Alpha-Amylase Variants for Enhanced Detergent Stability

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Solution Overview

Problem

Current alpha-amylases used in industrial applications, such as detergents and starch processing, have limitations in terms of specific activity and stability, which affect their performance and efficiency.

Innovation Solution

Development of alpha-amylase variants with specific substitutions at defined positions in the amino acid sequence, resulting in improved specific activity and stability, achieved through nucleic acid constructs and expression vectors in host cells, allowing for enhanced enzyme performance in detergents and other applications.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Productivity

If alpha-amylases derived from microorganisms are used in industrial applications, then the enzymes can be produced at scale, but their specific activity and stability are limited

Engineering Contradiction:
Improveenzyme production scaleVSAvoidenzyme stability
Core Design Contradiction:
ProductivityVSReliability

Solution Approach 1:

The patent applies parameter changes by modifying the amino acid sequence of alpha-amylase at specific positions (3, 5, 7, 8, 16, 18, 25, 26, 29, 30, 35, 37, 40, 41, 43, 46, 50, 57, 60, 68, 71, 73, 74, 78, 81, 84, 86, 87, 90, 91, 93, 97, 98, 103, 105, 110, 111, 113, 114, 116, 117, 119, 120, 121, 125, 126, 128, 129, 131, 132, 133, 135, 137, 138, 139, 140, 141, 142, 143, 145, 146, 147, 149, 159, 161, 162, 165, 167, 169, 171, 176, 177, 179, 180, 181, 185, 186, 187, 195, 196, 197, 204, 206, 208, 211, 216, 218, 219, 225, 228, 230, 231, 235, 242, 243, 247, 250, 251, 252, 253, 254, 255, 257, 259, 260, 261, 262, 263, 265, 272, 273, 274, 279, 280, 281, 283, 284, 287, 292, 294, 296, 298, 299, 300, 303, 305, 307, 310, 311, 313, 314, 315, 319, 320, 321, 322, 323, 324, 334, 337, 339, 340, 342, 344, 345, 346, 347, 350, 359, 360, 361, 362, 363, 364, 368, 372, 375, 380, 382, 383, 384, 385, 387, 388, 391, 393, 395, 396, 397, 398, 401, 402, 403, 405, 406, 407, 410, 415, 416, 418, 421, 422, 423, 433, 434, 435, 438, 439, 446, 447, 449, 450, 452, 455, 457, 458, 460, 461, 462, 465, 466, 467, 469, 471, 473, 475, 476, 477, and 478) to improve enzyme stability and specific activity while maintaining producibility

Inventive Principle:
Principle #35Parameter changes

2Reliability

If alpha-amylases are modified to improve specific activity, then enzyme performance improves, but the complexity of enzyme development increases

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvespecific activityVSAvoidenzyme development complexity
Core Design Contradiction:
ReliabilityVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

The patent applies local quality by making targeted amino acid substitutions at specific positions in the alpha-amylase sequence rather than random modifications. This focused approach improves specific activity while minimizing development complexity by concentrating efforts on key residues that most impact enzyme performance

Inventive Principle:
Principle #3Local quality

Solution Approach 2:

The patent systematically changes amino acid parameters at defined positions to optimize enzyme performance. By establishing specific substitution patterns at predetermined locations, the method reduces development complexity through a structured approach rather than exhaustive screening

Inventive Principle:
Principle #35Parameter changes

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 alpha-amylase variants exhibit improved specific activity and stability, leading to enhanced performance in detergents and other applications, such as improved stain removal and substrate specificity, thereby overcoming the limitations of parent enzymes.

Implementation Method 1

Alpha-amylases (alpha-1,4-glucan-4-glucanohydrolases, E.C. 3.2.1.1) constitute a group of enzymes, which catalyse hydrolysis of starch and other linear and branched 1,4-gluosidic oligo- and polysaccharides

Methodology Applied
Scientific EffectHydrolysis: Hydrolysis

Data Source

PatentUS20220251528A1Alpha-Amylase Variants
Publication Date: 2022.08.11 NOVOZYMES AS

AI summary

The present invention relates to variants of a parent alpha-amylase having an improved wash performance when compared to the parent alpha-amylase. The present invention also relates to polynucleotides encoding the variants, nucleic acid constructs, vectors, and host cells comprising the polynucleotides, and method of producing the variants of the present invention.