Engineered Amylase Storage Stability in Liquid Detergents
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing amylase-containing detergents and cleaning agents often suffer from instability during storage, leading to inadequate catalytic activity and suboptimal cleaning performance, especially when stored for several weeks or months.
Innovation Solution
Incorporating an amylase with an amino acid sequence that matches SEQ ID NO: 1 or a sufficiently similar sequence, which exhibits improved storage stability, into detergent or cleaning agents. This amylase maintains enzymatic activity over a wide temperature range and is stable in surfactant compositions.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If conventional amylases are used in detergents, then initial catalytic activity is achieved, but storage stability deteriorates leading to insufficient activity after weeks or months
Solution Approach 1:
The patent applies parameter changes by modifying the amino acid sequence of the amylase enzyme to achieve improved storage stability. Specifically, the enzyme has been engineered with particular amino acid substitutions that enhance its stability in detergent formulations during storage, while maintaining its catalytic activity. This resolves the contradiction by changing the molecular parameters of the enzyme itself rather than altering storage conditions or detergent composition.
2Duration of action of stationary object
If amylase is stored in surfactant-containing preparations for extended periods, then detergent shelf life is extended, but enzyme instability increases leading to reduced cleaning performance
Solution Approach 1:
The patent modifies the enzyme's amino acid sequence parameters to enhance its stability in surfactant-containing environments during extended storage. The engineered amylase maintains its structural integrity and catalytic function despite prolonged exposure to detergent formulations, resolving the contradiction between extended shelf life and enzyme stability.
3Productivity
If existing amylases are used, then detergent formulation is simple, but cleaning performance on starch-sensitive soils is suboptimal after storage
Solution Approach 1:
The patent employs parameter changes in the enzyme's amino acid sequence to optimize cleaning performance on starch-sensitive soils after storage. The engineered amylase maintains high catalytic activity and stability in detergent formulations, achieving superior cleaning performance despite the complexity of enzyme engineering involved.
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 use of this stable amylase in detergents and cleaning agents enhances their hydrolytic activity and cleaning performance, even after extended storage periods, resulting in improved washing results on starch-sensitive surfaces across a wide temperature range.
Implementation Method 1
Amylases are classified as hydrolases (an enzyme that cleaves hydrolytically) or glycosidases (an enzyme that cleaves polysaccharides). α-amylases (EC 3.2.1.1) cleave internal α(1-4) glycoside bonds of amylose
Implementation Method 2
Amylases are among the technically important enzymes. Their use in detergents and cleaning agents is industrially established
Data Source
AI summary
The invention relates to a detergent or cleaning agent, particularly a liquid detergent or liquid cleaning agent, containing an amylase, in which the amino acid sequence of the amylase has been modified particularly in view of its application in detergents and cleaning agents. The invention also relates to methods for cleaning textiles and hard surfaces, and uses of these detergents or cleaning agents.