Pullulanase Enzyme for Mashing Process Starch Conversion
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Solution Overview
Problem
Modern mashing processes require high enzyme dosages to achieve optimal fermentable sugar production, leading to increased costs and potential over-fermentation issues.
Innovation Solution
The use of a specific pullulanase with an amino acid sequence at least 50% identical to SEQ ID NO: 4 or encoded by a nucleic acid sequence hybridizing under low stringency conditions, which reduces the amount of enzyme protein needed for efficient starch conversion during the mashing process.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Productivity
If high enzyme dosages are used in modern mashing processes, then optimal fermentable sugar production is achieved, but costs increase and over-fermentation issues occur
Solution Approach 1:
The patent applies parameter changes by modifying the enzyme's amino acid sequence (creating variants with at least 50% identity to SEQ ID NO: 4) to improve catalytic efficiency. This allows achieving optimal sugar production with reduced enzyme dosages, directly resolving the contradiction between productivity and quantity of substance used.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent creates enzyme copies (pullulanase variants) with modified amino acid sequences that are at least 50% identical to the reference sequence. These copies exhibit enhanced activity, allowing reduced enzyme dosage while maintaining optimal fermentable sugar production, thus solving the technical contradiction.
2Reliability
If high enzyme dosages are used to ensure optimal sugar conversion, then extract recovery improves, but enzyme costs increase
Solution Approach 1:
The patent modifies enzyme parameters (amino acid sequence) to create more efficient pullulanase variants. These variants achieve reliable extract recovery at lower dosages, resolving the contradiction between reliability and quantity of substance by improving enzyme efficiency rather than increasing amount used.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent produces copies of the pullulanase enzyme with optimized amino acid sequences (at least 50% identity to SEQ ID NO: 4). These copies maintain high reliability for extract recovery while reducing the total enzyme protein amount needed, thus solving the contradiction between reliability and quantity.
3Productivity
If conventional pullulanase is used, then starch conversion occurs, but larger amounts of enzyme protein are required
Solution Approach 1:
The patent changes the enzyme's amino acid sequence parameters to create pullulanase variants with enhanced starch conversion efficiency. This allows achieving the same productivity with reduced enzyme protein amounts, directly resolving the contradiction between productivity and quantity of substance.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent creates enzyme copies with modified amino acid sequences (at least 50% identity to SEQ ID NO: 4) that improve starch conversion efficiency. These copies achieve higher productivity per unit of enzyme protein, resolving the contradiction between productivity and quantity by improving catalytic performance.
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
This approach allows for the production of a brewer's wort with reduced non-fermentable sugars, enhancing extract recovery and fermentable sugar yield while minimizing enzyme usage, thus optimizing beer production efficiency.
Implementation Method 1
contacting said mash with a pullulanase... for production of a brewer's wort... conversion of starch from the milled barley malt and solid adjuncts into fermentable and unfermentable sugars
Implementation Method 2
enzymes are often added as a supplement when mashing malt is low in enzymes... apply debranching enzymes, e.g., isoamylase or pullulanase to increase the yield fermentable sugars
Data Source
AI summary
The present invention provides processes for producing a brewers wort comprising forming a mash from a grist, and contacting said mash with a pullulanase.