Protease-Resistant Glycoside Hydrolase Variants for Detergents

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Solution Overview

Problem

Existing cellulases in detergents are unstable in the presence of proteases, leading to degradation and reduced effectiveness in laundry and cleaning processes.

Innovation Solution

Development of glycoside hydrolase variants with engineered proline-rich linkers and carbohydrate binding modules, enhancing stability in the presence of proteases and improving wash performance.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Reliability

If conventional cellulases are used in detergent compositions, then they provide color clarification and anti-pilling benefits, but they are degraded by proteases leading to reduced stability and effectiveness

Engineering Contradiction:

Improveenzyme stabilityVSAvoidprotease degradation

Core Design Contradiction:

ReliabilityVSObject-affected harmful factors

Solution Approach 1:

The patent applies parameter changes by modifying the amino acid sequence of the cellulase enzyme, specifically introducing protease resistance mutations at cleavage sites. This changes the chemical parameters of the enzyme to make it resistant to proteolytic degradation while maintaining its catalytic activity and stability in detergent compositions

Inventive Principle:

Principle #35Parameter changes

Solution Approach 2:

The patent converts the harmful effect of proteases into a benefit by designing the enzyme with specific protease resistance features. The protease cleavage sites are modified to prevent degradation, thereby transforming the previously harmful proteolytic environment into a condition where the enzyme remains stable and functional throughout the detergent's lifecycle

Inventive Principle:

Principle #22Blessing in disguise (Convert harm into benefit)

2Reliability

If enzyme stability is improved through molecular modification, then protease resistance increases, but the complexity of enzyme development and characterization increases

Engineering Contradiction:

Improveprotease resistanceVSAvoidenzyme development complexity

Core Design Contradiction:

ReliabilityVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

The patent applies segmentation by dividing the enzyme development process into distinct modules: identifying protease cleavage sites, introducing specific mutations at those sites, and characterizing each modification separately. This modular approach to enzyme engineering reduces overall complexity by breaking down the complex task of creating protease-resistant enzymes into manageable, systematic steps

Inventive Principle:

Principle #1Segmentation

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 exhibit improved stability and enhanced wash performance, including better color clarification and anti-pilling effects in laundry and dishwashing applications.

Implementation Method 1

the variant comprises a catalytic domain, an engineered linker region, such as a proline-rich linker region, and a carbohydrate binding module (CBM)

Methodology Applied

Scientific EffectProline-rich structure stabilization:

Implementation Method 2

cellulases and are characterized by their ability to cleave the 1,4-beta-glycosidic linkages in cellulose molecules into smaller molecules

Methodology Applied

Scientific EffectEnzymatic hydrolysis: Hydrolysis

Data Source

PatentUS12590273B2Stabilized glycoside hydrolase variants

Publication Date: 2026.03.31 NOVOZYMES AS

AI summary

Disclosed are variants of a glycoside hydrolase having improved stability, e.g., in the presence of a protease, and the use of such variants in detergent applications, such as laundry or dish wash.