Xylanase Polypeptides for Lignocellulose Degradation Efficiency

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Solution Overview

Problem

There is a need to improve cellulolytic protein compositions by supplementing with additional enzymes to enhance efficiency and provide cost-effective enzyme solutions for the degradation of lignocellulose, which is essential for converting lignocellulosic feedstocks into ethanol.

Innovation Solution

The development of isolated polypeptides with xylanase activity and their corresponding polynucleotides, which can be used to degrade or convert cellulosic or xylan-containing materials, thereby improving the efficiency of lignocellulose degradation.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Productivity

If additional enzymes are supplemented to improve cellulolytic protein compositions, then the efficiency of lignocellulose degradation is enhanced, but the device complexity increases

Engineering Contradiction:
Improveefficiency of lignocellulose degradationVSAvoidcomplexity of enzyme composition
Core Design Contradiction:
ProductivityVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

The patent combines xylanase enzyme activity with cellulolytic protein compositions to create a synergistic enzyme system. The xylanase specifically targets xylan in lignocellulose while the cellulolytic enzymes degrade cellulose, merging multiple enzymatic functions into a unified composition that enhances overall degradation efficiency without requiring separate treatment steps.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #5Merging (Combining)

Solution Approach 2:

The enzyme composition is designed to perform multiple functions simultaneously: degrading both cellulose and xylan components of lignocellulose. This multi-functional approach allows a single enzyme preparation to handle the complex composition of lignocellulosic feedstocks, improving productivity while managing complexity through functional integration rather than multiple separate enzyme preparations.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #6Universality (Multi-functionality)

2Productivity

If more cellulolytic enzymes are used to increase degradation efficiency, then the conversion of lignocellulosic feedstocks improves, but the cost-effectiveness decreases

Engineering Contradiction:
Improveconversion efficiency of lignocellulosic feedstocksVSAvoidcost-effectiveness of enzyme solution
Core Design Contradiction:
ProductivityVSEase of manufacture

Solution Approach 1:

The patent optimizes the parameters of the enzyme composition, including the specific activity, concentration, and composition ratios of the enzymes. By carefully controlling these parameters, the enzyme preparation achieves high conversion efficiency while maintaining cost-effectiveness through optimized enzyme loading and reduced requirements for additional additives or processing steps.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #35Parameter changes

Solution Approach 2:

The enzyme composition is designed to work synergistically, where the xylanase and cellulolytic enzymes enhance each other's activities. This self-enhancing property reduces the need for excessive enzyme quantities, as the enzymes collectively achieve higher degradation efficiency at lower overall costs compared to using separate, non-synergistic enzyme preparations.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #25Self-service

3Productivity

If xylanase activity is added to cellulolytic compositions, then the hydrolysis of cellulosic materials is enhanced, but the device complexity increases

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvehydrolysis rate of cellulosic materialsVSAvoidcomplexity of enzyme preparation
Core Design Contradiction:
ProductivityVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

The patent segments the enzymatic function into distinct components: xylanase for xylan degradation and cellulolytic enzymes for cellulose degradation. This segmentation allows each enzyme to be optimized for its specific substrate while working together in a coordinated manner, enhancing hydrolysis rates through specialized functionality rather than requiring a single complex multi-functional enzyme.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #1Segmentation

Solution Approach 2:

The xylanase and cellulolytic enzymes are merged into a single integrated preparation that maintains the specificities of each enzyme while achieving synergistic effects. This combination enhances the overall hydrolysis rate by ensuring both xylan and cellulose components of lignocellulose are degraded efficiently simultaneously, with the merged preparation requiring only one addition step rather than multiple separate enzyme additions.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #5Merging (Combining)

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 these polypeptides enhances the hydrolysis of cellulosic materials, reducing the amount of cellulolytic enzymes required and increasing the efficiency of lignocellulose conversion, making the process more cost-effective and efficient.

Implementation Method 1

xylanase activity is defined as a 1,4-beta-D-xylan-xylohydrolase (E.C. 3.2.1.8) that catalyzes the endo-hydrolysis of 1,4-beta-D-xylosidic linkages in xylans

Methodology Applied
Scientific EffectHydrolysis: Hydrolysis

Implementation Method 2

The present invention provides polypeptides having xylanase activity... isolated polypeptides having xylanase activity selected from a polypeptide comprising an amino acid sequence having at least 99% identity to the mature polypeptide of SEQ ID NO: 2

Methodology Applied
Scientific EffectEnzyme catalysis: Enzyme

Data Source

PatentEP2483403B1Polypeptides having xylanase activity and polynucleotides encoding same
Publication Date: 2017.11.15 NOVOZYMES INC
  • EP2483403B1 patent drawingFigure 1
  • EP2483403B1 patent drawingFigure 2A
  • EP2483403B1 patent drawingFigure 2B

AI summary

The present invention relates to isolated polypeptides having xylanase activity and isolated polynucleotides encoding the polypeptides. The invention also relates to nucleic acid constructs, vectors, and host cells comprising the polynucleotides as well as methods of producing and using the polypeptides.