then detergent cleaning capability is improved, but enzyme stability deteriorates
Solution Approach 1:
The patent applies preliminary anti-action by pre-modifying the alpha-amylase structure through specific amino acid substitutions and deletions before exposure to detergent conditions. These structural changes create resistance to chelating agents and surfactants in advance, preventing enzyme degradation while allowing the detergent to maintain its cleaning functionality
3Loss of energy
If washing temperature is lowered, then energy consumption is reduced, but stain removal performance deteriorates
Solution Approach 1:
The patent modifies the enzyme's operational parameters through amino acid sequence changes, enabling it to function effectively at lower temperatures. The structural modifications allow the enzyme to maintain catalytic activity and stain removal capability in cold water conditions, eliminating the trade-off between energy savings and cleaning performance
Applied Scientific Principles
This section explains which scientific principles are used to turn an abstract innovation direction into a practical engineering solution.
Function Achieved in This Case
The variants demonstrate enhanced wash performance and stability in low-temperature conditions, retaining at least 80% of the parent enzyme's activity even after storage in detergents, especially in the presence of chelating agents and surfactants.
Implementation Method 1
Alpha-amylases (alpha-1,4-glucan-4-glucanohydrolases, E.C. 3.2.1.1) constitute a group of enzymes, which catalyses hydrolysis of starch and other linear and branched 1,4-gluosidic oligo- and polysaccharides
Data Source
AI summary
The present invention relates to alpha-amylase variants. The present invention also relates to polynucleotides encoding the variants; nucleic acid constructs, vectors, and host cells comprising the polynucleotides; and methods of using the variants.