U.S. patent application number 14/261912 was filed with the patent office on 2014-08-14 for performance-enhanced and temperature-resistant protease variants.
This patent application is currently assigned to Henkel AG & Co. KGaA. The applicant listed for this patent is Henkel AG & Co. KGaA. Invention is credited to Hendrik Hellmuth, Brian Laufs, Marion Merkel, Timothy O'Connell, Susanne Tondera, Thomas Weber, Susanne Wieland.
Application Number | 20140227764 14/261912 |
Document ID | / |
Family ID | 47022726 |
Filed Date | 2014-08-14 |
United States Patent
Application |
20140227764 |
Kind Code |
A1 |
Hellmuth; Hendrik ; et
al. |
August 14, 2014 |
PERFORMANCE-ENHANCED AND TEMPERATURE-RESISTANT PROTEASE
VARIANTS
Abstract
Proteases that comprise an amino acid sequence that is at least
70% identical to the amino acid sequence indicated in SEQ ID NO. 1
over its entire length and that comprise, in the count in
accordance with SEQ ID NO. 1, the amino acid substitution R99E or
R99D in combination with at least two further amino acid
substitutions that are selected from the group consisting of S3T,
V4I, and V199I, display very good cleaning performance in
particular on blood-containing stains, as well as very good
temperature stability.
Inventors: |
Hellmuth; Hendrik;
(Duesseldorf, DE) ; Merkel; Marion; (Koeln,
DE) ; Laufs; Brian; (Juechen, DE) ; Wieland;
Susanne; (Zons/Dormagen, DE) ; O'Connell;
Timothy; (Duesseldorf, DE) ; Tondera; Susanne;
(Duesseldorf, DE) ; Weber; Thomas; (Dormagen,
DE) |
|
Applicant: |
Name |
City |
State |
Country |
Type |
Henkel AG & Co. KGaA |
Duesseldorf |
|
DE |
|
|
Assignee: |
Henkel AG & Co. KGaA
Duesseldorf
DE
|
Family ID: |
47022726 |
Appl. No.: |
14/261912 |
Filed: |
April 25, 2014 |
Related U.S. Patent Documents
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Application
Number |
Filing Date |
Patent Number |
|
|
PCT/EP2012/070721 |
Oct 19, 2012 |
|
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14261912 |
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Current U.S.
Class: |
435/212 ;
435/252.3; 435/252.31; 435/252.32; 435/252.33; 435/252.34;
435/252.35; 435/254.11; 435/254.2; 435/254.21; 435/263; 435/264;
435/320.1; 536/23.2 |
Current CPC
Class: |
C11D 3/386 20130101;
C12N 9/48 20130101; C12Y 304/21062 20130101; C12N 9/54
20130101 |
Class at
Publication: |
435/212 ;
536/23.2; 435/320.1; 435/252.31; 435/252.33; 435/252.3; 435/252.32;
435/252.35; 435/252.34; 435/254.11; 435/254.21; 435/254.2; 435/263;
435/264 |
International
Class: |
C12N 9/48 20060101
C12N009/48 |
Foreign Application Data
Date |
Code |
Application Number |
Oct 28, 2011 |
DE |
10 2011 118 021.8 |
Claims
1. A protease comprising an amino acid sequence that is at least
70% identical to the amino acid sequence indicated in SEQ ID NO. 1
over its entire length and comprises, in the count in accordance
with SEQ ID NO. 1, the amino acid substitution R99E or R99D in
combination with at least two further amino acid substitutions that
are selected from the group consisting of S3T, V4I, and V199I.
2. A protease, selected from the group consisting of proteases
obtainable from: (a.) protease according to claim 1 as a starting
molecule by single or multiple conservative amino acid
substitution, wherein the protease comprises, in the count in
accordance with SEQ ID NO. 1, the amino acid substitution R99E or
R99D in combination with at least two further amino acid
substitutions that are selected from the group consisting of S3T,
V4I, and V199I; (b.) protease according to claim 1 as a starting
molecule by fragmentation, deletion mutagenesis, insertion
mutagenesis, or substitution mutagenesis, and comprises an amino
acid sequence that corresponds to the starting molecule over a
length of at least 50, 60, 70, 80, 90, 100, 110, 120, 130, 140,
150, 160, 170, 180, 190, 200, 210, 220, 230, 240, 250, 260, 265, or
266 continuously connected amino acids, wherein the amino acid
substitution R99E or R99D contained in the starting molecule, in
combination with at least two further amino acid substitutions that
are selected from the group consisting of S3T, V4I, and V199I, is
still present; (c.) protease according to claim 1 as a starting
molecule by means of one or more amino acid substitutions in
positions that are associated in an alignment with the positions
36, 42, 47, 56, 61, 69, 87, 96, 101, 102, 104, 114, 118, 120, 130,
139, 141, 142, 154, 157, 188, 193, 205, 211, 224, 229, 236, 237,
242, 243, 255, and 268 of the protease from Bacillus lentus in
accordance with SEQ ID NO. 1, wherein the protease comprises, in
the count in accordance with SEQ ID NO. 1, the amino acid
substitution R99E or R99D in combination with at least two further
amino acid substitutions that are selected from the group
consisting of S3T, V4I, and V199I.
3. A method for manufacturing a protease, comprising the
introduction of an amino acid substitution R99E or R99D, in
combination with at least two further amino acid substitutions that
are selected from the group consisting of S3T, V4I, and V199I, in
the count according to SEQ ID NO. 1, into a starting protease that
is at least 70% identical to the amino acid sequence indicated in
SEQ ID NO. 1 over its entire length.
4. The method according to claim 3, further comprising one or more
of the following method steps: (a.) introducing a single or
multiple conservative amino acid substitution, wherein the protease
comprises, in the count in accordance with SEQ ID NO. 1, the amino
acid substitution R99E or R99D in combination with at least two
further amino acid substitutions that are selected from the group
consisting of S3T, V4I, and V199I; (b.) modifying the amino acid
sequence by fragmentation, deletion mutagenesis, insertion
mutagenesis, or substitution mutagenesis, in such a way that the
protease comprises an amino acid sequence that corresponds to the
starting molecule over a length of at least 50, 60, 70, 80, 90,
100, 110, 120, 130, 140, 150, 160, 170, 180, 190, 200, 210, 220,
230, 240, 250, 260, 265, or 266 continuously connected amino acids,
wherein the amino acid substitution R99E or R99D, in combination
with at least two further amino acid substitutions that are
selected from the group consisting of S3T, V4I, and V199I, is still
present; (c.) introducing a single or multiple amino acid
substitution into one or more of the positions that are associated
in an alignment with the positions 36, 42, 47, 56, 61, 69, 87, 96,
101, 102, 104, 114, 118, 120, 130, 139, 141, 142, 154, 157, 188,
193, 205, 211, 224, 229, 236, 237, 242, 243, 255, and 268 of the
protease from Bacillus lentus in accordance with SEQ ID NO. 1,
wherein the protease comprises, in the count in accordance with SEQ
ID NO. 1, the amino acid substitution R99E or R99D in combination
with at least two further amino acid substitutions that are
selected from the group consisting of S3T, V4I, and V199I.
5. A nucleic acid coding for a protease according to one of claims
1.
6. A vector containing a nucleic acid according to claim 5.
7. A non-human host cell that contains a nucleic acid according to
claim 5.
8. A method for manufacturing a protease, comprising (a.)
cultivating a host cell in accordance with claim 7, (b.) isolating
the protease from the culture medium or from the host cell.
9. A washing or cleaning agent, comprising at least one protease
according to claim 1.
10. A method for cleaning textiles or hard surfaces, wherein that
in at least one method step an agent according to claim 9 is
utilized.
Description
FIELD OF THE INVENTION
[0001] The present invention generally relates to enzyme
technology, and more particularly relates to proteases, and to the
manufacture thereof, whose amino acid sequence has been modified in
particular with regard to use in washing and cleaning agents; to
all sufficiently similar proteases having a corresponding
modification; and to nucleic acids coding for them. The invention
further relates to methods and uses of these proteases and to
agents, in particular washing and cleaning agents, containing
them.
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
[0002] Proteases are among the technically most important of all
enzymes. For washing and cleaning agents they are the
longest-established enzymes, contained in practically all modern
high-performance washing and cleaning agents. They cause the
breakdown of protein-containing stains on the material to be
cleaned. Among these in turn, proteases of the subtilisin type
(subtilases, subtilopeptidases, EC 3.4.21.62), which are
categorized among the serine proteases because of the catalytically
effective amino acids, are particularly important. They act as
nonspecific endopeptidases and hydrolyze any acid amide bonds that
are located within peptides or proteins. Their optimum pH is
usually in the markedly alkaline range. An overview of this family
is offered, for example, by the article "Subtilases:
subtilisin-like proteases" by R. Siezen, in "Subtilisin enzymes"
pp. 75-95, edited by R. Bott and C. Betzel, New York, 1996.
Subtilases are formed naturally by microorganisms; among them, the
subtilisins formed and secreted by Bacillus species are to be
mentioned in particular as the most significant group within the
subtilases.
[0003] Examples of proteases of the subtilisin type used with
preference in washing and cleaning agents are the subtilisins BPN'
and Carlsberg, protease PB92, subtilisins 147 and 309, the protease
from Bacillus lentus, in particular from Bacillus lentus DSM 5483,
subtilisin DY, and the enzymes (to be classified, however, as
subtilases and no longer as subtilisins in the strict sense)
thermitase, proteinase K, and the proteases TW3 and TW7, as well as
variants of the aforesaid proteases that comprise an amino acid
sequence modified as compared with the initial protease. Proteases
are modified in controlled or random fashion using methods known
from the existing art, and are thereby optimized, for example, for
use in washing and cleaning agents. These include point
mutagenesis, deletion or insertion mutagenesis, or fusion with
other proteins or protein parts. Correspondingly optimized variants
are thus known for most proteases known from the existing art.
[0004] The international patent applications WO 95/23221 and WO
92/21760 disclose variants of the alkaline protease from Bacillus
lentus DSM 5483 that are suitable for use in washing or cleaning
agents. The international patent application WO 2011/032988
furthermore discloses washing and cleaning agents that likewise
contain variants of the alkaline protease from Bacillus lentus DSM
5483. The protease variants disclosed in these documents can be
modified (in addition to further positions) at positions 3, 4, 99,
and 199 in the count of the alkaline protease from Bacillus lentus
DSM 5483, and can comprise at the aforesaid positions, for example,
the amino acids 3T, 4I, 99D, 99E, or 199I. Combinations of these
modifications as described hereinafter are, however, not evident
from these documents.
[0005] It has now been found, surprisingly, that a protease of the
type of the alkaline protease from Bacillus lentus DSM 5483 or a
protease sufficiently similar thereto (based on sequence identity),
which comprises several of these modifications in combination, is
particularly suitable for use in washing or cleaning agents and is
advantageously improved in particular with regard to washing
performance and/or stability.
[0006] The subject matter of the invention is a protease comprising
an amino acid sequence that is at least 70% identical to the amino
acid sequence indicated in SEQ ID NO. 1 over its entire length, and
comprises, in the count in accordance with SEQ ID NO. 1, the amino
acid substitution R99E or R99D in combination with at least two
further amino acid substitutions that are selected from the group
consisting of S3T, V4I, and V199I.
[0007] A further subject of the invention is a method for
manufacturing a protease, comprising the introduction of an amino
acid substitution R99E or R99D, in combination with at least two
further amino acid substitutions that are selected from the group
consisting of S3T, V4I, and V199I, in the count in accordance with
SEQ ID NO. 1, into an initial protease that is at least 70%
identical to the amino acid sequence indicated in SEQ ID NO. 1 over
its entire length.
[0008] A "protease" for purposes of the present patent application
therefore encompasses both the protease as such and a protease
manufactured with a method according to the present invention. All
statements with regard to the protease therefore refer both to the
protease as a substance and to the corresponding method, in
particular method for manufacturing the protease.
[0009] Furthermore, other desirable features and characteristics of
the present invention will become apparent from the subsequent
detailed description of the invention and the appended claims,
taken in conjunction with the accompanying drawings and this
background of the invention.
BRIEF SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
[0010] A protease comprising an amino acid sequence that is at
least 70% identical to the amino acid sequence indicated in SEQ ID
NO. 1 over its entire length and comprises, in the count in
accordance with SEQ ID NO. 1, the amino acid substitution R99E or
R99D in combination with at least two further amino acid
substitutions that are selected from the group consisting of S3T,
V4I, and V199I.
[0011] A method for manufacturing a protease, comprising the
introduction of an amino acid substitution R99E or R99D, in
combination with at least two further amino acid substitutions that
are selected from the group consisting of S3T, V4I, and V199I, in
the count according to SEQ ID NO. 1, into a starting protease that
is at least 70% identical to the amino acid sequence indicated in
SEQ ID NO. 1 over its entire length.
DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION
[0012] The following detailed description of the invention is
merely exemplary in nature and is not intended to limit the
invention or the application and uses of the invention.
Furthermore, there is no intention to be bound by any theory
presented in the preceding background of the invention or the
following detailed description of the invention.
[0013] Associated with the proteases according to the present
invention respectively the manufacturing methods for proteases
according to the present invention, as further subjects of the
invention, are nucleic acids coding for said proteases, proteases
or nucleic acids according to the present invention containing
non-human host cells, as well as agents, in particular washing and
cleaning agents, washing and cleaning methods, and uses defined by
way of proteases according to the present invention, comprising
proteases according to the present invention.
[0014] A modification according to the present invention of
position 99, namely an R99E or R99D modification, in combination
with a modification of at least two of positions 3, 4, and 199,
namely S3T, V4I, or V199I, in a protease that comprises an amino
acid sequence at least 70% identical to the amino acid sequence
indicated in SEQ ID NO. 1, preferably brings about improved
performance of that modified protease in washing and cleaning
agents on at least one protease-sensitive stain. Proteases
according to the present invention consequently make possible
improved removal of at least one, preferably of several
protease-sensitive stains on textiles and/or on hard surfaces, for
example dishes. Preferred embodiments of proteases according to the
present invention exhibit particularly advantageous cleaning
performance on blood-containing stains, for example on the
following stains: [0015] blood on cotton: product no. 111
obtainable from Eidgenossische Material- und Prufanstalt (EMPA)
Testmaterialen AG [Swiss federal materials and testing agency test
materials], St. Gallen, Switzerland; [0016] milk/carbon black on
cotton: (wfk--Cleaning Technology Institute e.V., Krefeld,
Germany); [0017] blood-milk/ink on cotton: product no. C-05
obtainable from CFT (Center For Testmaterials) B. V., Vlaardingen,
Netherlands.
[0018] Preferred embodiments of the present invention consequently
make available stain-specific proteases whose cleaning performance
is advantageous specifically with regard to one stain or to several
stains. The stain focus of preferred embodiments of proteases
according to the present invention with regard to blood-containing
stains is consequently improved.
[0019] Preferred embodiments of proteases according to the present
invention already achieve such advantageous cleaning performance
effects even at low temperatures between 10.degree. C. and
60.degree. C., between 15.degree. C. and 50.degree. C., and between
20.degree. C. and 40.degree. C. Further preferred embodiments of
proteases according to the present invention achieve improved
cleaning performance of this kind over a broad temperature range,
for example between 15.degree. C. and 90.degree. C., preferably
between 20.degree. C. and 60.degree. C.
[0020] In addition, preferred embodiments of proteases according to
the present invention possess particular stability in washing or
cleaning agents, for example with respect to surfactants and/or
bleaching agents and/or with respect to temperature influences, in
particular with respect to high or low temperatures, for example
between 50 and 65.degree. C., in particular 60.degree. C., and/or
with respect to acidic or alkaline conditions and/or with respect
to changes in pH and/or with respect to denaturing or oxidizing
agents and/or with respect to proteolytic breakdown and/or with
respect to a change in redox conditions. With particularly
preferred embodiments of the invention, protease variants that have
improved performance and/or are more temperature-stable are
therefore made available. With further very particularly preferred
embodiments of the invention, protease variants that have improved
performance and are more temperature-stable are made available.
These advantageous embodiments of proteases according to the
present invention consequently make possible improved washing
results on protease-sensitive stains over a broad temperature
range.
[0021] With regard to the international patent applications WO
95/23221, WO 92/21760, and WO 2011/032988 mentioned initially, the
present invention is therefore a particularly advantageous
selection of combinations of sequence modifications, the result of
which is to obtain a particularly high-performance and/or
temperature-stable protease variant for washing or cleaning
agents.
[0022] "Cleaning performance" is understood in the context of the
invention as lightening performance on one or more stains, in
particular on laundry or dishes. In the context of the invention,
both the washing or cleaning agent that comprises the protease
particularly the washing or cleaning bath constituted by said
agent, and the protease itself, have a respective cleaning
performance. The cleaning performance of the enzyme thus
contributes to the cleaning performance of the agent or of the
washing or cleaning bath constituted by the agent. The cleaning
performance is preferably ascertained as indicated below.
[0023] A protease according to the present invention exhibits a
proteolytic activity, i.e. it is capable of hydrolyzing peptide
bonds of a polypeptide or protein, in particular in a washing or
cleaning agent. A protease according to the present invention is
therefore an enzyme that catalyzes the hydrolysis of peptide bonds
and is thereby capable of cleaving peptides or proteins. A protease
according to the present invention is furthermore preferably a
mature protease, i.e. the catalytically active molecule having no
signal peptide(s) and/or propeptide(s). Unless otherwise indicated,
the sequences indicated also refer in each case to mature
enzymes.
[0024] In a further embodiment of the invention, the protease
comprises an amino acid sequence that is at least 71%, 72%, 73%,
74%, 75%, 76%, 77%, 78%, 79%, 80%, 81%, 82%, 83%, 84%, 85%, 86%,
87%, 88%, 89%, 90%, 90.5%, 91%, 91.5%, 92%, 92.5%, 93%, 93.5%, 94%,
94.5%, 95%, 95.5%, 96%, 96.5%, 97%, 97.5%, 98%, 98.5%, and 98.8%
identical to the amino acid sequence indicated in SEQ ID NO. 1 over
its entire length and comprises, in the count in accordance with
SEQ ID NO. 1, the amino acid substitution R99E in combination with
at least two further amino acid substitutions that are selected
from the group consisting of S3T, V4I, and V199I.
[0025] In a further embodiment of the invention, the protease
comprises an amino acid sequence that is at least 71%, 72%, 73%,
74%, 75%, 76%, 77%, 78%, 79%, 80%, 81%, 82%, 83%, 84%, 85%, 86%,
87%, 88%, 89%, 90%, 90.5%, 91%, 91.5%, 92%, 92.5%, 93%, 93.5%, 94%,
94.5%, 95%, 95.5%, 96%, 96.5%, 97%, 97.5%, 98%, 98.5%, and 98.8%
identical to the amino acid sequence indicated in SEQ ID NO. 1 over
its entire length and comprises, in the count in accordance with
SEQ ID NO. 1, the amino acid substitution R99D in combination with
at least two further amino acid substitutions that are selected
from the group consisting of S3T, V4I, and V 199I.
[0026] Particularly preferred proteases according to the present
invention are:
[0027] A protease comprising an amino acid sequence that is at
least 71%, 72%, 73%, 74%, 75%, 76%, 77%, 78%, 79%, 80%, 81%, 82%,
83%, 84%, 85%, 86%, 87%, 88%, 89%, 90%, 90.5%, 91%, 91.5%, 92%,
92.5%, 93%, 93.5%, 94%, 94.5%, 95%, 95.5%, 96%, 96.5%, 97%, 97.5%,
98%, 98.5%, and 98.8% identical to the amino acid sequence
indicated in SEQ ID NO. 1 over its entire length and comprises, in
the count in accordance with SEQ ID NO. 1, the amino acid
substitution R99E in combination with the amino acid substitutions
S3T and V4I, in particular a protease in accordance with SEQ ID NO.
1 having the amino acid substitutions S3T, V4I, and R99E.
[0028] A protease comprising an amino acid sequence that is at
least 71%, 72%, 73%, 74%, 75%, 76%, 77%, 78%, 79%, 80%, 81%, 82%,
83%, 84%, 85%, 86%, 87%, 88%, 89%, 90%, 90.5%, 91%, 91.5%, 92%,
92.5%, 93%, 93.5%, 94%, 94.5%, 95%, 95.5%, 96%, 96.5%, 97%, 97.5%,
98%, 98.5%, and 98.8% identical to the amino acid sequence
indicated in SEQ ID NO. 1 over its entire length and comprises, in
the count in accordance with SEQ ID NO. 1, the amino acid
substitution R99E in combination with the amino acid substitutions
S3T and V199I, in particular a protease in accordance with SEQ ID
NO. 1 having the amino acid substitutions S3T, R99E, and V199I.
[0029] A protease comprising an amino acid sequence that is at
least 71%, 72%, 73%, 74%, 75%, 76%, 77%, 78%, 79%, 80%, 81%, 82%,
83%, 84%, 85%, 86%, 87%, 88%, 89%, 90%, 90.5%, 91%, 91.5%, 92%,
92.5%, 93%, 93.5%, 94%, 94.5%, 95%, 95.5%, 96%, 96.5%, 97%, 97.5%,
98%, 98.5%, and 98.8% identical to the amino acid sequence
indicated in SEQ ID NO. 1 over its entire length and comprises, in
the count in accordance with SEQ ID NO. 1, the amino acid
substitution R99E in combination with the amino acid substitutions
V4I and V199I, in particular a protease in accordance with SEQ ID
NO. 1 having the amino acid substitutions V4I, R99E, and V199I.
[0030] A protease comprising an amino acid sequence that is at
least 71%, 72%, 73%, 74%, 75%, 76%, 77%, 78%, 79%, 80%, 81%, 82%,
83%, 84%, 85%, 86%, 87%, 88%, 89%, 90%, 90.5%, 91%, 91.5%, 92%,
92.5%, 93%, 93.5%, 94%, 94.5%, 95%, 95.5%, 96%, 96.5%, 97%, 97.5%,
98%, 98.5%, and 98.8% identical to the amino acid sequence
indicated in SEQ ID NO. 1 over its entire length and comprises, in
the count in accordance with SEQ ID NO. 1, the amino acid
substitution R99D in combination with the amino acid substitutions
S3T and V4I, in particular a protease in accordance with SEQ ID NO.
1 having the amino acid substitutions S3T, V4I, and R99D.
[0031] A protease comprising an amino acid sequence that is at
least 71%, 72%, 73%, 74%, 75%, 76%, 77%, 78%, 79%, 80%, 81%, 82%,
83%, 84%, 85%, 86%, 87%, 88%, 89%, 90%, 90.5%, 91%, 91.5%, 92%,
92.5%, 93%, 93.5%, 94%, 94.5%, 95%, 95.5%, 96%, 96.5%, 97%, 97.5%,
98%, 98.5%, and 98.8% identical to the amino acid sequence
indicated in SEQ ID NO. 1 over its entire length and comprises, in
the count in accordance with SEQ ID NO. 1, the amino acid
substitution R99D in combination with the amino acid substitutions
S3T and V199I, in particular a protease in accordance with SEQ ID
NO. 1 having the amino acid substitutions S3T, R99D, and V
199I.
[0032] A protease comprising an amino acid sequence that is at
least 71%, 72%, 73%, 74%, 75%, 76%, 77%, 78%, 79%, 80%, 81%, 82%,
83%, 84%, 85%, 86%, 87%, 88%, 89%, 90%, 90.5%, 91%, 91.5%, 92%,
92.5%, 93%, 93.5%, 94%, 94.5%, 95%, 95.5%, 96%, 96.5%, 97%, 97.5%,
98%, 98.5%, and 98.8% identical to the amino acid sequence
indicated in SEQ ID NO. 1 over its entire length and comprises, in
the count in accordance with SEQ ID NO. 1, the amino acid
substitution R99D in combination with the amino acid substitutions
V41 and V199I, in particular a protease in accordance with SEQ ID
NO. 1 having the amino acid substitutions V4I, R99D, and V199I.
[0033] Further particularly preferred embodiments of proteases
according to the present invention are notable for the fact that
they comprise the amino acid substitution R99E or R99D in
combination with the three further amino acid substitutions S3T,
V4I, and V199I. The following proteases in particular are very
particularly preferred in this regard:
[0034] A protease comprising an amino acid sequence that is at
least 71%, 72%, 73%, 74%, 75%, 76%, 77%, 78%, 79%, 80%, 81%, 82%,
83%, 84%, 85%, 86%, 87%, 88%, 89%, 90%, 90.5%, 91%, 91.5%, 92%,
92.5%, 93%, 93.5%, 94%, 94.5%, 95%, 95.5%, 96%, 96.5%, 97%, 97.5%,
98%, 98.5%, and 98.8% identical to the amino acid sequence
indicated in SEQ ID NO. 1 over its entire length and comprises, in
the count in accordance with SEQ ID NO. 1, the amino acid
substitution R99E in combination with the amino acid substitutions
S3T, V4I, and V199I, in particular a protease in accordance with
SEQ ID NO. 1 having the amino acid substitutions S3T, V4I, R99E,
and V199I. A protease of this kind is indicated in SEQ ID NO.
2.
[0035] A protease comprising an amino acid sequence that is at
least 71%, 72%, 73%, 74%, 75%, 76%, 77%, 78%, 79%, 80%, 81%, 82%,
83%, 84%, 85%, 86%, 87%, 88%, 89%, 90%, 90.5%, 91%, 91.5%, 92%,
92.5%, 93%, 93.5%, 94%, 94.5%, 95%, 95.5%, 96%, 96.5%, 97%, 97.5%,
98%, 98.5%, and 98.8% identical to the amino acid sequence
indicated in SEQ ID NO. 1 over its entire length and comprises, in
the count in accordance with SEQ ID NO. 1, the amino acid
substitution R99D in combination with the amino acid substitutions
S3T, V4I, and V199I, in particular a protease in accordance with
SEQ ID NO. 1 having the amino acid substitutions S3T, V4I, R99D,
and V199I. A protease of this kind is indicated in SEQ ID NO.
3.
[0036] Further particularly preferred proteases are proteases as
described above that furthermore comprise the amino acid leucine
(L) at position 211 in the count in accordance with SEQ ID NO.
1.
[0037] The identity of nucleic acid sequences or amino acid
sequences is determined by means of a sequence comparison. This
sequence comparison is based on the BLAST algorithm that is
established in the existing art and usually used (cf. for example
Altschul, S. F., Gish, W., Miller, W., Myers, E. W., & Lipman,
D. J. (1990) "Basic local alignment search tool." J. Mol. Biol.
215:403-410, and Altschul, Stephan F., Thomas L. Madden, Alejandro
A. Schaffer, Jinghui Zhang, Hheng Zhang, Webb Miller, and David J.
Lipman (1997): "Gapped BLAST and PSI-BLAST: a new generation of
protein database search programs," Nucleic Acids Res., 25, pp.
3389-3402), and is effected in principle by mutually associating
similar successions of nucleotides or amino acids in the nucleic
acid sequences or amino acid sequences. A tabular association of
the relevant positions is referred to as an "alignment." A further
algorithm available in the existing art is the FASTA algorithm.
Sequence comparisons (alignments), in particular multiple sequence
comparisons, are prepared using computer programs. The Clustal
series (cf. for example Chenna et al. (2003): Multiple sequence
alignment with the Clustal series of programs. Nucleic Acid
Research 31, 3497-3500), T-Coffee (cf. for example Notredame et al.
(2000): T-Coffee: A novel method for multiple sequence alignments.
J. Mol. Biol. 302, 205-217), or programs based on these programs or
algorithms, are often used. In the present patent application, all
the sequence comparisons (alignments) were prepared using the
computer program Vector NTI.RTM. Suite 10.3 (Invitrogen
Corporation, 1600 Faraday Avenue, Carlsbad, California, USA) with
the predefined default parameters, whose AlignX module for the
sequence comparisons is based on ClustalW.
[0038] A comparison of this kind also allows a statement as to the
similarity to one another of the sequences that are being compared.
This is usually indicated as a percentage identity, i.e. the
proportion of identical nucleotides or amino acid residues at the
same positions, or at positions corresponding to one another in an
alignment. The more broadly construed term "homology" also, in the
context of amino acid sequences, incorporates consideration of the
conserved amino acid exchanges, i.e. amino acids having a similar
chemical activity, since these usually perform similar chemical
activities within the protein. The similarity of the compared
sequences can therefore also be indicated as a "percentage
homology" or "percentage similarity." Indications of identity
and/or homology can be encountered over entire polypeptides or
genes, or only over individual regions. Homologous or identical
regions of various nucleic acid sequences or amino acid sequences
are therefore defined by way of matches in the sequences. Such
regions often have identical functions. They can be small, and can
comprise only a few nucleotides or amino acids. Small regions of
this kind often perform functions that are essential to the overall
activity of the protein. It may therefore be useful to refer
sequence matches only to individual, and optionally small, regions.
Unless otherwise indicated, however, indications of identity or
homology in the present application refer to the full length of the
respectively indicated nucleic acid sequence or amino acid
sequence.
[0039] In a further preferred embodiment of the invention, the
protease is characterized in that its cleaning performance
corresponds at least to that of a protease that comprises an amino
acid sequence that corresponds to the amino acid sequence indicated
in SEQ ID NO. 2, and/or at least to that of a protease that
comprises an amino acid sequence that corresponds to the amino acid
sequence indicated in SEQ ID NO. 3, the cleaning performance being
determined in a washing system that contains a washing agent at a
dosing ratio of between 4.5 and 7.0 grams per liter of washing bath
as well as the protease, the proteases to be compared being used at
identical concentration (based on active protein), and the cleaning
performance being determined with respect to a blood stain on
cotton, in particular with respect to the blood on cotton stain,
product no. 111 obtainable from Eidgenossische Material- und
Prufanstalt (EMPA) Testmaterialien AG, St. Gallen, Switzerland, by
measuring the whiteness of the washed textiles, the washing
procedure being performed for at least 70 minutes at a temperature
of 40.degree. C., and the water having a water hardness between
15.5 and 16.5.degree. (German degrees of hardness). The
concentration of protease in the washing agent stipulated for this
washing system is from 0.001 to 0.1 wt %, preferably 0.01 to 0.06
wt %, based on active protein.
[0040] A preferred liquid washing agent for a washing system of
this kind has the following composition (all indications in
percentage by weight): 0.3 to 0.5% xanthan, 0.2 to 0.4% antifoaming
agent, 6 to 7% glycerol, 0.3 to 0.5% ethanol, 4 to 7% FAEOS (fatty
alcohol ether sulfate), 24 to 28% nonionic surfactants, 1% boric
acid, 1 to 2% sodium citrate (dihydrate), 2 to 4% soda, 14 to 16%
coconut fatty acids, 0.5% HEDP (1-hydroxyethane-(1,1-diphosphonic
acid)), 0 to 0.4% PVP (polyvinylpyrrolidone), 0 to 0.05% optical
brightener, 0 to 0.001% dye, remainder deionized water. The dosing
ratio of the liquid washing agent is preferably between 4.5 and 6.0
grams per liter of washing bath, for example 4.7, 4.9, or 5.9 grams
per liter of washing bath. Washing preferably occurs in a pH range
between pH 8 and pH 10.5, preferably between pH 8 and pH 9.
[0041] A preferred powdered washing agent for a washing system of
this kind has the following composition (all indications in
percentage by weight): 10% linear alkylbenzenesulfonate (sodium
salt), 1.5% C12 to C18 fatty alcohol sulfate (sodium salt), 2.0%
C12 to C18 fatty alcohol with 7 EO, 20% sodium carbonate, 6.5%
sodium hydrogen carbonate, 4.0% amorphous sodium disilicate, 17%
sodium carbonate peroxohydrate, 4.0% TAED, 3.0% polyacrylate, 1.0%
carboxymethyl cellulose, 1.0% phosphonate, 27% sodium sulfate;
remainder: foam inhibitors, optical brighteners, scents. The dosing
ratio of the powdered washing agent is preferably between 4.5 and
7.0 grams per liter of washing bath, for example and particularly
preferably 4.7 grams per liter of washing bath, or 5.5, 5.9, or 6.7
grams per liter of washing bath. Washing preferably occurs in a pH
range between pH 9 and pH 11.
[0042] Determination of the cleaning performance at 40.degree. C.
is performed in the context of the invention using a solid washing
agent as indicated above, the washing operation occurring
preferably for 70 minutes.
[0043] The whiteness, i.e. the lightening of the stains, is
determined as an indication of washing performance, preferably
using optical measurement methods, preferably photometrically. An
instrument suitable for this is, for example, the Minolta CM508d
spectrometer. The instruments used for measurement are usually
calibrated beforehand using a white standard, preferably a white
standard provided with the unit.
[0044] Methods for determining protease activities are familiar to
one skilled in the art of enzyme technology, and are applied by him
or her on a routine basis. Such methods are disclosed, for example,
in Tenside, Vol. 7 (1970), pp. 125-132. Alternatively, the protease
activity can be determined quantitatively by way of the release of
para-nitroaniline (pNA) chromophore from the
suc-L-Ala-L-Ala-L-Pro-L-Phe-p-nitroanilide substrate (AAPF). The
protease cleaves the substrate and releases pNA. The release of pNA
causes an increase in extinction at 410 nm, the change in which
over time is an indication of enzymatic activity (see Del Mar et
al., 1979). Measurement is performed at a temperature of 25.degree.
C., at pH 8.6, and a wavelength of 410 nm. The measurement time is
5 min, and the measurement interval 20 s to 60 s. The protease
activity is usually indicated in protease units (PU). Suitable
protease activities, for example, are 2.25, 5 or 10 PU per ml of
washing bath. The protease activity is not, however, equal to
zero.
[0045] The protein concentration can be determined with the aid of
known methods, for example the BCA method (bichinchoninic acid;
2,2'-biquinolyl-4,4'-dicarboxylic acid) or the biuret method (A. G.
Gornall, C. S. Bardawill and M. M. David, J. Biol. Chem., 177
(1948), pp. 751-766). The active protein concentration can be
determined, in this regard, by titrating the active centers using a
suitable irreversible inhibitor (for proteases, for example,
phenylmethylsulfonyl fluoride (PMSF)), and determining the residual
activity (cf. M. Bender et al., J. Am. Chem. Soc. 88, 24 (1966),
pp. 5890-5913).
[0046] By reaction with an antiserum or a specific antibody,
proteins can be combined into groups of immunologically related
proteins. The members of such a group are notable for the fact that
they comprise the same antigenic determinants that are recognized
by an antibody. They are therefore structurally so similar to one
another that they are detected by an antiserum or by specific
antibodies. A further subject of the invention is therefore
constituted by proteases which are characterized in that they
comprise at least one and increasingly preferably two, three, or
four antigenic determinants matching a protease according to the
present invention. Because of their immunological matches, such
proteases are structurally so similar to the proteases according to
the present invention that a similar function is also be
assumed.
[0047] In addition to the amino acid modifications explained above,
proteases according to the present invention can comprise further
amino acid modifications, in particular amino acid substitutions,
insertions, or deletions. Such proteases are, for example, further
developed by targeted genetic modification, i.e. by way of
mutagenesis methods, and optimized for specific purposes or with
regard to special properties (for example, with regard to their
catalytic activity, stability, etc.). In addition, nucleic acids
according to the present invention can be introduced into
recombination formulations and thereby used to generate entirely
novel proteases or other polypeptides.
[0048] The objective is to introduce targeted mutations, such as
substitutions, insertions, or deletions, into the known molecules
in order, for example, to improve the cleaning performance of
enzymes according to the present invention. For this purpose, in
particular, the surface charges and/or isoelectric point of the
molecules, and thereby their interactions with the substrate, can
be modified. For example, the net charge of the enzymes can be
modified in order thereby to influence substrate bonding, in
particular for use in washing and cleaning agents. Alternatively or
additionally, the stability of the protease can be enhanced by way
of one or more corresponding mutations, and its cleaning
performance thereby improved. Advantageous properties of individual
mutations, e.g. individual substitutions, can supplement one
another. A protease already optimized with regard to specific
properties, for example with regard to its stability in terms of
surfactants and/or bleaching agents and/or other components, can
therefore be additionally refined in the context of the
invention.
[0049] The following convention is used to describe substitutions
that relate to exactly one amino acid position (amino acid
exchanges): Firstly the amino acid that is naturally present is
designated in the form of the internationally usual single-letter
code; this is followed by the relevant sequence position, and
lastly by the inserted amino acid. Multiple exchanges within the
same polypeptide chain are separated from one another by slashes.
For insertions, additional amino acids are named after the sequence
position. For deletions, the missing amino acid is replaced by a
symbol, for example an asterisk or a dash. For example, "A95G"
describes the substitution of alanine at position 95 with glycine;
"A95AG" describes the insertion of glycine after the amino acid
alanine at position 95; and "A95*" describes the deletion of
alanine at position 95. This nomenclature is known to one skilled
in the art of enzyme technology.
[0050] A further subject of the invention is therefore a protease
which is characterized in that it is obtainable from a protease as
described above as an initial molecule by single or multiple
conservative amino acid substitution, the protease still
comprising, in the count in accordance with SEQ ID NO. 1, the amino
acid substitution R99E or R99D in combination with at least two
further amino acid substitutions that are selected from the group
consisting of S3T, V4I, and V199I, as described above. The term
"conservative amino acid substitution" means the exchange
(substitution) of one amino acid residue for another amino acid
residue, where such exchange does not lead to a change in the
polarity or charge at the position of the exchanged amino acid,
e.g. the exchange of a nonpolar amino acid residue for another
nonpolar amino acid residue. Conservative amino acid substitutions
in the context of the invention encompass, for example, G=A=S, D=E,
N=Q, K=R, Y=F, S=T, G=A=I V=L=M=Y=F=W=P=S=T.
[0051] Alternatively or additionally, the protease is characterized
in that it is obtainable from a protease according to the present
invention as an initial molecule by fragmentation or by deletion
mutagenesis, insertion mutagenesis, or substitution mutagenesis,
and comprises an amino acid sequence that matches the initial
molecule over a length of at least 50, 60, 70, 80, 90, 100, 110,
120, 130, 140, 150, 160, 170, 180, 190, 200, 210, 220, 230, 240,
250, 260, 265, or 266 continuously connected amino acids, the amino
acid substitution R99E or R99D contained in the initial molecule,
in combination with at least two further amino acid substitutions
that are selected from the group consisting of S3T, V4I, and V199I,
still being present, as described above.
[0052] It is thus possible, for example, to delete individual amino
acids at the termini or in the loops of the enzyme with no loss of
or diminution in proteolytic activity as a result. Furthermore, for
example, the allergenicity of relevant enzymes can also be
decreased by way of such fragmentation or deletion mutagenesis,
insertion mutagenesis, or substitution mutagenesis, thus improving
its overall usability. Advantageously, the enzymes retain their
proteolytic activity even after mutagenesis, i.e. their proteolytic
activity corresponds at least to that of the initial enzyme.
Substitutions, too, can exhibit advantageous effects. Both
individual and multiple continuously connected amino acids can be
exchanged for other amino acids.
[0053] Alternatively or additionally, the protease is characterized
in that it is obtainable from a protease according to the present
invention as an initial molecule by way of one or more amino acid
substitutions in positions that are associated in an alignment with
the positions 36, 42, 47, 56, 61, 69, 87, 96, 101, 102, 104, 114,
118, 120, 130, 139, 141, 142, 154, 157, 188, 193, 205, 211, 224,
229, 236, 237, 242, 243, 255, and 268 of the protease from Bacillus
lentus in accordance with SEQ ID NO. 1, where the protease still
comprises, in the count in accordance with SEQ ID NO. 1, the amino
acid substitution R99E or R99D according to the present invention
in combination with at least two further amino acid substitutions
that are selected from the group consisting of S3T, V4I, and V199I,
as described above. The further amino acid positions are defined
here by an alignment of the amino acid sequence of a protease
according to the present invention with the amino acid sequence of
the protease from Bacillus lentus as indicated in SEQ ID NO. 1. The
association of the positions is furthermore directed toward the
mature protein. This association is also to be utilized, in
particular, when the amino acid sequence of a protease according to
the present invention comprises a greater number of amino acid
residues than the protease from Bacillus lentus in accordance with
SEQ ID NO. 1. Proceeding from the aforesaid positions in the amino
acid sequence of the protease from Bacillus lentus, the
modification positions in a protease according to the present
invention are those that are in fact associated with those
positions in an alignment.
[0054] Advantageous positions for sequence modifications, in
particular substitutions, of the protease from Bacillus lentus
that, transferred to homologous positions of the proteases
according to the present invention, are preferably of significance
and impart advantageous functional properties to the protease, are
accordingly to be associated with the positions 36, 42, 47, 56, 61,
69, 87, 96, 101, 102, 104, 114, 118, 120, 130, 139, 141, 142, 154,
157, 188, 193, 205, 211, 224, 229, 236, 237, 242, 243, 255, and 268
in an alignment with SEQ ID NO. 1 and thus in the count in
accordance with SEQ ID NO. 1. The amino acid residues located in
the aforesaid positions in the wild type molecule of the protease
from Bacillus lentus are the following: S36, N42, A47, T56, G61,
T69, E87, A96, A101,I102, S104, N114, H118, A120, S130, S139, T141,
S142, S154, S157, A188, V193, G205, L211, A224, K229, S236, N237,
N242, H243, N255, respectively T268.
[0055] Substitutions 61A, 154D, 154E, A188P, or V193M, for example,
are particularly advantageous, to the extent the correspondingly
homologous positions in a protease according to the present
invention are not already naturally occupied by one of these
preferred amino acids.
[0056] A further confirmation of a correct association of the amino
acids to be modified, i.e. in particular their functional
correspondence, can be supplied by comparison experiments in which
the two positions associated with one another on the basis of an
alignment are modified in the same way in both of the proteases
being compared with each other, and an observation is made as to
whether the enzymatic activity of the two is modified in the same
way. For example, if an amino acid exchange at a specific position
of the protease from Bacillus lentus in accordance with SEQ ID NO.
1 is accompanied by a modification of an enzymatic parameter, for
example an elevation of the K.sub.M value, and if a corresponding
modification of the enzymatic parameter, for example therefore
likewise an elevation of the K.sub.M value, is observed in a
protease variant according to the present invention whose amino
acid exchange was achieved by way of the same introduced amino
acid, this is to be viewed as a confirmation of this correct
association.
[0057] All the aforementioned facts are also applicable to the
method according to the present invention for manufacturing a
protease. A method according to the present invention therefore
further comprises one or more of the following method steps: [0058]
(a) introducing a single or multiple conservative amino acid
substitution, where the protease comprises, in the count in
accordance with SEQ ID NO. 1, the amino acid substitution R99E or
R99D in combination with at least two further amino acid
substitutions that are selected from the group consisting of S3T,
V4I, and V199I; [0059] (b) modifying the amino acid sequence by
fragmentation or by deletion mutagenesis, insertion mutagenesis, or
substitution mutagenesis, in such a way that the protease comprises
an amino acid sequence that matches the initial molecule over a
length of at least 50, 60, 70, 80, 90, 100, 110, 120, 130, 140,
150, 160, 170, 180, 190, 200, 210, 220, 230, 240, 250, 260, 265, or
266 continuously connected amino acids, where the amino acid
substitution R99E or R99D contained in the initial molecule, in
combination with at least two further amino acid substitutions that
are selected from the group consisting of S3T, V4I, and V199I, is
still present; [0060] (c) introducing a single or multiple amino
acid substitution into one or more of the positions that are
associated in an alignment with the positions 36, 42, 47, 56, 61,
69, 87, 96, 101, 102, 104, 114, 118, 120, 130, 139, 141, 142, 154,
157, 188, 193, 205, 211, 224, 229, 236, 237, 242, 243, 255, and 268
of the protease from Bacillus lentus in accordance with SEQ ID NO.
1, where the protease comprises, in the count in accordance with
SEQ ID NO. 1, the amino acid substitution R99E or R99D in
combination with at least two further amino acid substitutions that
are selected from the group consisting of S3T, V4I, and V199I.
[0061] All the statements also apply to the methods according to
the present invention.
[0062] In further embodiments of the invention, the protease
respectively the protease manufactured with a method according to
the present invention is still at least 70%, 71%, 72%, 73%, 74%,
75%, 76%, 77%, 78%, 79%, 80%, 81%, 82%, 83%, 84%, 85%, 86%, 87%,
88%, 89%, 90%, 90.5%, 91%, 91.5%, 92%, 92.5%, 93%, 93.5%, 94%,
94.5%, 95%, 95.5%, 96%, 96.5%, 97%, 97.5%, 98%, 98.5%, or 98.8%
identical to the amino acid sequence indicated in SEQ ID NO. 1 over
its entire length. The protease respectively the protease
manufactured with a method according to the present invention
comprises the amino acid substitution R99E or R99D in combination
with at least two further amino acid substitutions that are
selected from the group consisting of S3T, V4I, and V199I.
[0063] A further subject of the invention is a protease described
above that is additionally stabilized, in particular by means of
one or more mutations, for example substitutions, or by coupling to
a polymer. This is because an increase in stability in the context
of storage and/or during use, for example in the washing process,
causes the enzymatic activity to last longer and thus causes
cleaning performance to be improved. All stabilization
possibilities that are described in the existing art and/or are
appropriate are suitable in principle. Those stabilization results
which are achieved by mutations of the enzyme itself are preferred,
since such stabilization requires no further working steps
subsequent to recovery of the enzyme. Examples of sequence
modifications suitable for this are recited above. Further suitable
sequence modifications are known from the existing art. For
example, proteases can also be stabilized by exchanging one or more
tyrosine residues for other amino acids.
[0064] Further possibilities for stabilization are, for example:
[0065] modifying the bonding of metal ions, in particular the
calcium bonding sites, for example by exchanging one or more of the
amino acid(s) participating in calcium bonding for one or more
negatively charged amino acids and/or by introducing sequence
modifications into at least one of the sequences of the two amino
acids arginine and glycine; [0066] protecting against the influence
of denaturing agents, such as surfactants, by means of mutations
that produce a change in the amino acid sequence on or at the
surface of the protein; [0067] exchanging amino acids that are
located close to the N terminus for ones that presumably come into
contact with the remainder of the molecule via non-covalent
interactions, and thus make a contribution to maintaining the
globular structure.
[0068] Preferred embodiments are those in which the enzyme is
stabilized in several ways, since multiple stabilizing mutations
have an additive or synergistic effect.
[0069] A further subject of the invention is a protease as
described above which is characterized in that it comprises at
least one chemical modification. A protease having such a
modification is referred to as a derivative, i.e. the protease is
derivatized.
[0070] For purposes of the present Application, "derivatives" are
accordingly understood as those proteins whose pure amino acid
chain has been chemically modified. Such derivatization operations
can be performed, for example, in vivo by the host cell that
expresses the protein. Linkages of low-molecular-weight compounds,
such as of lipids or oligosaccharides, are particularly to be
emphasized in this context. Derivatizations can also, however, be
carried out in vitro, e.g. by chemical conversion of a side chain
of an amino acid or by covalent bonding of a different compound
onto the protein. Linkage of amines to carboxyl groups of an enzyme
in order to modify the isoelectric point is, for example, possible.
One such other compound can also be a further protein that is
bound, for example, via bifunctional chemical compounds to a
protein according to the present invention. "Derivatization" is
likewise to be understood as covalent bonding to a macromolecular
carrier, or also as a non-covalent inclusion into suitable
macromolecular cage structures. Derivatizations can, for example,
influence the substrate specificity or strength of bonding to the
substrate, or can bring about a temporary blockage of enzymatic
activity if the linked-on substance is an inhibitor. This can be
useful, for example, for the period of storage. Modifications of
this kind can furthermore influence stability or enzymatic
activity. They can moreover also serve to decrease the
allergenicity and/or immunogenicity of the protein and thereby, for
example, increase its skin compatibility. For example, linkages to
macromolecular compounds, for example polyethylene glycol, can
improve the protein with regard to stability and/or skin
compatibility.
[0071] "Derivatives" of a protein according to the present
invention can also be understood in the broadest sense as
preparations of said proteins. Depending on recovery, processing,
or preparation, a protein can be brought into association with a
variety of other substances, for example from the culture of the
producing microorganisms. A protein can also have had other
substances deliberately added to it, for example in order to
enhance its shelf stability. All preparations of a protein
according to the present invention are therefore also in accordance
with the present invention. This is also irrespective of whether or
not it actually displays this enzymatic activity in a specific
preparation. This is because it may be desirable for it to possess
little or no activity during storage, and to perform its enzymatic
function only at the time of use. This can be controlled, for
example, by way of corresponding accompanying substances. The
preparation of proteases together with protease inhibitors is a
particular possibility in this regard.
[0072] With respect to all the proteases or protease variants
and/or derivatives described above, those whose activity
corresponds at least to that of the protease in accordance with SEQ
ID NO. 2 and/or SEQ ID NO. 3, and/or whose cleaning performance
corresponds at least to that of the protease in accordance with SEQ
ID NO. 2 and/or SEQ ID NO. 3, are particularly preferred in the
context of the present invention, the cleaning performance being
determined in a washing system as described above.
[0073] A further subject of the present invention is a nucleic acid
that codes for a protease according to the present invention, as
well as a vector containing such a nucleic acid, in particular a
cloning vector or an expression vector.
[0074] These can be DNA molecules or RNA molecules. They can exist
as an individual strand, as an individual strand complementary to
said individual strand, or as a double strand. With DNA molecules
in particular, the sequences of both complementary strands in all
three possible reading frames are to be considered in each case.
Also to be considered is the fact that different codons, i.e. base
triplets, can code for the same amino acids, so that a specific
amino acid sequence can be coded by multiple different nucleic
acids. As a result of this degeneracy of the genetic code, all
nucleic acid sequences that can encode one of the above-described
proteases are included in this subject of the invention. The
skilled artisan is capable of unequivocally determining these
nucleic acid sequences, since despite the degeneracy of the genetic
code, defined amino acids are to be associated with individual
codons. The skilled artisan can therefore, proceeding from an amino
acid sequence, readily ascertain nucleic acids coding for that
amino acid sequence. In addition, in the context of nucleic acids
according to the present invention one or more codons can be
replaced by synonymous codons. This aspect refers in particular to
heterologous expression of the enzymes according to the present
invention. For example, every organism, e.g. a host cell of a
production strain, possesses a specific codon usage. "Codon usage"
is understood as the translation of the genetic code into amino
acids by the respective organism. Bottlenecks in protein
biosynthesis can occur if the codons located on the nucleic acid
are confronted, in the organism, with a comparatively small number
of loaded tRNA molecules. Although it codes for the same amino
acid, the result is that a codon becomes translated in the organism
less efficiently than a synonymous codon that codes for the same
amino acid. Because of the presence of a larger number of tRNA
molecules for the synonymous codon, the latter can be translated
more efficiently in the organism.
[0075] By way of methods commonly known today such as, for example,
chemical synthesis or the polymerase chain reaction (PCR) in
combination with standard methods of molecular biology and/or
protein chemistry, a skilled artisan has the ability to
manufacture, on the basis of known DNA sequences and/or amino acid
sequences, the corresponding nucleic acids all the way to complete
genes. Such methods are known, for example, from Sambrook, J.,
Fritsch, E. F., and Maniatis, T, 2001, Molecular cloning: a
laboratory manual, 3rd edition, Cold Spring Laboratory Press.
[0076] "Vectors" are understood for purposes of the present
invention as elements, made up of nucleic acids, that contain a
nucleic acid according to the present invention as a characterizing
nucleic acid region. They enable said nucleic acid to be
established as a stable genetic element in a species or a cell line
over multiple generations or cell divisions. In particular when
used in bacteria, vectors are special plasmids, i.e. circular
genetic elements. In the context of the present invention, a
nucleic acid according to the present invention is cloned into a
vector. Included among the vectors are, for example, those whose
origins are bacterial plasmids, viruses, or bacteriophages, or
predominantly synthetic vectors or plasmids having elements of
widely differing origins. Using the further genetic elements
present in each case, vectors are capable of establishing
themselves as stable units in the relevant host cells over multiple
generations. They can be present extrachromosomally as separate
units, or can be integrated into a chromosome or into chromosomal
DNA.
[0077] Expression vectors comprise nucleic acid sequences which are
capable of replicating in the host cells, preferably
microorganisms, particularly preferably bacteria, that contain
them, and expressing therein a contained nucleic acid. Expression
is influenced in particular by the promoter or promoters that
regulate transcription. Expression can occur in principle by means
of the natural promoter originally located in front of the nucleic
acid to be expressed, but also by means of a host-cell promoter
furnished on the expression vector or also by means of a modified,
or entirely different, promoter of another organism or of another
host cell. In the present case at least one promoter for expression
of a nucleic acid according to the present invention is made
available and used for expression thereof. Expression vectors can
furthermore be regulatable, for example by way of a change in
culture conditions or when the host cells containing them reach a
specific cell density, or by the addition of specific substances,
in particular activators of gene expression. One example of such a
substance is the galactose derivative
isopropyl-.beta.-D-thiogalactopyranoside (IPTG), which is used as
an activator of the bacterial lactose operon (lac operon). In
contrast to expression vectors, in cloning vectors the contained
nucleic acid is not expressed.
[0078] A further subject of the invention is a non-human host cell
that contains a nucleic acid according to the present invention or
a vector according to the present invention, or that contains a
protease according to the present invention, in particular one that
secretes the protease into the medium surrounding the host cell. A
nucleic acid according to the present invention or a vector
according to the present invention is preferably transformed into a
microorganism, which then represents a host cell according to the
present invention. Alternatively, individual components, i.e.
nucleic acid parts or fragments of a nucleic acid according to the
present invention, can be also be introduced into a host cell in
such a way that the host cell which then results contains a nucleic
acid according to the present invention or a vector according to
the present invention. This procedure is suitable in particular
when the host cell already contains one or more constituents of a
nucleic acid according to the present invention or a vector
according to the present invention, and the further constituents
are then correspondingly supplemented. Methods for the
transformation of cells are established in the existing art and are
sufficiently known to the skilled artisan. All cells are in
principle suitable as host cells, i.e. prokaryotic or eukaryotic
cells. Those host cells that can be manipulated in genetically
advantageous fashion, e.g. as regards transformation using the
nucleic acid or vector and stable establishment thereof, are
preferred, for example single-celled fungi or bacteria. In
addition, preferred host cells are notable for being readily
manipulated in microbiological and biotechnological terms. This
refers, for example, to easy culturability, high growth rates, low
demands in terms of fermentation media, and good production and
secretion rates for foreign proteins. Preferred host cells
according to the present invention secrete the (transgenically)
expressed protein into the medium surrounding the host cells. The
proteases can furthermore be modified, after their manufacture, by
the cells producing them, for example by the addition of sugar
molecules, formylation, amination, etc. Post-translation
modifications of this kind can functionally influence the
protease.
[0079] Further preferred embodiments are represented by those host
cells whose activity can be regulated on the basis of genetic
regulation elements that are made available, for example, on the
vector, but can also be present a priori in those cells. They can
be stimulated to expression, for example, by controlled addition of
chemical compounds that serve as activators, by modifying the
culture conditions, or when a specific cell density is reached.
This makes possible economical production of the proteins according
to the present invention. One example of such a compound is IPTG,
as described earlier.
[0080] Preferred host cells are prokaryotic or bacterial cells.
Bacteria are notable for short generation times and few demands in
terms of culturing conditions. As a result, economical culturing
methods or manufacturing methods can be established. In addition,
the skilled artisan has a great wealth of experience with bacteria
in fermentation technology. Gram-negative or Gram-positive bacteria
may be suitable for a specific production instance, for a wide
variety of reasons to be ascertained experimentally in the
individual case, such as nutrient sources, product formation rate,
time requirement, etc.
[0081] In Gram-negative bacteria such as, for example, Escherichia
coli, a plurality of proteins are secreted into the periplasmic
space, i.e. into the compartment between the two membranes
enclosing the cell. This can be advantageous for specific
applications. Gram-negative bacteria can furthermore also be
configured so that they discharge the expressed proteins not only
into the periplasmic space but into the medium surrounding the
bacterium. Gram-positive bacteria, on the other hand, such as e.g.
bacilli or actinomycetes, or other representatives of the
actinomycetals, possess no external membrane, so that secreted
proteins are delivered immediately into the medium, as a rule the
nutrient medium, surrounding the bacteria, from which medium the
expressed proteins can be purified. They can be isolated directly
from the medium, or further processed. In addition, Gram-positive
bacteria are related or identical to most originating organisms for
technically important enzymes, and usually themselves form
comparable enzymes, so that they possess similar codon usage and
their protein synthesis apparatus is of course correspondingly
directed.
[0082] Host cells according to the present invention can be
modified in terms of their requirements for culture conditions, can
comprise other or additional selection markers, or can also express
other or additional proteins. They can, in particular, be those
host cells that transgenically express multiple proteins or
enzymes.
[0083] The present invention is applicable in principle to all
microorganisms, in particular to all fermentable microorganisms,
particularly preferably to those of the genus Bacillus, and its
result is that proteins according to the present invention can be
manufactured by the use of such microorganisms. Such microorganisms
then represent host cells for purposes of the invention.
[0084] In a further embodiment of the invention, the host cell is
characterized in that it is a bacterium, preferably one that is
selected from the group of the genera Escherichia, Klebsiella,
Bacillus, Staphylococcus, Corynebacterium, Arthrobacter,
Streptomyces, Stenotrophomonas, and Pseudomonas, more preferably
one that is selected from the group of Escherichia coli, Klebsiella
planticola, Bacillus licheniformis, Bacillus lentus, Bacillus
amyloliquefaciens, Bacillus subtilis, Bacillus alcalophilus,
Bacillus globigii, Bacillus gibsonii, Bacillus clausii, Bacillus
halodurans, Bacillus pumilus, Staphylococcus carnosus,
Corynebacterium glutamicum, Arthrobacter oxidans, Streptomyces
lividans, Streptomyces coelicolor, and Stenotrophomonas
maltophilia.
[0085] The host cell can, however, also be a eukaryotic cell, which
is characterized in that it possesses a cell nucleus. A further
subject of the invention is therefore represented by a host cell
which is characterized in that it possesses a cell nucleus. In
contrast to prokaryotic cells, eukaryotic cells are capable of
post-translationally modifying the protein that is formed. Examples
thereof are fungi such as Actinomycetes, or yeasts such as
Saccharomyces or Kluyveromyces. This may be particularly
advantageous, for example, when the proteins are intended to
experience, in connection with their synthesis, specific
modifications made possible by such systems. Among the
modifications that eukaryotic systems carry out in particular in
conjunction with protein synthesis are, for example, the bonding of
low-molecular-weight compounds such as membrane anchors or
oligosaccharides. Oligosaccharide modifications of this kind can be
desirable, for example, in order to decrease the allergenicity of
an expressed protein. Co-expression with the enzymes naturally
formed by such cells, for example cellulases or lipases, can also
be advantageous. Thermophilic fungal expression systems, for
example, can furthermore be particularly suitable for the
expression of temperature-resistant proteins or variants.
[0086] The host cells according to the present invention are
cultured and fermented in a usual manner, for example in
discontinuous or continuous systems. In the former case a suitable
nutrient medium is inoculated with the host cells, and the product
is harvested from the medium after a period of time to be
ascertained experimentally. Continuous fermentations are notable
for the achievement of a flow equilibrium in which, over a
comparatively long period of time, cells die off in part but are
also in part renewed, and the protein formed can simultaneously be
removed from the medium.
[0087] Host cells according to the present invention are preferably
used to manufacture proteases according to the present invention. A
further subject of the invention is therefore a method for
manufacturing a protease, comprising [0088] a) culturing a host
cell according to the present invention [0089] b) isolating the
protease from the culture medium or from the host cell.
[0090] This subject of the invention preferably comprises
fermentation methods. Fermentation methods are known from the
existing art and represent the actual industrial-scale production
step, generally followed by a suitable method for purifying the
product that was manufactured, for example the protease according
to the present invention. All fermentation methods that are based
on a corresponding method for manufacturing a protease according to
the present invention correspondingly represent embodiments of this
subject of the invention.
[0091] Fermentation methods which are characterized in that
fermentation is carried out by way of an inflow strategy are
particularly appropriate. In this context the constituents of the
medium that are consumed during continuous culturing are fed in.
Considerable increases both in cell density and in cell mass or dry
mass, and/or principally in the activity of the protease of
interest, can thereby be achieved. In addition, the fermentation
operation can also be configured so that undesired metabolic
products are filtered out, or are neutralized by the addition of a
buffer or respectively suitable counterions.
[0092] The protease that has been manufactured can be harvested
from the fermentation medium. A fermentation method of this kind is
preferred over isolation of the protease from the host cell, i.e.
product preparation from the cell mass (dry mass), but requires
that suitable host cells, or one or more suitable secretion markers
respectively mechanisms and/or transport systems, be made available
so that the host cells secrete the protease into the fermentation
medium. Alternatively, without secretion, isolation of the protease
from the host cell can occur, i.e. purification thereof from the
cell mass, for example by precipitation using ammonium sulfate or
ethanol, or by chromatographic purification.
[0093] All the above facts can be combined into methods for
manufacturing proteases according to the present invention.
[0094] A further subject of the invention is an agent which is
characterized in that it contains a protease according to the
present invention as described above. The agent is preferably a
washing or cleaning agent. Because proteases according to the
present invention exhibit advantageous cleaning performance effects
in particular on blood-containing stains, the agents are suitable
and advantageous in particular for removing such stains.
[0095] Included in this subject of the invention are all
conceivable types of washing or cleaning agents, both concentrates
and agents to be used undiluted, for use on a commercial scale, in
washing machines, or for hand laundering or cleaning. Included
thereamong are, for example, washing agents for textiles, carpets,
or natural fibers, for which the term "washing agent" is used. Also
included thereamong are, for example, dishwashing agents for
automatic dishwashers, or manual dishwashing agents, or cleaners
for hard surfaces such as metal, glass, porcelain, ceramic, tiles,
stone, painted surfaces, plastics, wood, or leather, for which the
term "cleaning agent" is used, i.e. in addition to manual and
automatic dishwashing agents, for example also scouring agents,
glass cleaners, toilet cleaners, etc. Further included among the
washing and cleaning agents in the context of the invention are
washing adjuvants that are dispensed into the actual washing agent
in the context of manual or automatic textile laundering in order
achieve a further effect. Also included among washing and cleaning
agents in the context of the invention are textile pre- and
post-treatment agents, i.e. those agents with which the laundered
item is brought into contact before actual laundering, for example
in order to loosen stubborn stains, as well as those agents that,
in a step following actual textile laundering, impart to the washed
item further desirable properties such as a pleasant feel, absence
of creases, or low static charge. The fabric softeners, among
others, are classified among the latter agents.
[0096] The washing or cleaning agents according to the present
invention, which can be present as in particular powdered solids,
in recompressed particle form, as homogeneous solutions or
suspensions, can contain besides a protease according to the
present invention all known ingredients usual in such agents, at
least one further ingredient preferably being present in the agent.
The agents according to the present invention can contain, in
particular, surfactants, builders (detergency builders), peroxygen
compounds, or bleach activators. They can further contain
water-miscible organic solvents, further enzymes, sequestering
agents, electrolytes, pH regulators, and/or further adjuvants such
as optical brighteners, anti-gray agents, foam regulators, as well
as dyes and scents, as well as combinations thereof.
[0097] A combination of a protease according to the present
invention with one or more further ingredient(s) of the agent is
particularly advantageous, since in preferred configurations
according to the present invention such an agent exhibits improved
cleaning performance thanks to synergies that result. Such a
synergy can be achieved in particular by combining a protease
according to the present invention with a surfactant and/or a
builder (detergency builder) and/or a peroxygen compound and/or a
bleach activator.
[0098] Advantageous ingredients of agents according to the present
invention are disclosed in the international patent application WO
2009/121725, beginning therein on page 5, next-to-last paragraph
and ending on page 13 after the second paragraph. Reference is
expressly made to this disclosure, and the disclosure therein is
incorporated into the present patent application.
[0099] An agent according to the present invention contains the
protease advantageously in a quantity from 2 .mu.g to 20 mg,
preferably from 5 .mu.g to 17.5 mg, particularly preferably from 20
.mu.g to 15 mg, and very particularly preferably from 50 .mu.g to
10 mg per g of the agent. In addition, the protease contained in
the agent, and/or further ingredients of the agent, can be encased
with a substance that is impermeable to the enzyme at room
temperature or in the absence of water, which substance becomes
permeable to the enzyme under utilization conditions of the agent.
Such an embodiment of the invention is thus characterized in that
the protease is encased with a substance that is impermeable to the
protease at room temperature or in the absence of water. In
addition, the washing or cleaning agent itself can also be packaged
in a container, preferably an air-permeable container, from which
it is released shortly before use or during the washing
operation.
[0100] In further embodiments of the invention, the agent is
characterized in that it is [0101] (a) present in solid form, in
particular as a pourable powder having a bulk weight from 300 g/l
to 1200 g/l, in particular 500 g/l to 900 g/l, or [0102] (b)
present in pasty or in liquid form, and/or [0103] (c) present as a
one-component system, or [0104] (d) subdivided into multiple
components.
[0105] These embodiments of the present invention encompass all
solid, powdered, liquid, gelled, or pasty administration forms of
agents according to the present invention, which optionally can
also be made up of multiple phases and can be present in compressed
or uncompressed form. The agent can be present as a pourable
powder, in particular having a bulk weight from 300 g/l to 1200
g/l, in particular 500 g/l to 900 g/l, or 600 g/l to 850 g/l.
Further included among the solid administration forms of the agent
are extrudates, granulates, tablets, or pouches. Alternatively, the
agent can also be liquid, gelled, or pasty, for example in the form
of a nonaqueous liquid washing agent or a nonaqueous paste or in
the form of an aqueous liquid washing agent or a hydrous paste. The
agent can furthermore be present as a one-component system. Such
agents are made up of one phase. Alternatively, an agent can also
be made up of multiple phases. An agent of this kind is thus
subdivided into multiple components.
[0106] Washing or cleaning agents according to the present
invention can contain exclusively a protease. Alternatively, they
can also contain further hydrolytic enzymes or other enzymes, in a
concentration useful for the effectiveness of the agent. A further
embodiment of the invention is thus represented by agents that
moreover comprise one or more further enzymes. All enzymes that can
display catalytic activity in the agent according to the present
invention are preferably usable as further enzymes, in particular a
protease, amylase, cellulase, hemicellulase, mannanase, tannase,
xylanase, xanthanase, xyloglucanase, .beta.-glucosidase, pectinase,
carrageenase, perhydrolase, oxidase, oxidoreductase, or a lipase,
as well as mixtures thereof. Further enzymes are contained in the
agent advantageously in a quantity in each case from
1.times.10.sup.-8 to 5 weight percent, based on active protein.
Increasingly preferably, each further enzyme is contained in agents
according to the present invention in a quantity from
1.times.10.sup.-7 to 3 wt %, from 0.00001 to 1 wt %, from 0.00005
to 0.5 wt %, from 0.0001 to 0.1 wt %, and particularly preferably
from 0.0001 to 0.05 wt %, based on active protein. Particularly
preferably, the enzymes exhibit synergistic cleaning performance
effects with respect to specific stains or spots, i.e. the enzymes
contained in the agent composition mutually assist one another in
their cleaning performance. Very particularly preferably, a
synergism of this kind exists between the protease contained
according to the present invention and a further enzyme of an agent
according to the present invention, thereamong in particular
between the aforesaid protease and the amylase and/or a lipase
and/or a mannanase and/or a cellulase and/or a pectinases.
Synergistic effects can occur not only between different enzymes,
but also between one or more enzymes and further ingredients of the
agent according to the present invention.
[0107] A further subject of the invention is a method for cleaning
textiles or hard surfaces which is characterized in that in at
least one method step an agent according to the present invention
is utilized; or that in at least one method step a protease
according to the present invention becomes catalytically active, in
particular in such a way that the protease is used in a quantity
from 40 .mu.g to 4 g, preferably from 50 .mu.g to 3 g, particularly
preferably from 100 .mu.g to 2 g, and very particularly preferably
from 200 .mu.g to 1 g, per utilization.
[0108] Included thereamong are both manual and automatic methods,
automatic methods being preferred. Methods for cleaning textiles
are notable in general for the fact that, in multiple method steps,
various substances having cleaning activity are applied onto the
material to be cleaned and are washed out after the contact time,
or that the material to be cleaned is treated in another fashion
with a washing agent or a solution or dilution of said agent. The
same applies correspondingly to methods for cleaning all materials
other than textiles, in particular hard surfaces. All conceivable
washing or cleaning methods can be supplemented, in at least one of
the method steps, by the utilization of a washing or cleaning agent
according to the present invention or of a protease according to
the present invention, and then represent embodiments of the
present invention. All facts, subject matters, and embodiments that
are described for the proteases according to the present invention
or agents containing them are also applicable to this subject of
the invention. Reference is therefore expressly made at this
juncture to the disclosure at the corresponding juncture, with the
instruction that this disclosure is also valid for the present
methods according to the present invention.
[0109] Because proteases according to the present invention already
naturally possess a hydrolytic activity and display it even in
media that otherwise possess no cleaning power, for example in pure
buffer, an individual and/or the only step of such a method can
consist in bringing a protease according to the present invention,
if desired as a sole component having cleaning activity, into
contact with the stain, preferably in a buffer solution or in
water. This represents a further embodiment of this subject of the
invention.
[0110] Alternative embodiments of this subject of the invention are
also represented by methods for treating textile raw materials or
for textile care, in which a protease according to the present
invention becomes active in at least one method step. Preferred
thereamong are methods for textile raw materials, fibers, or
textiles having natural constituents, and very particularly for
those having wool or silk.
[0111] A further subject of the invention is the use of an agent
according to the present invention for the cleaning of textiles or
hard surfaces, or of a protease according to the present invention
for the cleaning of textiles or hard surfaces, in particular in
such a way that the protease is used in a quantity from 40 .mu.g to
4 g, preferably from 50 .mu.g to 3 g, particularly preferably from
100 .mu.g to 2 g, and very particularly preferably from 200 .mu.g
to 1 g.
[0112] All facts, subject matters, and embodiments that are
described for the proteases according to the present invention and
agents containing them are also applicable to this subject of the
invention. Reference is therefore expressly made at this juncture
to the disclosure at the corresponding juncture, with the
instruction that this disclosure is also valid for the present use
according to the present invention.
EXAMPLES
[0113] All the molecular-biological working steps follow standard
methods such as those indicated, for example, in the manual of
Fritsch, Sambrook, and Maniatis, "Molecular cloning: a laboratory
manual," Cold Spring Harbor Laboratory Press, New York, 1989, or
comparable relevant works. Enzymes and kits were used in accordance
with the respective manufacturer's instructions.
Example 1
[0114] Proceeding from a protease that comprised an amino acid
sequence in accordance with SEQ ID NO. 1, a protease variant
according to the present invention was manufactured by
site-directed mutagenesis in the nucleic acid coding for the
protease, using the PHUSION Site-Directed Mutagenesis Kit
(Finnzyme, F541). In this, the codons for the amino acid positions
indicated were modified so that, with reference to the amino acid
sequence, an exchange of the amino acids occurred as indicated.
Expression of the protease variant occurred in a manner usual in
the art, by transforming Bacillus subtilis DB 104 (Kawamura and Doi
(1984), J. Bacteriol., Vol. 160 (1), pp. 442-444) with a
corresponding expression vector and subsequent culturing of the
transformands expressing the protease variant.
[0115] Protease variant 1: Protease having an amino acid sequence
in accordance with SEQ ID NO. 1 having the amino acid substitutions
S3T, V4I, R99E, V199I in the count in accordance with SEQ ID NO. 1
(SEQ ID NO. 2);
[0116] Protease variant 2: Protease having an amino acid sequence
in accordance with SEQ ID NO. 1 having the amino acid substitutions
S3T, V4I, R99D, V199I in the count in accordance with SEQ ID NO. 1
(SEQ ID NO. 3).
Example 2
Ascertaining the Cleaning Performance of Proteases According to the
Present Invention when Used in a Commercially Usual Liquid Washing
Agent
[0117] Standardized stained textiles were used for this Example.
The following stains were used: [0118] A. Blood on cotton: product
no. 111 obtainable from Eidgenossische Material- und Prufanstalt
(EMPA) Testmaterialen AG, St. Gallen, Switzerland, [0119] B.
Milk/carbon black on cotton (wfk--Cleaning Technology Institute
e.V., Krefeld, Germany), [0120] C. Blood-milk/ink on cotton:
product no. C-05 obtainable from CFT (Center For Testmaterials) B.
V., Vlaardingen, Netherlands.
[0121] Using this test material, a variety of washing-agent
formulations were investigated in terms of their cleaning
performance. For this, the batches were washed for 70 minutes at a
temperature of 20.degree. C. or 40.degree. C. The dosing ratio was
4.7 g of washing agent per liter of washing bath. Washing was
performed with tap water having a hardness of 16 degrees of German
hardness.
[0122] A baseline washing-agent formulation of the following
composition was used as a control washing agent (all indications in
percent by weight): 0.3 to 0.5% xanthan, 0.2 to 0.4% antifoaming
agent, 6 to 7% glycerol, 0.3 to 0.5% ethanol, 4 to 7% FAEOS (fatty
alcohol ether sulfate), 24 to 28% nonionic surfactants, 1% boric
acid, 1 to 2% sodium citrate (dihydrate), 2 to 4% soda, 14 to 16%
coconut fatty acid, 0.5% HEDP (1-hydroxyethane-(1,1-diphosphonic
acid)), 0 to 0.4% PVP (polyvinylpyrrolidone), 0 to 0.05% optical
brightener, 0 to 0.001% dye, remainder deionized water.
[0123] The baseline washing-agent formulation had the following
proteases added to it on an identical active-protein basis (0.03 wt
% active substance), for the various series of experiments.
Protease variant 1 (batch 1) from Example 1 was used as a protease
according to the present invention. The reference used was a
protease that is disclosed in FIG. 2 such as SEQ ID NO. 3 of the
international patent application WO 03/057713 (batch 2). This
reference protease exhibits very good cleaning performance in
liquid washing and cleaning agents.
[0124] After washing, the whiteness of the washed textiles was
measured. The measurement was carried out on a Minolta CM508d
spectrometer (D65 illumination, 10.degree.). The instrument had
previously been calibrated using a white standard provided with it.
The results obtained are the difference between the remission units
obtained for the protease according to the present invention and
the remission units obtained for the reference protease
(.DELTA.REM=batch 1 remission units-batch 2 remission units).
Positive values consequently indicate an improved whiteness for the
protease according to the present invention as compared with the
reference protease. The results are summarized in Table 1
below.
TABLE-US-00001 TABLE 1 Washing results with a liquid washing agent
at 20.degree. C. and 40.degree. C. Temperature Stain .DELTA.REM
20.degree. C. A 3.7 B 5.9 40.degree. C. A 6.2 C 3.3
[0125] It is evident that the protease according to the present
invention exhibits improved cleaning performance, in particular on
blood-containing stains.
Example 3
Ascertaining the Temperature Stability of Proteases According to
the Present Invention
[0126] The proteases indicated below were incubated at a
concentration of 10 to 20 .mu.g/ml in 0.1M glycine/NaOH buffer at
60.degree. C. and pH 10.0. At regular intervals over a period of 60
minutes, samples were taken, held on ice, and measured using an
activity test by determining residual proteolytic activity via the
release of para-nitroaniline (pNA) chromophore from the substrate.
The substrate is a suc-L-Ala-L-Ala-L-Pro-L-Phe-p-nitroanilide
substrate (suc-AAPF-pNA). The protease cleaves the substrate and
releases pNA. The release of pNA causes an increase in extinction
at 410 nm, the time course of which is an indication of enzymatic
activity (see Del Mar et al., 1979). The half life was calculated
based on the residual activity values that were determined. The
following half lives (t 1/2) were obtained:
[0127] Measured Half Lives
TABLE-US-00002 t1/2 (pH 10.0; Protease used 60.degree. C.), minutes
Protease according to FIG. 2, SEQ ID NO. 3 of 16 WO 03/057713
Variant of alkaline protease from Bacillus lentus 94 DSM 5483
according to WO 92/21760 (modifications at positions 3, 4, and 199)
Protease variant 1 according to the present invention 127 (see
Example 1)
[0128] It is apparent that a protease according to the present
invention exhibits appreciably improved temperature stability.
[0129] Proteases according to the present invention consequently
exhibit improved cleaning performance and are advantageously
temperature-stable.
[0130] Example 4: Ascertaining the cleaning performance of
proteases according to the present invention when used in a
commercially usual liquid washing agent at a washing temperature of
60.degree. C.
[0131] Standardized stained textiles were used for this Example.
The following stains were used: [0132] a) Stains from
Eidgenossische Material- und Prufanstalt (EMPA) Testmaterialen AG,
St. Gallen, Switzerland: EMPA 117 (blood/milk/ink on
polyester/cotton), EMPA 112 (cocoa on cotton) [0133] b) Stains from
wfk--Cleaning Technology Institute e.V., Krefeld, Germany: 10 EG
(egg yolk on cotton), 10N (whole egg/pigment on cotton) [0134] c)
Stains from CFT (Center For Testmaterials) B. V., Vlaardingen,
Netherlands: CS-01 (blood on cotton), C-05 (blood/milk/ink on
cotton), CS-44 (chocolate drink on cotton), CS-37 (whole egg with
pigment on cotton), C-10 (pigment/oil/milk on cotton), CS-06 (salad
dressing with natural black on cotton), CS-08 (grass on
cotton).
[0135] Using this test material, a variety of washing agent
formulations were investigated in terms of their washing
performance. The experiments were carried out as described in
Example 2, except that washing occurred at a higher temperature,
specifically 60.degree. C. The protease variant 1 (hereinafter
batch 1) from Example 1 was used as a protease according to the
present invention. The following proteases, which already exhibit
very good cleaning performance in liquid washing and cleaning
agents, served as references: [0136] Batch 2: variant F49 of the
alkaline protease from Bacillus lentus DSM 5483 in accordance with
WO 95/23221; [0137] Batch 3: variant of the alkaline protease from
Bacillus lentus DSM 5483 in accordance with WO 92/21760
(modifications at positions 3, 4, and 199); [0138] Batch 4:
protease having an amino acid sequence in accordance with SEQ ID
NO. 1 having the amino acid substitution R99E in the count in
accordance with SEQ ID NO. 1.
[0139] Batch 4 served as a standard. The values indicated in Table
3 below represent the sum of the cleaning performance values on all
stains as a difference from the standard in accordance with batch
4. Negative values therefore signify poorer cleaning performance as
compared with the standard over all stains; positive values signify
improved cleaning performance as compared with the standard over
all stains.
TABLE-US-00003 TABLE 3 Batch 1 2 3 4 Cleaning performance +10.2
-20.9 -24.0 0
[0140] It is apparent that a protease according to the present
invention exhibits appreciably improved cleaning performance at
60.degree. C. as well.
[0141] While at least one exemplary embodiment has been presented
in the foregoing detailed description of the invention, it should
be appreciated that a vast number of variations exist. It should
also be appreciated that the exemplary embodiment or exemplary
embodiments are only examples, and are not intended to limit the
scope, applicability, or configuration of the invention in any way.
Rather, the foregoing detailed description will provide those
skilled in the art with a convenient road map for implementing an
exemplary embodiment of the invention, it being understood that
various changes may be made in the function and arrangement of
elements described in an exemplary embodiment without departing
from the scope of the invention as set forth in the appended claims
and their legal equivalents.
Sequence CWU 1
1
31269PRTBacillus lentus 1Ala Gln Ser Val Pro Trp Gly Ile Ser Arg
Val Gln Ala Pro Ala Ala 1 5 10 15 His Asn Arg Gly Leu Thr Gly Ser
Gly Val Lys Val Ala Val Leu Asp 20 25 30 Thr Gly Ile Ser Thr His
Pro Asp Leu Asn Ile Arg Gly Gly Ala Ser 35 40 45 Phe Val Pro Gly
Glu Pro Ser Thr Gln Asp Gly Asn Gly His Gly Thr 50 55 60 His Val
Ala Gly Thr Ile Ala Ala Leu Asn Asn Ser Ile Gly Val Leu 65 70 75 80
Gly Val Ala Pro Ser Ala Glu Leu Tyr Ala Val Lys Val Leu Gly Ala 85
90 95 Asp Gly Arg Gly Ala Ile Ser Ser Ile Ala Gln Gly Leu Glu Trp
Ala 100 105 110 Gly Asn Asn Gly Met His Val Ala Asn Leu Ser Leu Gly
Ser Pro Ser 115 120 125 Pro Ser Ala Thr Leu Glu Gln Ala Val Asn Ser
Ala Thr Ser Arg Gly 130 135 140 Val Leu Val Val Ala Ala Ser Gly Asn
Ser Gly Ala Ser Ser Ile Ser 145 150 155 160 Tyr Pro Ala Arg Tyr Ala
Asn Ala Met Ala Val Gly Ala Thr Asp Gln 165 170 175 Asn Asn Asn Arg
Ala Ser Phe Ser Gln Tyr Gly Ala Gly Leu Asp Ile 180 185 190 Val Ala
Pro Gly Val Asn Val Gln Ser Thr Tyr Pro Gly Ser Thr Tyr 195 200 205
Ala Ser Leu Asn Gly Thr Ser Met Ala Thr Pro His Val Ala Gly Ala 210
215 220 Ala Ala Leu Val Lys Gln Lys Asn Pro Ser Trp Ser Asn Val Gln
Ile 225 230 235 240 Arg Asn His Leu Lys Asn Thr Ala Thr Ser Leu Gly
Ser Thr Asn Leu 245 250 255 Tyr Gly Ser Gly Leu Val Asn Ala Glu Ala
Ala Thr Arg 260 265 2269PRTBacillus lentus 2Ala Gln Thr Ile Pro Trp
Gly Ile Ser Arg Val Gln Ala Pro Ala Ala 1 5 10 15 His Asn Arg Gly
Leu Thr Gly Ser Gly Val Lys Val Ala Val Leu Asp 20 25 30 Thr Gly
Ile Ser Thr His Pro Asp Leu Asn Ile Arg Gly Gly Ala Ser 35 40 45
Phe Val Pro Gly Glu Pro Ser Thr Gln Asp Gly Asn Gly His Gly Thr 50
55 60 His Val Ala Gly Thr Ile Ala Ala Leu Asn Asn Ser Ile Gly Val
Leu 65 70 75 80 Gly Val Ala Pro Ser Ala Glu Leu Tyr Ala Val Lys Val
Leu Gly Ala 85 90 95 Asp Gly Glu Gly Ala Ile Ser Ser Ile Ala Gln
Gly Leu Glu Trp Ala 100 105 110 Gly Asn Asn Gly Met His Val Ala Asn
Leu Ser Leu Gly Ser Pro Ser 115 120 125 Pro Ser Ala Thr Leu Glu Gln
Ala Val Asn Ser Ala Thr Ser Arg Gly 130 135 140 Val Leu Val Val Ala
Ala Ser Gly Asn Ser Gly Ala Ser Ser Ile Ser 145 150 155 160 Tyr Pro
Ala Arg Tyr Ala Asn Ala Met Ala Val Gly Ala Thr Asp Gln 165 170 175
Asn Asn Asn Arg Ala Ser Phe Ser Gln Tyr Gly Ala Gly Leu Asp Ile 180
185 190 Val Ala Pro Gly Val Asn Ile Gln Ser Thr Tyr Pro Gly Ser Thr
Tyr 195 200 205 Ala Ser Leu Asn Gly Thr Ser Met Ala Thr Pro His Val
Ala Gly Ala 210 215 220 Ala Ala Leu Val Lys Gln Lys Asn Pro Ser Trp
Ser Asn Val Gln Ile 225 230 235 240 Arg Asn His Leu Lys Asn Thr Ala
Thr Ser Leu Gly Ser Thr Asn Leu 245 250 255 Tyr Gly Ser Gly Leu Val
Asn Ala Glu Ala Ala Thr Arg 260 265 3269PRTBacillus lentus 3Ala Gln
Thr Ile Pro Trp Gly Ile Ser Arg Val Gln Ala Pro Ala Ala 1 5 10 15
His Asn Arg Gly Leu Thr Gly Ser Gly Val Lys Val Ala Val Leu Asp 20
25 30 Thr Gly Ile Ser Thr His Pro Asp Leu Asn Ile Arg Gly Gly Ala
Ser 35 40 45 Phe Val Pro Gly Glu Pro Ser Thr Gln Asp Gly Asn Gly
His Gly Thr 50 55 60 His Val Ala Gly Thr Ile Ala Ala Leu Asn Asn
Ser Ile Gly Val Leu 65 70 75 80 Gly Val Ala Pro Ser Ala Glu Leu Tyr
Ala Val Lys Val Leu Gly Ala 85 90 95 Asp Gly Asp Gly Ala Ile Ser
Ser Ile Ala Gln Gly Leu Glu Trp Ala 100 105 110 Gly Asn Asn Gly Met
His Val Ala Asn Leu Ser Leu Gly Ser Pro Ser 115 120 125 Pro Ser Ala
Thr Leu Glu Gln Ala Val Asn Ser Ala Thr Ser Arg Gly 130 135 140 Val
Leu Val Val Ala Ala Ser Gly Asn Ser Gly Ala Ser Ser Ile Ser 145 150
155 160 Tyr Pro Ala Arg Tyr Ala Asn Ala Met Ala Val Gly Ala Thr Asp
Gln 165 170 175 Asn Asn Asn Arg Ala Ser Phe Ser Gln Tyr Gly Ala Gly
Leu Asp Ile 180 185 190 Val Ala Pro Gly Val Asn Ile Gln Ser Thr Tyr
Pro Gly Ser Thr Tyr 195 200 205 Ala Ser Leu Asn Gly Thr Ser Met Ala
Thr Pro His Val Ala Gly Ala 210 215 220 Ala Ala Leu Val Lys Gln Lys
Asn Pro Ser Trp Ser Asn Val Gln Ile 225 230 235 240 Arg Asn His Leu
Lys Asn Thr Ala Thr Ser Leu Gly Ser Thr Asn Leu 245 250 255 Tyr Gly
Ser Gly Leu Val Asn Ala Glu Ala Ala Thr Arg 260 265
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