Detergent Enzyme Variants for Stable Low-Temperature Washing

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Solution Overview

Problem

Existing detergent compositions face challenges in maintaining enzyme activity and stability in the presence of detergent components such as bleaching systems and chelators, necessitating improved formulations.

Innovation Solution

A detergent composition comprising specific alpha-amylase and protease variants with targeted modifications at defined positions, enhancing stability and activity in the presence of detergents, and suitable for low-temperature washing.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Reliability

If conventional enzymes are used in detergent compositions, then the formulation is simple and cost-effective, but the enzyme activity and stability deteriorate in the presence of bleaching systems and chelators

Engineering Contradiction:

Improveenzyme stabilityVSAvoidformulation complexity

Core Design Contradiction:

ReliabilityVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

The patent applies parameter changes by modifying the amino acid sequences of alpha-amylase and protease enzymes through site-directed mutagenesis. Specific residues are altered to enhance stability against bleaching agents and chelators while maintaining catalytic activity. This molecular-level parameter modification resolves the contradiction by improving enzyme reliability without requiring complex formulation additives.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #35Parameter changes

Solution Approach 2:

The invention creates composite enzyme formulations by combining modified alpha-amylase and protease variants in specific ratios within the detergent matrix. These composite enzyme systems exhibit synergistic stability and activity in the presence of bleaching systems and chelators, resolving the contradiction between improved reliability and formulation complexity through rational enzyme combination rather than complex chemical additives.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #40Composite materials

2Reliability

If enzyme variants with improved stability are developed, then performance in harsh detergent environments improves, but the development time and cost increase

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvedetergent stabilityVSAvoiddevelopment time

Core Design Contradiction:

ReliabilityVSLoss of time

Solution Approach 1:

The patent employs preliminary action through rational protein design and in silico modeling to predict stable enzyme variants before experimental validation. By pre-selecting amino acid substitutions based on structural and stability models, the development process is accelerated, reducing the time and cost typically associated with trial-and-error enzyme engineering while achieving improved detergent stability.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #10Preliminary action

Solution Approach 2:

The invention replaces traditional mechanical/empirical enzyme screening methods with computational biology approaches. Molecular dynamics simulations and stability prediction algorithms substitute for lengthy experimental screening, enabling rapid identification of stable enzyme variants and significantly reducing development time and resource requirements.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #28Mechanics substitution (Replace mechanical system)

3Productivity

If multiple enzyme variants are combined in detergent compositions, then wash performance through synergistic effects improves, but the formulation complexity increases

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvewash performanceVSAvoidformulation complexity

Core Design Contradiction:

ProductivityVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

The patent merges modified alpha-amylase and protease variants into a unified detergent formulation with optimized ratios. The synergistic effects of these combined enzyme variants enhance wash performance by targeting different stain components simultaneously, while the merging process itself simplifies the overall formulation compared to using multiple separate enzyme products.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #5Merging (Combining)

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 modified enzyme variants demonstrate improved stability and performance, particularly in low-temperature washing, with synergistic effects when combined, effectively enhancing stain removal.

Implementation Method 1

alpha-amylase activity; which catalyses hydrolysis of starch and other linear and branched 1,4-glucosidic oligo- and polysaccharides

Methodology Applied

Scientific EffectEnzymatic hydrolysis: Hydrolysis

Implementation Method 2

protease activity; a protease or a protease variant, wherein the respective variants exhibit modifications relative to the parent amylase and parent protease

Methodology Applied

Scientific EffectEnzymatic hydrolysis: Hydrolysis

Data Source

PatentEP4729596A2Detergent composition comprising amylase and protease variants

Publication Date: 2026.04.22 NOVOZYMES AS

AI summary

The present invention relates to detergent compositions comprising protease variants and alpha-amylases or variants thereof. Furthermore, the present invention relates to methods of using the detergent compositions.