Endoglucanase Variants for Broad-pH Textile and Detergent Use

Resolve Bottlenecks,
Find Innovative SolutionsGenerate Solutions

Solution Overview

Problem

Current cellulase compositions for industrial applications have varying substrate specificities and pH/temperature requirements, limiting their efficacy and efficiency in different industrial processes, and there is a need for cellulolytic enzymes with improved performance across a broader range of conditions.

Innovation Solution

Development of novel endoglucanase variants with specific amino acid substitutions, such as at positions 51, 75, 77, 82, 109, 116, 118, 135, and 205, which exhibit enhanced performance in textile and detergent applications, particularly in biofinishing and biostoning, with improved stability and activity across a broad pH range, including neutral and alkaline conditions.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Adaptability or versatility

If conventional cellulase compositions are used, then they can perform basic cellulose hydrolysis, but they have limited substrate specificity and require specific pH/temperature conditions that restrict their efficacy across different industrial processes

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvesubstrate specificity and pH/temperature rangeVSAvoidperformance consistency across different conditions

Core Design Contradiction:

Adaptability or versatilityVSReliability

Solution Approach 1:

The patent applies parameter changes by modifying amino acid residues at specific positions (51, 75, 77, 82, 109, 116, 118, 135, 205) in the endoglucanase sequence to alter the enzyme's physical and chemical properties. These substitutions change the enzyme's pH-activity profile and thermal stability, enabling it to maintain activity across broader pH ranges (including alkaline conditions) and temperature conditions, thus resolving the contradiction between adaptability and reliability

Inventive Principle:

Principle #35Parameter changes

Solution Approach 2:

The patent creates composite enzyme preparations by combining the engineered endoglucanase variants with other cellulase activities (such as cellobiohydrolases and beta-glucosidases) to form multi-functional enzyme compositions. This composite approach enhances substrate specificity across different cellulosic materials while maintaining performance consistency through synergistic enzyme interactions

Inventive Principle:

Principle #40Composite materials

2Reliability

If enzyme dosages are increased to improve treatment effectiveness, then better color revival and biofinishing effects are achieved, but production costs increase

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvetreatment effectivenessVSAvoidenzyme dosage and production cost

Core Design Contradiction:

ReliabilityVSQuantity of substance

Solution Approach 1:

The engineered endoglucanase variants exhibit enhanced catalytic efficiency and stability at lower concentrations due to optimized amino acid sequences. The substitutions improve the enzyme's affinity for cellulose substrates and enhance resistance to inhibitory conditions, allowing effective treatment at reduced dosages while maintaining treatment effectiveness and reducing production costs

Inventive Principle:

Principle #35Parameter changes

3Ease of manufacture

If fungal endoglucanases are produced through conventional methods, then production costs are incurred, but productivity and final activity yield in fermentation broth are limited

Engineering Contradiction:

Improveproduction costVSAvoidproductivity and activity yield in fermentation broth

Core Design Contradiction:

Ease of manufactureVSProductivity

Solution Approach 1:

The patent modifies production parameters by engineering endoglucanases with improved secretion efficiency and stability in fermentation broth. The amino acid substitutions enhance the enzyme's resistance to proteolytic degradation and improve solubility, leading to higher activity yields in fermentation broth and reduced production costs through more efficient fermentation processes

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 novel endoglucanase variants demonstrate improved performance compared to parental enzymes, achieving better color revival, antipilling, and biofinishing effects at lower dosages, with enhanced stability and activity across a wide pH range, leading to cost savings and improved textile treatment outcomes.

Implementation Method 1

Cellulases or cellulolytic enzymes are a group of glycoside hydrolase enzymes that catalyze the hydrolysis of beta-1,4 glycosidic linkages in the cellulose polymer

Methodology Applied

Scientific EffectEnzymatic hydrolysis: Hydrolysis

Data Source

PatentUS9994836B2Fungal endoglucanase variants, their production and use

Publication Date: 2018.06.12 AB ENZYMES OY

AI summary

The invention relates to novel variants of fungal endoglucanases, their production and means for their production. Especially the invention relates to variants of Acremonium thermophilum Cel45A. The invention further relates to enzyme preparations and detergent compositions comprising at least one novel variant endoglucanase as well as to processes for treating cellulosic material therewith. The novel variant endoglucanase polypeptides have improved performance in textile applications, especially in biofinishing and biostoning, and in detergent applications, in fabric care and color maintenance, especially in prevention and removal of fuzz and pills, in color care and revival.