Surfactant-Resistant Lipase for High Detergency in Cleaning Compositions

Resolve Bottlenecks,
Find Innovative SolutionsGenerate Solutions

Solution Overview

Problem

Existing lipases used in cleaning compositions are significantly inhibited by surfactants, leading to reduced cleaning effectiveness.

Innovation Solution

A novel lipase with an amino acid sequence of SEQ ID NO: 14 or high identity variants, exhibiting high resistance to surfactant inhibition and maintaining excellent cleaning performance even in the presence of surfactants.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Reliability

If conventional lipases are used in cleaning compositions, then they can hydrolyze triglycerides to remove oil stains, but their activity is significantly inhibited by surfactants present in the cleaning composition

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvelipase activityVSAvoidsurfactant inhibition

Core Design Contradiction:

ReliabilityVSObject-affected harmful factors

Solution Approach 1:

The patent applies parameter changes by modifying the amino acid sequence of the lipase enzyme through mutagenesis. Specifically, the lipase contains amino acid substitutions at positions 7 (Asp→Asn), 22 (Ser→Ala), and 23 (Ala→Val) compared to wild-type lipase, which changes the enzyme's structural and functional parameters to reduce surfactant inhibition while maintaining triglyceride hydrolysis activity

Inventive Principle:

Principle #35Parameter changes

Solution Approach 2:

The patent converts the harmful effect of surfactant inhibition into a benefit by selectively engineering the lipase to tolerate surfactants. The mutated lipase utilizes the presence of surfactants in the cleaning composition without significant inhibition, transforming a previously detrimental condition into an acceptable or even beneficial environment for the enzyme to function

Inventive Principle:

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

2Reliability

If the lipase sequence is modified to resist surfactant inhibition, then cleaning performance in surfactant-containing environments improves, but the complexity of characterizing and validating the mutant increases

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvecleaning performanceVSAvoidcharacterization complexity

Core Design Contradiction:

ReliabilityVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

The patent applies local quality by making specific targeted mutations at particular positions in the lipase amino acid sequence (positions 7, 22, and 23) rather than randomly mutating the entire sequence. This localized approach to mutagenesis allows for precise modification of specific regions known to interact with surfactants, thereby improving cleaning performance while maintaining overall enzyme functionality and simplifying characterization

Inventive Principle:

Principle #3Local quality

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 lipase demonstrates significantly higher resistance to surfactant inhibition and enhanced detergency compared to conventional lipases, making it suitable for use in cleaning compositions.

Implementation Method 1

lipases hydrolyze triglycerides to produce fatty acids

Methodology Applied

Scientific EffectHydrolysis: Hydrolysis

Data Source

PatentUS20250320475A1Novel lipase

Publication Date: 2025.10.16 KAO CORP

AI summary

Provided is a lipase for which activity inhibition by surfactants is reduced and which exhibits a high cleaning effect. A lipase consisting of the amino acid sequence of SEQ ID NO: 14 or an amino acid sequence having at least 91% identity thereto.