Novel cellulase producing actinomycetes, cellulase produced therefrom and method of producing same

Abstract

A novel cellulase composition is provided which is produced by an Actinomycete. The cellulase has an approximate calculated molecular weight of 36 kD and has a pH optimum at 40° C. of 8 and at 60° C. of 7. Also provided is a DNA encoding said cellulase, a method for producing the cellulase and applications thereof.

Description

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

[0002] Cellulases are enzymes that hydrolyze the β-D-glucosidic linkages in celluloses. Cellulolytic enzymes have been traditionally divided into three major classes: endoglucanases, exoglucanases or cellobiohydrolases and β-glucosidases (Knowles, J. et al., TIBTECH 5:255-261 (1987)). Cellulases are known to be produced by a large number of bacteria, yeasts and fungi.

[0003] Primary among the applications that have been developed for the use of cellulolytic enzymes are those involving degrading (wood) cellulose pulp into sugars for (bio)ethanol production, textile treatments like “stone washing” and “biopolishing,” and in detergent compositions. Cellulases are also known to be useful in detergent compositions for removing dirt, i.e., cleaning. For example, Great Britain Application Nos. 2,075,028, 2,095,275 and 2,094,826 illustrate improved cleaning performance with detergents that have incorporated cellulase. Additionally, Great Britain Application No. 1,358,599 illustrates the use of cellulase in detergents to reduce the harsh feel of cotton-containing fabrics.

[0004] Another useful feature of cellulases in the treatment of textiles is their ability to recondition used fabrics by making their colors more vibrant. For example, repeated washing of cotton containing fabrics results in a greyish cast to the fabric. This is believed to be due to disrupted and disordered fibrils, sometimes called “pills,” caused by mechanical action. This greyish cast is particularly noticeable on colored fabrics. As a consequence, the ability of cellulase to remove the disordered top layer of the fiber and thus improve the overall appearance of the fabric has been found to be of value.

[0005] Because detergents, being a primary application of cellulase, operate generally under alkaline conditions there is a strong demand for cellulases that exhibit high activity at pH 7-10. Well characterized fungal cellulases, such as those from Humicola insolens and Trichoderma reesei, perform adequately at neutral to low alkaline pH. A number of enzymes demonstrating cellulase activity at high alkaline pH have been isolated from Bacillus and other prokaryotes, see e.g., PCT Publication Nos. WO 96/34092 and WO 96/34108. Thus, both fungal and bacterial cellulases have been investigated thoroughly. However, a third group of cellulases, those isolated from Actinomycetes, have attracted only meager attention. Wilson, et al., Critical Reviews in Biotechnology, 12:45-63 (1992), have studied cellulases produced by Thermomonospora fusca, Thermonomospora curvata and Microbispora bispora and have shown that many of these cellulases exhibit broad pH profiles and good temperature stability. Similarly, Nakai, et al., Agric. Biol. Chem., 51: 3061-3065 (1987) and Nakai, et al., Gene, 65:229-238 (1988) have demonstrated the alkalitolerant cellulase casA from Streptomyces strain KSM-9. This cellulase possesses an alkaline pH optimum and excellent temperature stability.

[0006] Despite knowledge in the art related to many cellulase compositions having desirable properties, including some examples from Actinomycetes, there is a continued need for new cellulases having a varying spectrum of characteristics useful as, for example, textile treatments, components of detergent compositions, pulp and paper treatments, animal feed supplements, processing aids for baking, and biomass converters. Applicants have discovered cellulases which possess such a complement of characteristics and which are useful in such known applications of cellulases.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

[0007] An object of the present invention is to provide novel cellulase compositions producible by Actinomycetes, derivatives of such cellulases, methods of producing such cellulases and the use of such cellulases. The present invention further relates to the use of the novel cellulase in compositions recognized in the art as advantageously having cellulase added thereto, including, as an additive in a detergent composition, in the treatment of textiles such as cellulose-containing fabrics and fibers useful therefor, as an animal feed additive, as a processing aid in baking, in the treatment of pulp and paper and in the treatment of starch for the production of high fructose corn-syrup or ethanol.

[0008] It is a further object of the present invention to provide for a method of producing cellulase compositions derived from such novel Actinomycetes via heterologous expression from recombinant host cells.

[0009] It is yet a further object of the present invention to provide a DNA and amino acid sequence which facilitate commercial production of the novel cellulase compositions of the invention.

[0010] It is still a further object of the present invention to provide a novel cellulase having excellent properties for use in detergents, treating textiles, as a feed supplement and in pulp and paper manufacturing.

[0011] According to the present invention, a novel cellulase or a derivative is provided which is obtainable from an Actinomycete. Preferably, the cellulase of the invention comprises an amino acid sequence according to FIG. 1 (SEQ ID NO:1), a fragment, or a derivative thereof, having greater than 50% sequence identity, preferably greater than 70% sequence identity and more preferably greater than 90% sequence identity to an active portion thereto.

[0012] According to another embodiment, a composition is provided comprising DNA encoding the cellulases of the invention. Preferably, the DNA encodes an amino acid sequence and comprises the nucleotide sequence as shown in FIG. 2 (SEQ ID NO:2), a fragment, or a derivative thereof, having greater than 76% sequence identity, preferably greater than 80% sequence identity and more preferably greater than 90% sequence identity to a portion thereto, and cellulases produced thereby. The present invention further embodies DNA which hybridizes to a DNA probe taken from the DNA represented in FIG. 2 under the appropriate conditions, and cellulases produced thereby.

[0013] According to yet another embodiment of the invention, a method of transforming a suitable microorganism with DNA encoding a cellulase according to the invention is provided and a method of producing the cellulase according to the invention from that transformed microorganism.

[0014] A further object of the invention is to provide an expression vector particularly effective in Streptomyces. Streptomyces serve as alternate host cells for the production of various proteins and with respect to the expression and production of cellulases may offer a number of advantages over Bacillus host cells particularly when cells are grown at a high cell density. A preferred expression vector comprises a regulatory polynucleotide sequence including a promoter sequence derived from a glucose isomerase gene of Actinoplanes, a signal sequence derived from a Streptomyces cellulase gene, and a DNA sequence encoding a cellulase, particularly a cellulase according to the invention.

[0015] In a preferred embodiment of the present invention, a full-length cellulase is derived from Actinomycetes and has a molecular weight of approximately 36 kD as measured on SDS-PAGE (referred to herein as the 36 kD cellulase). The full-length, approximately 36 kD, cellulase has a calculated isoelectric point of about 5.9 and a pH optimum on CMC (carboxy methyl cellulose) of about 8 at 40° C. and 7 at 60° C. The cellulase of the present invention shows higher activity at 60° C. than at 40° C. with broad activity ranges from at least pH 5 to pH 10.

[0016] In an especially preferred embodiment, a cellulase of this invention is a truncated form of the full-length cellulase described above. Its molecular weight is approximately 25 kD.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

[0017] FIG. 1 shows the deduced amino acid sequence of an approximately 36 kD cellulase according to the invention showing the leader sequence in bold. Coded letters are according to the IUPAC-TUB Biochemical Nomenclature Commission (as described in the GenBank PatentIn User Manual, PC-DOS/MS-DOS Version, November 1990)(SEQ. ID. NO:1).

[0018] FIG. 2 shows the DNA sequence encoding an approximately 36 kD cellulase according to the invention (SEQ.ID.NO:2).

[0019] FIG. 3 shows the pH/activity profile of an approximately 36 kD cellulase according to the invention at 40° C. and 60° C.

[0020] FIG. 4 shows the pHPLT vector.

[0021] FIG. 5 shows the pHP11AG8 vector.

[0022] FIG. 6 shows the 16s RNA sequence of the Actinomycete from which the cellulase of the invention may be obtained (SEQ. ID.NO:3).

[0023] FIG. 7 indicates the construction of pIJ488-101.

[0024] FIG. 8 shows the construction of pWGxGIT.

[0025] FIG. 9 shows the construction of pTZ18Rsti.

[0026] FIG. 10 shows the construction of pWGxsGIT.

[0027] FIG. 11 shows the construction of pIJ488sti.

[0028] FIG. 12 shows the construction of pSEGCi.

[0029] FIG. 13 shows the construction of pSEGCT.

[0030] FIG. 14 shows the construction of pSEGCTi1 AG8.

[0031] FIG. 15 provides the DNA sequence of the complete expression cassette consisting of the GI promoter, the celA signal sequence, cellulase 11AG8 and the GI terminator (SEQ ID NO:4) Also provided therein is the coding amino acid sequence of 11AG8 (SEQ ID NO:5).

[0032] FIG. 16 shows the construction of pSEACT11AG8.

[0033] FIG. 17 shows the construction of pSACT11AG8.

[0034] FIG. 18 compares the performance of the full length and the truncated cellulase of this invention. FIG. 18a indicates that in Wisk®, the depilling performance of the full length is equivalent to that of the truncated cellulase. FIG. 18b indicates that the peak load values are slightly lower and TSL greater in the truncated cellulase. FIG. 18c indicates that at an equal depilling rate, the truncated cellulase has a greater TSL than the full length cellulase.

[0035] FIG. 19 compares the performance of the full length and the truncated cellulase of this invention. FIG. 19a indicates that in Gessy Lever #1, the depilling performance of the truncated cellulase was better than that of the full length cellulase. FIG. 19b indicates the peak load values were greater for the truncated enzyme than for the full length cellulase.

[0036] FIG. 20 compares the performance of the full length and the truncated cellulase of this invention in the presence of a bleaching agent. FIG. 20a indicates that, in the presence of perborate monohydrate and a bleach activator, the truncated enzyme's depilling ability decreased the least. FIG. 20b shows that the peak load values increased for the truncated cellulase in the presence of a bleaching agent.

[0037] FIG. 21 compares the performance of the full length and the truncated cellulase of this invention in the presence of protease. FIG. 21a indicates that protease had no effect on the depilling performance of the truncated enzyme. FIG. 21b shows that protease had no effect on the peak load values for the truncated cellulase.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

[0038] Definitions

[0039] Unless defined otherwise herein, all technical and scientific terms used herein have the same meaning as commonly understood by one of ordinary skill in the art to which this invention belongs. Singleton, et al., DICTIONARY OF MICROBIOLOGY AND MOLECULAR BIOLOGY, 2D ED., John Wiley and Sons, New York (1994), and Hale & Marham, THE HARPER COLLINS DICTIONARY OF BIOLOGY, Harper Perennial, N.Y. (1991) provide one of skill with a general dictionary of many of the terms used in this invention. Although any methods and materials similar or equivalent to those described herein can be used in the practice or testing of the present invention, the preferred methods and materials are described. Numeric ranges are inclusive of the numbers defining the range. Unless otherwise indicated, nucleic acids are written left to right in 5′ to 3′ orientation; amino acid sequences are written left to right in amino to carboxy orientation, respectively. The headings provided herein are not limitations of the various aspects or embodiments of the invention which can be had by reference to the specification as a whole. Accordingly, the terms defined immediately below are more fully defined by reference to the specification as a whole.

[0040] The term “amino acid” includes reference to an amino acid that is incorporated into a protein, polypeptide, or peptide (collectively “polypeptide”). The amino acid can be a naturally occurring amino acid or, unless otherwise limited, can encompass known analogs of natural amino acids that function in a similar manner as naturally occurring amino acids.

[0041] “Derivative” is intended to indicate a peptide or protein that is derived from a native protein by addition of one or more amino acids to either or both the C- and N-terminal end of the native protein, substitution of one or more amino acids at one or a number of different sites in the native amino acid sequence, deletion of one or more amino acids at either or both ends of the native protein or at one or more sites in the amino acid sequence, or insertion of one or more amino acids at one or more sites in the native amino acid sequence. The preparation of an enzyme derivative is preferably achieved by modifying the DNA sequence that encodes the native protein, transformation of that DNA sequence into a suitable host, and expression of the modified DNA sequence to form the derivative enzyme. Alternative means of preparing derivatives are well known in the art, and include, e.g., proteolytic cleavage of native proteins or their derivatives. The derivatives of the cellulases of this invention include peptides comprising altered amino acid sequences in comparison with a precursor enzyme amino acid sequence (e.g., a wild type or native state enzyme according to the present invention) that retain a characteristic enzymatic nature of the precursor enzyme but which have altered properties in some specific aspect. For example, an altered cellulase may have an increased pH optimum or increased temperature resistance but will retain its characteristic cellulolytic activity. Additionally, as used herein the term “derived from” with respect to expression vector components means a sequence that is identical to a reference sequence, is a naturally occurring or engineered variant, or chemically synthesized copy or variant thereof, which preserves the desired function. Thus, reference to a promoter sequence derived from an Actinoplanes glucose isomerase gene would include a functional promoter sequence of the glucose isomerase gene from A. missouriensis, functional promoter sequences from protein-engineered derivatives, such as GIT and the like. (See European Patent Application 351029)

[0042] “Conservative substitutions” of a particular amino acid sequence refers to amino acid substitutions of those amino acids that are not critical for functional activity or substitution of amino acids with other amino acids having similar properties (e.g., acidic, basic, positively or negatively charged, polar or non-polar, etc.) such that the substitutions of even critical amino acids do not substantially alter activity. Conservative substitution tables providing functionally similar amino acids are well known in the art.

[0043] The term “identical” in the context of two polypeptide or nucleic acid sequences refers to the residues in the two sequences that are the same when aligned for maximum correspondence, as measured using one of the following “sequence comparison algorithms.” Optimal alignment of sequences for comparison can be conducted, e.g., by the local homology algorithm of Smith & Waterman, Adv. Appl. Math. 2:482 (1981), by the homology alignment algorithm of Needleman & Wunsch, J Mol. Biol. 48:443 (1970), by the search for similarity method of Pearson & Lipman, Proc. Nat'l Acad. Sci. USA 85:2444 (1988), by computerized implementations of these algorithms (GAP, BESTFIT, FASTA, and TFASTA in the Wisconsin Genetics Software Package, Genetics Computer Group, 575 Science Dr., Madison, Wis.), or by visual inspection.

[0044] An example of an algorithm that is suitable for determining sequence similarity is the BLAST algorithm, which is described in Altschul, et al., J Mol. Biol. 215:403-410 (1990). Software for performing BLAST analyses is publicly available through the National Center for Biotechnology Information (http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/). This algorithm involves first identifying high scoring sequence pairs (HSPs) by identifying short words of length W in the query sequence that either match or satisfy some positive-valued threshold score T when aligned with a word of the same length in a database sequence. These initial neighborhood word hits act as starting points to find longer HSPs containing them. The word hits are expanded in both directions along each of the two sequences being compared for as far as the cumulative alignment score can be increased. Extension of the word hits is stopped when: the cumulative alignment score falls off by the quantity X from a maximum achieved value; the cumulative score goes to zero or below; or the end of either sequence is reached. The BLAST algorithm parameters W, T, and X determine the sensitivity and speed of the alignment. The BLAST program uses as defaults a wordlength (W) of 11, the BLOSUM62 scoring matrix (see Henikoff & Henikoff, Proc. Natl. Acad. Sci. USA 89:10915 (1989)) alignments (B) of 50, expectation (E) of 10, M′5, N′-4, and a comparison of both strands.

[0045] The BLAST algorithm then performs a statistical analysis of the similarity between two sequences (see, e.g., Karlin & Altschul, Proc. Nat'l. Acad. Sci. USA 90:5873-5787 (1993)). One measure of similarity provided by the BLAST algorithm is the smallest sum probability (P(N)), which provides an indication of the probability by which a match between two nucleotide or amino acid sequences would occur by chance. For example, a nucleic acid is considered similar to a cellulase nucleic acid of this invention if the smallest sum probability in a comparison of the test nucleic acid to a cellulase nucleic acid is less than about 0.1, more preferably less than about 0.01, and most preferably less than about 0.001. Where the test nucleic acid encodes a cellulase polypeptide, it is considered similar to a specified cellulase nucleic acid if the comparison results in a smallest sum probability of less than about 0.5, and more preferably less than about 0.2.

[0046] Another indication that two polypeptides are substantially identical is that the first polypeptide is immunologically cross-reactive with the second polypeptide. Typically, polypeptides that differ by conservative amino acid substitutions are immunologically cross-reactive. Thus, a polypeptide is substantially identical to a second polypeptide, for example, where the two peptides differ only by a conservative substitution.

[0047] As used herein, “polypeptide,” “peptide” and “protein” are used interchangeably and include reference to a polymer of amino acid residues. The terms apply to amino acid polymers in which one or more amino acid residue is an artificial chemical analog of a corresponding naturally occurring amino acid, as well as to naturally occurring amino acid polymers. The terms also apply to polymers containing conservative amino acid substitutions such that the polypeptide remains functional.

[0048] As used herein, “recombinant” includes reference to a polypeptide produced using host cells that do not have, in their native state, an endogenous copy of the DNA able to express the polypeptide. The host cells produce the recombinant polypeptide because they have been genetically altered by the introduction of the appropriate isolated nucleic acid sequence. The term also includes reference to a host cell, or nucleic acid, or vector, that has been modified by the introduction of a heterologous nucleic acid or the alteration of a native nucleic acid to a form not native to that cell, or that the host cell is derived from a cell so modified. Thus, for example, recombinant host cells express genes that are not found within the native (non-recombinant) form of the cell, express mutants of genes that are found within the native form, or express native genes that are otherwise abnormally expressed, under expressed or not expressed at all. “Transformation” as used herein means the stable integration of a vector comprising a polynucleotide encoding a cellulase according to the invention into the genome of a host organism. As used herein, “recovery” or “recovering” refers to a nucleic acid or polypeptide that is removed from at least one component with which it is naturally associated. The terms broadly include isolating, purifying, separating, and the like.

[0049] “Host cell” means a cell which has the capacity to act as a host and expression vehicle for a recombinant DNA vector according to the invention. In a preferred embodiment according to the present invention, “host cell” means the cells of Bacillus. In another preferred embodiment according to the invention, “host cell” means the cells of Streptomyces. A Streptomyces means any bacterial strain that is a member of the genus Streptomyces as classified in Buchanan et al., The Shorter Bergey's Manual For Determinative Bacteriology (Williams & Wilkens 1982). Particularly preferred strains of Streptomyces include S. lividens, S. rubiginosus, and S. coelicolor. S. lividens is described in Lomovskaya et al., J. Virology 9:258 (1972). However, one of skill will realize that any appropriate host cell, e.g. bacterial, fungal, eukaryotic and plant cell may be used.

[0050] “DNA construct” or “DNA vector” means a nucleotide sequence which comprises one or more DNA fragments encoding any of the novel cellulases or cellulase derivatives described above. Included in “DNA vectors” are “expression vectors.” Typical expression vectors contain regulatory sequences such as, transcription and translation terminators, transcription and translation initiation sequences, signal sequences, and promoters useful for regulation of the expression of the particular nucleic acid. The term “promoter” is used in its ordinary sense to refer to a polynucleotide sequence involved in the control of the initiation of transcription of a polynucleotide sequence encoding a protein. A “signal sequence” refers to a signal peptide or a portion of a protein that is capable of directing the transport of a desired protein in bioactive form from a host. The mature form of an extracellular protein lacks the signal sequence which is cleaved off during the secretion process. While not meant to limit the invention, the number of amino acid residues in a signal peptide may be between about 5 and about 100 amino acid residues. Signal sequence may be modified to provide for cloning sites that allow for the ligation of DNA or insertion of DNA encoding a cellulase. The vectors optionally comprise generic expression cassettes containing at least one independent terminator sequence, sequences permitting replication of the cassette in prokaryotes, eukaryotes, or both, (e.g., shuttle vectors) and selection markers for both prokaryotic and eukaryotic systems. Vectors are suitable for replication and integration in prokaryotes, eukaryotes, or both. See, Giliman and Smith, Gene 8:81-97 (1979); Roberts et al., Nature 328:731-734 (1987); Berger and Kimmel, GUIDE To MOLECULAR CLONING TECHNIQUES, METHODS IN ENZYMOLOGY, VOL 152, Academic Press, Inc., San Diego, Calif. (“Berger”); Scheider, B., et al., Protein Expr. Purif6435:10 (1995); Sambrook et al. MOLECULAR CLONING - A LABORATORY MANUAL (2ND ED.) VOL. 1-3, Cold Springs Harbor Publishing (1989) (“Sambrook”); and CURRENT PROTOCOLS IN MOLECULAR BIOLOGY, Ausubel et al. (eds.), Current Protocols, a joint venture between Greene Publishing Associates, Inc. and John Wiley & Sons, Inc., (1997 Supplement) (“Ausubel”). Cloning vectors useful in Streptomyces are known and reference is made to U.S. Pat. Nos. 4,338,397; 4,411,994; 4,513,085; 4,513,086; 4,745,056; 5,514,590; and 5,622,866 and W088/07079.

[0051] As used herein, “operably linked” refers to the positioning of regulatory sequences in a manner such that the normal function of the components are maintained. A signal sequence operably linked to a promoter is joined to the promoter in such a manner that the transcription and translation of the signal sequence is controlled by the promoter. A regulatory sequence operably linked to a coding sequence is capable of effecting the expression of the coding sequence. Operably linked sequences need not be contiguous. Thus, for example intervening untranslated yet transcribed sequences may be present between a promoter and the coding sequence, and the promoter and coding sequence are still considered operably linked.

[0052] Cloning and Expression of Full Length Cellulase

[0053] In one embodiment of this invention, the cellulases of this invention are obtained from natural sources, e.g., are not recombinantly produced. It is possible to obtain the cellulases by screening soda lake samples to isolate the appropriate cellulase-producing organism. That organism can then be grown up according to art recognized means for growing bacteria, such as Actinomycetes.

[0054] However, rather than isolating the correct cellulase producing strain, it is more efficient to utilize genetic engineering techniques. Thus, it is possible to transform a suitable host cell with the DNA provided herein and cultivate the resultant recombinant microorganism under conditions appropriate for host cell growth and cellulase expression.

[0055] As a first step, chromosomal DNA may be obtained from the donor Actinomycete strain by, for example, the method of Saito and Miura (Saito & Miura, Biochim. Biophys. Acta.,72:619 (1963)) or by a similar method. Restriction enzyme cleavage of the chromosomal DNA thus obtained provides DNA fragments containing the alkaline cellulase gene. For this purpose, any restriction enzyme may be used provided it does not cleave a desired region of said gene, for example the coding region of a gene or a coding region and a promoter of a gene. In the alternative, a restriction enzyme may be used which cleaves the gene, using however, a reduced enzyme concentration or incubation time to permit only partial digestion. A preferred restriction endonuclease is Sau3A. From the resulting digestion mixture, suitable fragments of about 4-10 kb may be isolated, inserted into a DNA vector, and used to transform a suitable host cell.

[0056] Genes encoding the cellulases of the present invention can be cloned using e.g., λ-phage (expression) vectors and E. coli host cells. (Alternatively PCR cloning using consensus primers designed on conserved domains may be used). After a first cloning step in E. coli, a cellulase gene according to the present invention can be transferred to a more preferred industrial expression host such as Bacillus or Streptomyces species, a filamentous fungus such as Aspergillus or Trichoderma, or a yeast such as Saccharomyces. Preferred are the bacterial species belonging to Bacillis or Streptomyces.

[0057] Trichoderma is also a preferred host organism. However, it has been noticed that cellulases which have been fermented in Trichoderma increase the level of backstaining in used textile processing, e.g., stone washing. Without wishing to be limited by theory, it is believed that addition of protease to the fermentation media reduces backstaining to acceptable levels. Thus, Trichoderma could also provide an acceptable host cell for cellulases to be used in textile processing. High level expression and secretion obtainable in these host organisms allows accumulation of the cellulase in the fermentation medium from which it can subsequently be recovered.

[0058] The cellulase may be recovered from the fermentation medium by conventional procedures including separating the cells from the medium by centrifugation or filtration, or if necessary, disrupting the cells and removing the supernatant from the cellular fragments and debris. Typically, after clarification, the proteinaceous components of the supernatant or filtrate are precipitated by means of a salt, e.g., ammonium sulfate. The precipitated proteins are then solubilized and purified by a variety of chromatographic procedures, e.g., ion exchange chromatography, affinity chromatography or another similarly art-recognized procedure. For the production of a cellulase according to the invention, it is preferred to cultivate the host cells under alkaline conditions using media containing a cellulose-based energy source.

[0059] It is preferred that purification of the cellulases of this invention be monitored by functional activity. A preferred functional assay monitors the kinetics of hydrolysis of NPC (nitrophenyl cellobioside) by cellulase. The procedure is as follows:

[0060] In duplicate or triplicate wells of a 96-well microtiter plate, add 20 μL of sample or standard. The standards can be previously obtained and well-characterized cellulase samples, or commercially supplied cellulases. Add 100 μL of assay solution. The assay solution is 1 part concentrated stock and 5 parts phosphate buffer. The concentrated stock consists of 25 mg/mL NPC (Sigma N4764) in 100 mM sodium phosphate, pH 8.0. The same phosphate buffer can be used to dilute the assay solution. As soon as the NPC substrate has been added to the samples or standards, insert the plate in a 30° C. pre-heated microtiter plate reader. Readings at 1410 nm should be taken at 1 minute intervals for 6 minutes.

[0061] A standard curve can be generated from the standards. The y-axis of the curve is the Vmax and the X-axis is the concentration of the cellulase in the standard. If the Vmax of the samples falls outside of the standard curve created by the standards, the samples should be diluted and the assay repeated.

[0062] In one embodiment of this invention, the expression host cell comprises a Bacillus spp., more preferably Bacillus licheniformis or Bacillus subtilis. However, in a preferred embodiment, the host expression cells comprise a Streptomyces spp, more preferably Streptomyces lividens. A preferred general transformation and expression protocol for protease deleted Bacillus strains is provided in Ferrari, et al., U.S. Pat. No. 5,264,366, incorporated herein by reference. Transformation and expression in Aspergillus is described in, for example, Berka, et al., U.S. Pat. No. 5,364,770, incorporated herein by reference. Transformation and expression in Streptomyces can be found in Hopwood, et aL, GENETIC MANIPULATION OF STREPTOMYCES: A LABORATORY MANUAL, Innis (1985 which is herein incorporated by reference in its entirety.

[0063] It was found that transformation of the DNA sequences of this invention into Bacillus was ineffective in tenns of resulting expression. Thus, it is preferred, when transforming Bacillus spp., to utilize the aprE promoter in combination with known Bacillus-derived signal and other regulatory sequences. When the transformation host cell is Aspergillus the preferred promoter is glaa. With Streptomyces, the preferred promoter is the Glucose Isomerase (GI) promoter of Actinoplanes missouriensis. A promoter may be modified so that it is conveniently ligated to the signal sequence to produce an expression vector according to the invention.. The promoter sequence is preferably operably linked to the signal sequence and to the sequence encoding a cellulase.

[0064] When a cellulase gene is transferred into a Streptomyces host cell, transformation includes use of a preferred expression vector according to the invention. A preferred expression vector comprises a polynucleotide sequence encoding a bacterial cellulase and particularly a cellulase of the invention and a regulatory polynucleotide sequence including a promoter sequence derived from a bacterial glucose isomerase (GI) gene; preferably derived from a glucose isomerase gene of Actinoplanes, more preferably derived from a glucose isomerase gene of A. missouriensis, and a nucleic acid sequence coding for a signal sequence derived from a Streptomyces cellulase gene, preferably derived from a Streptomyces cellulase A gene (CelA), more preferably derived from a Streptomyces lividens cellulase gene, most preferably derived from a Streptomyces lividens cellulase A gene. While the preferred signal sequences are enumerated above, the signal sequence may also be derived from other signal sequences of S. lividans as well as other Streptomyces species. The signal sequence may be modified to include at least one cloning site for the nucleic acid encoding the cellulase. The expression vector according to the invention may include a promoter other than one derived from a Streptomyces cellulase A gene, for example in certain instances the vector may include a aph promoter derived from the Streptomyces fradiae aminoglycoside 3′-phosphotransferase gene. While Streptomyces are the preferred host organism for the above describe expression vector other bacterial species may also serve as a host cell, such as E. coli and Bacillus sp. Means for modifying promoters and/or signal sequences are well known in the art.

[0065] Preferably the expression vector also includes a terminator sequence of a cellulase gene according to the invention. Most preferably the terminator sequence is the sequence from the cellulase gene encoded by the DNA of the expression vector. In a preferred embodiment, the vector includes one or more cloning sites located between the signal sequence and the terminator sequence. These cloning sites may include NheI, HpaI, BamHI, SphI and EcoRI. A host cell transformed with an expression vector of the invention may include multiple copies of the vector. A particularly preferred expression vector is illustrated in FIG. 14, pSEGCT. While preferably the polynucleotide sequences comprising a sequence encoding a bacterial cellulase, particularly a cellulase of the invention and the regulatory sequences including a promoter and a signal sequence are situated on a derivative of a Streptomyces plasmid, the vector could contain a derivative a naturally occurring Streptomyces phage or any non-Streptomyces plasmid or bacteriophage which is capable of replication in Streptomyces.

[0066] In addition to a full-length cellulase and DNA encoding it, this invention also encompasses truncated cellulases, and derivatives of cellulases and the DNA encoding them. Typically, cellulases comprise two active domains: a catalytically active domain and a cellulose binding domain. The truncated cellulases of this invention comprise the catalytically active portion of a full-length cellulase of this invention.

[0067] In one embodiment, the truncated cellulase is produced by the cleavage of a full-length cellulase. The full-length cellulase can either be isolated from its natural host, e.g., Actinomyctes or from a recombinant host cell. Without wishing to be limited by theory, it is believed that during the fermentation process of recombinant host cells, a protease truncates the cellulases of this invention. In particular, it is believed an endoprotease that cleaves after proline residues truncates the cellulases. Thus, it is envisioned that, in the case of non-recombinant cellulases or recombinant cellulases that are not truncated during the fermentation process, such a protease can be added to the full length cellulases of this invention to produce the truncated forms.

[0068] After cleavage, it may be necessary to separate the truncated cellulase of this invention from the now-separate cellulase binding domain. This separation can be done on the basis of size by e.g., preparative electrophoresis, gel filtration or size exclusion chromotography, and ultrafiltration. Other possible methods will be apparent to those of skill in the art and may include, ion exchange chromatography, hydrophobic interaction chromatography and affinity chromatography, sedimentation equilibrium, etc.

[0069] Alternatively, a truncated cellulase can be recombinantly made. In this aspect, a DNA sequence is prepared that comprises only the coding region for the catalytically active portion of a full-length cellulase. In preferred embodiments, the DNA encoding the 230 or 233 amino acids of the catalytically active domain is prepared. The DNA sequence can be prepared either through synthetic means or by restriction enzyme digestion of a full-length coding sequence. If a restriction enzyme is used, depending on the enzyme, it may be necessary to blunt end any protruding single strands of DNA. Such blunt ending can be done by filling in the other, non-protruding strand, or by trimming the protruding strand. Techniques for both of these methods are well known to those of skill. One of skill will also know that a stop codon should be added after the desired coding region has terminated. Techniques for adding codons to the 3′ end of a coding region are well known and can be found in, for example, Ausubel or Sambrook.

[0070] Synthesis of DNA sequences is well known in the art and can be found in, for example, Beaucage & Caruthers, Tetrahedron Letts. 22(20):1859-1862 (1981), e.g., using an automated synthesizer, e.g., as described in Needham-VanDevanter, et al., Nucl Acids Res. 12:6159-6168 (1984). DNA sequences can also be custom made and ordered from a variety of commercial sources known to persons of skill, for example, Promega (Madison, Wis.). Purification of DNA sequences, where necessary, is typically performed by either native acrylamide gel electrophoresis or by anion-exchange HPLC as described in Pearson & Regnier, J Chrom. 255:137-149 (1983). The sequence of the synthetic oligonucleotides can be verified using the chemical degradation method of Maxam & Gilbert, Methods in Enzymology 65:499-560 (1980).

[0071] In an alternative method, it may be preferable to keep the coding region of the full-length cellulase gene intact but to introduce a stop codon at the desired truncation point. There are many ways of generating alterations in a given nucleic acid sequence to, e.g., insert a stop codon which can truncate a polypeptide. Such well-known methods include site-directed mutagenesis, PCR amplification using degenerate oligonucleotides, exposure of cells containing the nucleic acid to mutagenic agents or radiation, chemical synthesis of a desired oligonucleotide (e.g., in conjunction with ligation and/or cloning to generate large nucleic acids) and other well-known techniques. See, Giliman & Smith, Gene 8:81-97 (1979); Roberts, et al., Nature 328:731-734 (1987); Sambrook; and Ausubel.

[0072] In addition to truncated cellulases, this invention encompasses other derivatives of full-length and truncated cellulases. Such derivatives comprise, e.g., amino acid substitutions, substitution of non-natural amino acids, substitution or addition of D-amino acids, and conjugation to another moiety. With the exception of amino acid substitutions, which can be accomplished in a similar manner to that described above for the insertion of a stop codon, the substitution of non-natural amino acids and conjugation to other moieties should be done chemically. Techniques for chemical modification of proteins are well known in the art and can be found in, for example, CHEMISTRY AND BIOCHEMISTRY OF AMINO ACIDS, PEPTIDES, AND PROTEINS, B. Weinstein, (ed.), Marcel Dekker, New York, p. 267 (1983).

[0073] Identification of the Cellulases of this Invention

[0074] Thus, the present invention encompasses a cellulase that has an amino acid sequence according to that in FIG. 1 (SEQ ID NO:1), a fragment, or a derivative thereof having greater than 50% sequence identity, preferably greater than 70% sequence identity, and most preferably greater than 90% sequence identity thereto. Similarly, the present invention further encompasses a DNA according to FIG. 2 (SEQ. ID NO:2), a fragment, or a derivative thereof having greater than 76% sequence identity, preferably greater than 80% sequence identity and most preferably greater than 90% sequence identity thereto.

[0075] In addition to full-length cellulases, this invention provides for truncated forms of full-length cellulases. Preferably, the truncated cellulase has an amino acid sequence as represented by SEQ ID NO: 1 from amino acid position 31 to amino acid at position 261 or 264 or is a derivative of such a sequence having greater than 50% sequence identity, preferably greater than 70% sequence identity, and most preferably greater than 90% sequence identity. Similarly, the present invention further encompasses a DNA that encodes a truncated cellulase or a derivative thereof wherein the sequence corresponds to a DNA sequence as shown in FIG. 2 (SEQ. ID NO:2) or a derivative thereof having greater than 76% sequence identity, preferably greater than 80% sequence identity and most preferably greater than 90% sequence identity thereto. Preferably the DNA sequence comprises nucleotides starting at position 93 and extend to position 783 or 792 of SEQ ID NO:2, inclusive.

[0076] In a preferred embodiment, hybridization is used to analyze whether a given DNA fragment or gene corresponds to a cellulase DNA sequence described herein and thus falls within the scope of the present invention. The hybridization assay is essentially as follows: Genomic DNA from a particular target source is fragmented by digestion with an appropriate restriction enzyme, e.g., EcoR I, Hind III, Bam HI, Cla I, Kpn I, Mlu I, Spe I, Bg II, Nco I, Xba I, Xho I and Xma I (supplied by New England Biolabs, Inc., Beverly, Mass. and Boehringer Manrheim) according to the manufacturer's instructions. The samples are then electrophoresed through an agarose gel (for example, 0.8% agarose) so that separation of DNA fragments can be visualized by size. DNA fragments are typically visualized by ethidium bromide staining. The gel may be briefly rinsed in distilled H20 and subsequently depurinated in an appropriate solution (such as, for example, 0.25M HCl) with gentle shaking followed by denaturation for 30 minutes (in, for example, 0.4 M NaOH) with gentle shaking. A renaturation step may be included, in which the gel is placed in 1.5 M NaCl, 1MTris, pH 7.0 with gentle shaking for 30 minutes. The DNA should then be transferred onto an appropriate positively charged membrane, for example, Maximum Strength Nytran Plus membrane (Schleicher & Schuell, Keene, N.H.), using a transfer solution (such as, for example, 6XSSC (900 mM NaCl, 90 mM trisodium citrate). Once the transfer is complete, generally after about 2 hours, the membrane is rinsed in e.g., 2X SSC (2X SSC =300 mM NaCl, 30 mM trisodium citrate) and air-dried at room temperature. The membrane should then be prehybridized (for approximately 2 hours or more) in a suitable prehybridization solution (such as, for example, an aqueous solution containing per 100 mL: 20-50 mL formamide, 25 mL of 20X SSPE (1X SSPE=0.18 M NaCl, 1 mM EDTA, 10 mM NaH2PO4, pH 7.7), 2.5 mL of 20% SDS, and 1 mL of 10 mg/mL sheared herring sperm DNA). As would be known to one of skill in the art, the amount of formamide in the prehybridization solution may be varied depending on the nature of the reaction obtained according to routine methods. Thus, a lower amount of formamide may result in more complete hybridization in terms of identifying hybridizing molecules than the same procedure using a larger amount of formamide. On the other hand, a strong hybridization band may be more easily visually identified by using more formamide.

[0077] A DNA probe generally between 100 and 1000 bases in length taken from the sequence in FIG. 2 should be isolated by electrophoresis in an agarose gel, the fragment excised from the gel, and recovered from the excised agarose. For a more detailed procedure, see Sambrook. This purified fragment of DNA is then labeled (using, for example, the Megaprime labeling system according to the instructions of the manufacturer) to incorporate p32 in the DNA. The labeled probe is denatured by heating to 95° C. for 5 minutes and immediately added to the membrane and prehybridization solution. The hybridization reaction should proceed for an appropriate time and under appropriate conditions, for example, for 18 hours at 37° C. with gentle shaking or rotating. The membrane is rinsed (for example, in 2X SSC/0.3% SDS) and then washed in an appropriate wash solution with gentle agitation. The stringency desired will be a reflection of the conditions under which the membrane (filter) is washed.

[0078] Specifically, the stringency of a given reaction (i.e., the degree of homology necessary for successful hybridization) will depend on the washing conditions to which the filter is subjected after hybridization. “Low-stringency” conditions as defined herein will comprise washing a filter with a solution of 0.2X SSC/0.1% SDS at 20° C. for 15 minutes. “High-stringency” conditions comprise a further washing step comprising washing the filter a second time with a solution of 0.2X SSC/0.1% SDS at 37° C. for 30 minutes.

[0079] After washing, the membrane is dried and the bound probe detected. If 32P or another radioisotope is used as the labeling agent, the bound probe can be detected by autoradiography. Other techniques for the visualization of other probes are well known to those of skill. The detection of a bound probe indicates a nucleic acid sequence has the desired homology, and therefore identity to SEQ ID NO:2, and is encompassed within this invention.

[0080] The cellulase proteins and derivatives of this invention can be characterized either physicochemically or functionally, and preferably both. Physicochemical characterization takes advantages of well known techniques such as SDS electrophoresis, gel filtration, amino acid composition, mass spectroscopy and sedimentation to determine the molecular weight of a protein, isoelectric focusing to determine the pI of a protein, amino acid sequencing to determine the amino acid sequence of a protein, crystallography studies to determine the tertiary structure of a protein, and antibody binding to determine antigenic epitopes present in a protein.

[0081] Functional characteristics are determined by techniques well known to the practitioner in the cellulase field and include, but are not limited to, hydrolysis of crystalline carboxy methylcellulose (CMC). This preferred technique for fictional characterization is described in greater detail in Example 5, below.

[0082] Using some of the techniques listed above, the full-length cellulases of this invention were found to have a molecular weight of approximately 30 to 40 kD, preferably 34 to about 38 kD, and most preferably 36 kD as measured on SDS-PAGE. The full-length cellulases were found to have a calculated isoelectric point of about 4 to about 5, preferably 4.5, and a pH optimum on CMC of about 5 to about 10, depending on the temperature. The pH optimum was found to be 8 at 40° C. and 7 at 60° C. The truncated cellulases of this invention were found to have a molecular weight of between 20 and 30 kD, preferably between about 23 and 26 kD and most preferably between 24 and 25 kD.

[0083] Uses of the Cellulases of this Invention

[0084] Treatment of textiles according to the present invention contemplates textile processing or cleaning with a composition comprising a cellulase of this invention. Such treating includes, but is not limited to, stonewashing, modifying the texture, feel and/or appearance of cellulose-containing fabrics or other techniques used during manufacturing or cleaning/reconditioning of cellulose-containing fabrics. Additionally, treating within the context of this invention contemplates the removal of “immature” or “dead” cotton from cellulosic fabric or fibers. Immature cotton is significantly more amorphous than mature cotton and because of, for example, uneven dyeing. The composition contemplated in the present invention further includes a cellulase component for use in washing a soiled manufactured cellulose-containing fabric. For example, a cellulase of this invention may be used in a detergent composition for washing laundry. Detergent compositions useful in accordance with the present invention include special formulations such as pre-wash, pre-soak and home-use color restoration compositions. Such treating compositions, as described herein, may be in the form of a concentrate which requires dilution or in the form of a dilute solution or form which can be applied directly to the cellulose-containing fabric. General treatment techniques for cellulase treatment of textiles are described in, for example, EP Publication No. 220 016 and GB Application Nos. 1,368,599 and 2,095,275.

[0085] Treatment of a cellulosic material according to the present invention further contemplates the treatment of animal feed, pulp and/or paper, food and grain for purposes known in the art. For example, cellulases are known to increase the value of animal feed, improve the drainability of wood pulp, enhance food products and reduce fiber in grain during the grain wet milling process or dry milling process.

[0086] Treating according to the instant invention comprises preparing an aqueous solution which contains an effective amount of a cellulase or a combination of cellulases together with other optional ingredients including, for example, a buffer, a surfactant, and/or a scouring agent. An effective amount of a cellulase enzyme composition is a concentration of cellulase enzyme sufficient for its intended purpose. Thus, for example, an “effective amount” of cellulase in a stonewashing composition according to the present invention is that amount which will provide the desired effect, e.g., to produce a worn and faded look in seams and on fabric panels. Similarly, an “effective amount” of cellulase in a composition intended for improving the feel and/or appearance of a cellulose-containing fabric is the amount that produces measurable improvements in the feel, e.g., improving the smoothness of the fabric, or appearance, e.g., removing pills and fibrils which tend to reduce the sharpness in appearance of a fabric. The amount of cellulase employed is also dependent on the equipment employed, the process parameters employed (the temperature of the cellulase treatment solution, the exposure time to the cellulase solution, and the like), and the cellulase activity (e.g., a particular solution will require a lower concentration of cellulase where a more active cellulase composition is used as compared to a less active cellulase composition). The exact concentration of cellulase in the aqueous treatment solution to which the fabric to be treated is added can be readily determined by the skilled artisan based on the above factors as well as the desired result. In stonewashing processes, it has generally been preferred that the cellulase be present in the aqueous treating solution in a concentration of from about 0.5 to 5,000 ppm and most preferably about 10 to 200 ppm total protein. In compositions for the improvement of feel and/or appearance of a cellulose-containing fabric, it has generally been preferred that the cellulase be present in the aqueous treating solution in a concentration of from about 0.1 to 2000 ppm and most preferably about 0.5 to 200 ppm total protein.

[0087] In a preferred treating embodiment, a buffer is employed in the treating composition such that the concentration of buffer is sufficient to maintain the pH of the solution within the range wherein the employed cellulase exhibits activity. The pH at which the cellulase exhibits activity depends on the nature of the cellulase employed. The exact concentration of buffer employed will depend on several factors which the skilled artisan can readily take into account. For example, in a preferred embodiment, the buffer as well as the buffer concentration are selected so as to maintain the pH of the final cellulase solution within the pH range required for optimal cellulase activity. The determination of the optimal pH range of the cellulases of the invention can be ascertained according to well-known techniques. Suitable buffers at pH within the activity range of the cellulase are also well known to those skilled in the art in the field.

[0088] In addition to cellulase and a buffer, the treating composition may optionally contain a surfactant. Suitable surfactants include any surfactant compatible with the cellulase being utilized and the fabric including, for example, anionic, non-ionic and ampholytic surfactants. Suitable anionic surfactants include, but are not limited to, linear or branched alkylbenzenesulfonates; alkyl or alkenyl ether sulfates having linear or branched alkyl groups or alkenyl groups; alkyl or alkenyl sulfates; olefinsulfonates; alkanesulfonates and the like. Suitable counter ions for anionic surfactants include, but are not limited to, alkali metal ions such as sodium and potassium; alkaline earth metal ions such as calcium and magnesium; ammonium ion; and alkanolamines having 1 to 3 alkanol groups of carbon number 2 or 3. Ampholytic surfactants include, e.g., quaternary ammonium salt sulfonates, and betaine-type ampholytic surfactants. Such ampholytic surfactants have both the positive and negative charged groups in the same molecule. Nonionic surfactants generally comprise polyoxyalkylene ethers, as well as higher fatty acid alkanolamides or alkylene oxide adduct thereof, and fatty acid glycerine monoesters. Mixtures of surfactants can also be employed in manners known to those skilled in the art.

[0089] A concentrated cellulase composition can be prepared for use in the methods described herein. Such concentrates contain concentrated amounts of the cellulase composition described above, buffer and surfactant, preferably in an aqueous solution. When so formulated, the cellulase concentrate can readily be diluted with water so as to quickly and accurately prepare cellulase preparations having the requisite concentration of each constituent. When aqueous concentrates are formulated, these concentrates can be diluted so as to arrive at the requisite concentration of the components in the cellulase solution as indicated above. As is readily apparent, such cellulase concentrates permit facile formulation of the cellulase solutions as well as permit feasible transportation of the composition to the location where it will be used. The treating concentrate can be in any art-recognized form, for example, liquid, emulsion, gel, or paste. Such forms are well known to those skilled in the art.

[0090] When a solid cellulase concentrate is employed, the cellulase composition may be a granule, a powder, an agglomerate or a solid disk. The granules can be formulated so as to contain materials to reduce the rate of dissolution of the granules into the wash medium. Such materials and granules are disclosed in U.S. Pat. No. 5,254,283 which is incorporated herein by reference in its entirety.

[0091] Other materials can also be used with or placed in the cellulase composition of the present invention as desired, including stones, pumice, fillers, solvents, enzyme activators, and anti-redeposition agents depending on the eventual use of the composition.

[0092] By way of example, stonewashing methods will be described in detail, however, the parameters described are readily modified by the skilled artisan for other applications, i.e., improving the feel and/or appearance of a fabric. The cellulose-containing fabric is contacted with the cellulase containing stonewashing composition containing an effective amount of the cellulase by intermingling the treating composition with the stonewashing composition, and thus bringing the cellulase enzyme into proximity with the fabric. Subsequently, the aqueous solution containing the cellulase and the fabric is agitated. If the treating composition is an aqueous solution, the fabric may be directly soaked in the solution. Similarly, where the stonewashing composition is a concentrate, the concentrate is diluted into a water bath with the cellulose-containing fabric. When the stonewashing composition is in a solid form, for example a pre-wash gel or solid stick, the stonewashing composition may be contacted by directly applying the composition to the fabric or to the wash liquor.

[0093] The cellulose-containing fabric is incubated with the stonewashing solution under conditions effective to allow the enzymatic action to confer a stonewashed appearance to the cellulose-containing fabric. For example, during stonewashing, the pH, liquor ratio, temperature and reaction time may be adjusted to optimize the conditions under which the stonewashing composition acts. “Effective conditions” necessarily refers to the pH, liquor ratio, and temperature which allow the cellulase enzyme to react efficiently with cellulose-containing fabric, in this case to produce the stonewashed effect. It is within the skill of those in the art to maximize conditions for using the stonewashing compositions according to the present invention.

[0094] The liquor ratios during stonewashing, i.e., the ratio of weight of stonewashing composition solution (i.e., the wash liquor) to the weight of fabric, employed herein is generally an amount sufficient to achieve the desired stonewashing effect in the denim fabric and is dependent upon the process used. Preferably, the liquor ratios are from about 4:1 to about 50:1; more preferably from about 5:1 to about 20:1, and most preferably from about 10: 1 to about 15:1.

[0095] Reaction temperatures during stonewashing with the present stonewashing compositions are governed by two competing factors. Firstly, higher temperatures generally correspond to enhanced reaction kinetics, i.e., faster reactions, which permit reduced reaction times as compared to reaction times required at lower temperatures. Accordingly, reaction temperatures are generally at least about 10° C. and greater. Secondly, cellulase is a protein which loses activity beyond a given reaction temperature, which temperature is dependent on the nature of the cellulase used. Thus, if the reaction temperature is permitted to go too high, the cellulolytic activity is lost as a result of the denaturing of the cellulase. While standard temperatures for cellulase usage in the art are generally in the range of 35° C. to 65° C., and these conditions would also be expected to be suitable for the cellulase of the invention, the optimal temperature conditions should be ascertained according to well known techniques with respect to the specific cellulase used.

[0096] Reaction times are dependent on the specific conditions under which the stonewashing occurs. For example, pH, temperature and concentration of cellulase will all affect the optimal reaction time. Generally, reaction times are from about 5 minutes to about 5 hours, and preferably from about 10 minutes to about 3 hours and, more preferably, from about 20 minutes to about 1 hour.

[0097] According to yet another preferred embodiment of the present invention, the cellulase of the invention may be employed in a detergent composition. The detergent compositions according to the present invention are useful as pre-wash compositions, pre-soak compositions, or for cleaning during the regular wash or rinse cycle. Preferably, the detergent composition of the present invention comprises an effective amount of cellulase, a surfactant, and optionally includes other ingredients described below.

[0098] An effective amount of cellulase employed in the detergent compositions of this invention is an amount sufficient to impart the desirable effects known to be produced by cellulase on cellulose-containing fabrics, for example, depilling, softening, anti-pilling, surface fiber removal, anti-graying and cleaning. Preferably, the cellulase in the detergent composition is employed in a concentration of from about 10 ppm to about 20,000 ppm of detergent.

[0099] The concentration of cellulase enzyme employed in the detergent composition is preferably selected so that upon dilution into a wash medium, the concentration of cellulase enzyme is in a range of about 0.01 to about 1000 ppm, preferably from about 0.02 ppm to about 500 ppm, and most preferably from about 0.5 ppm to about 250 ppm total protein. The amount of cellulase enzyme employed in the detergent composition will depend on the extent to which the detergent will be diluted upon addition to water so as to form a wash solution.

[0100] The detergent compositions of the present invention may be in any art recognized form, for example, as a liquid, in granules, in emulsions, in gels, or in pastes. Such forms are well known to the skilled artisan. When a solid detergent composition is employed, the cellulase is preferably formulated as granules. Preferably, the granules can be formulated so as to additionally contain a cellulase protecting agent. The granule can be formulated so as to contain materials to reduce the rate of dissolution of the granule into the wash medium. Such materials and granules are disclosed in U.S. Pat. No. 5,254,283 which is incorporated herein by reference in its entirety.

[0101] The detergent compositions of this invention employ a surface active agent, i.e., surfactant, including anionic, non-ionic and ampholytic surfactants well known for their use in detergent compositions.

[0102] Suitable anionic surfactants for use in the detergent composition of this invention include linear or branched alkylbenzenesulfonates; alkyl or alkenyl ether sulfates having linear or branched alkyl groups or alkenyl groups; alkyl or alkenyl sulfates; olefinsulfonates; and alkanesul-fonates. Suitable counter ions for anionic surfactants include alkali metal ions such as sodium and potassium; alkaline earth metal ions such as calcium and magnesium; ammonium ion; and alkanolamines having 1 to 3 alkanol groups of carbon number 2 or 3. Ampholytic surfactants include quaternary ammonium salt sulfonates, and betaine-type ampholytic surfactants. Such ampholytic surfactants have both the positive and negative charged groups in the same molecule. Nonionic surfactants generally comprise polyoxyal-kylene ethers, as well as higher fatty acid alkanolamides or alkylene oxide adduct thereof, fatty acid glycerine monoesters, and the like. Suitable surfactants for use in this invention are disclosed in British Patent Application No. 2 094 826 A, the disclosure of which is incorporated herein by reference. Mixtures of such surfactants can also be used. The surfactant or a mixture of surfactants is generally employed in the detergent compositions of this invention in an amount from about 1 weight percent to about 95 weight percent of the total detergent composition and preferably from about 5 weight percent to about 45 weight percent of the total detergent composition. In addition to the cellulase composition and the surfactant(s), the detergent compositions of this invention can optionally contain one or more of the following components:

[0103] Hydrolases Except Cellulase

[0104] Suitable hydrolases include carboxylate ester hydrolase, thioester hydrolase, phosphate monoester hydrolase, and phosphate diester hydrolase which act on the ester bond; glycoside hydrolase which acts on glycosyl compounds; an enzyme that hydrolyzes N-glycosyl compounds; thioether hydrolase which acts on the ether bond; and a-amino-acyl-peptide hydrolase, peptidyl-amino acid hydrolase, acyl-amino acid hydrolase, dipeptide hydrolase, and peptidyl-peptide hydrolase which act on the peptide bond. Preferable among them are carboxylate ester hydrolase, glycoside hydrolase, and peptidyl-peptide hydrolase. Suitable hydrolases include (1) proteases belonging to peptidyl-peptide hydrolase such as pepsin, pepsin B, rennin, trypsin, chymotrypsin A, chymotrypsin B, elastase, enterokinase, cathepsin C, papain, chymopapain, ficin, thrombin, fibrinolysin, renin, subtilisin, aspergillopeptidase A, collagenase, clostridiopeptidase B, kallikrein, gastrisin, cathepsin D., bromelin, keratinase, chymotrypsin C, pepsin C, aspergillopeptidase B, urokinase, carboxypeptidase A and B, and aminopeptidase; (2) glycoside hydrolases (cellulase which is an essential ingredient is excluded from this group) α-amylase, β-amylase, gluco amylase, invertase, lysozyme, pectinase, chitinase, and dextranase. Preferably among them are α-amylase and β-amylase. They function in acid to neutral systems, but one which is obtained from bacteria exhibits high activity in an alkaline system; (3) carboxylate ester hydrolase including carboxyl esterase, lipase, pectin esterase, and chlorophyllase. Especially effective among them is lipase.

[0105] The hydrolase other than cellulase is incorporated into the detergent composition as much as required according to the purpose. It should preferably be incorporated in an amount of 0.001 to 5 weight percent, and more preferably 0.02 to 3 weight percent, in terms of purified protein. This enzyme should be used in the form of granules made of crude enzyme alone or in combination with other components in the detergent composition. Granules of crude enzyme are used in such an amount that the purified enzyme is 0.001 to 50 weight percent in the granules. The granules are used in an amount of 0.002 to 20 and preferably 0.1 to 10 weight percent. As with cellulases, these granules can be formulated so as to contain an enzyme protecting agent and a dissolution retardant material.

[0106] Cationic Surfactants and Long-Chain Fattv Acid Salts

[0107] Such cationic surfactants and long-chain fatty acid salts include saturated or unsaturated fatty acid salts, alkyl or alkenyl ether carboxylic acid salts, α-sulfofatty acid salts or esters, amino acid-type surfactants, phosphate ester surfactants, quaternary ammonium salts including those having 3 to 4 alkyl substituents and up to 1 phenyl substituted alkyl substituents. Suitable cationic surfactants and long-chain fatty acid salts are disclosed in British Patent Application No. 2 094 826 A, the disclosure of which is incorporated herein by reference. The composition may contain from about 1 to about 20 weight percent of such cationic surfactants and long-chain fatty acid salts.

[0108] Builders

[0109] A. Divalent sequestering agents

[0110] The composition may contain from about 0 to about 50 weight percent of one or more builder components selected from the group consisting of alkali metal salts and alkanolamine salts of the following compounds: phosphates, phosphonates, phosphonocarboxylates, salts of amino acids, aminopolyacetates high molecular electrolytes, non-dissociating polymers, salts of dicarboxylic acids, and aluminosilicate salts. Suitable divalent sequestering gents are disclosed in British Patent Application No. 2 094 826 A, the disclosure of which is incorporated herein by reference.

[0111] B. Alkalis or inorganic electrolytes

[0112] The composition may contain from about 1 to about 50 weight percent, preferably from about 5 to about 30 weight percent, based on the composition of one or more alkali metal salts of the following compounds as the alkalis or inorganic electrolytes: silicates, carbonates and sulfates as well as organic alkalis such as triethanolamine, diethanolamine, monoethanolamine and triisopropanolamine.

[0113] Antiredeposition Agents

[0114] The composition may contain from about 0.1 to about 5 weight percent of one or more of the following compounds as antiredeposition agents: polyethylene glycol, polyvinyl alcohol, polyvinylpyrrolidone and carboxymethylcellulose.

[0115] Among them, a combination of carboxymethyl-cellulose and/or polyethylene glycol with the cellulase composition of the present invention provides for an especially useful dirt removing composition.

[0116] Bleaching Agents The use of the cellulase of the present invention in combination with a bleaching agent such as potassium monopersulfate, sodium percarbonate, sodium perborate, sodium sulfate/hydrogen peroxide adduct and sodium chloride/hydrogen peroxide adduct or/and a photo-sensitive bleaching dye such as zinc or aluminum salt of sulfonated phthalocyanine further improves the detergenting effects. Similarly, bleaching agents and bleach catalysts as described in EP 684 304 may be used.

[0117] Bluing Agents and Fluorescent Dyes

[0118] Various bluing agents and fluorescent dyes may be incorporated in the composition, if necessary. Suitable bluing agents and fluorescent dyes are disclosed in British Patent Application No. 2 094 826 A, the disclosure of which is incorporated herein by reference.

[0119] Caking Inhibitors

[0120] The following caking inhibitors may be incorporated in the powdery detergent: p-toluenesulfonic acid salts, xylenesulfonic acid salts, acetic acid salts, sulfosuccinic acid salts, talc, finely pulverized silica, amorphous silicas, clay, calcium silicate (such as Micro-Cell of Johns Manville Co.), calcium carbonate and magnesium oxide.

[0121] Antioxidants

[0122] The antioxidants include, for example, tert-butyl-hydroxytoluene, 4,4′-butylidenebis (6-tert-butyl-3-methylphenol), 2,2′-butylidenebis(6-tert-butyl-4-methylphenol), monostyrenated cresol, distyrenated cresol, monostyrenated phenol, distyrenated phenol and 1,1 -bis(4-hydroxy-phenyl)cyclohexane.

[0123] Solubilizers

[0124] The solubilizers include, for example, lower alcohols such as ethanol, benzenesulfonate salts, lower alkylbenzenesulfonate salts such as p-toluenesulfonate salts, glycols such as propylene glycol, acetylbenzene-sulfonate salts, acetamides, pyridinedicarboxylic acid amides, benzoate salts and urea.

[0125] The detergent composition of the present invention can be used in a broad pH range from acidic to alkaline pH. In a preferred embodiment, the detergent composition of the present invention can be used in mildly acidic, neutral or alkaline detergent wash media having a pH of from above 5 to no more than about 12.

[0126] Aside from the above ingredients, perfumes, buffers, preservatives, dyes and the like can be used, if desired, with the detergent compositions of this invention. Such components are conventionally employed in amounts heretofore used in the art.

[0127] When a detergent base used in the present invention is in the form of a powder, it may be one which is prepared by any known preparation methods including a spray-drying method and a granulation method. The detergent base obtained particularly by the spray-drying method, agglomeration method, dry mixing method or non-tower route methods are preferred. The detergent base obtained by the spray-drying method is not restricted with respect to preparation conditions. The detergent base obtained by the spray-drying method is hollow granules which are obtained by spraying an aqueous slurry of heat-resistant ingredients, such as surface active agents and builders, into a hot space. After the spray-drying, perfumes, enzymes, bleaching agents, inorganic alkaline builders may be added. With a highly dense, granular detergent base obtained such as by the spray-drying-granulation or agglomeration method, various ingredients may also be added after the preparation of the base.

[0128] When the detergent base is a liquid, it may be either a homogeneous solution or a nonhomogeneous dispersion. For removing the decomposition of carboxymethylcellulose by the cellulase in the detergent, it is desirable that carboxymethylcellulose is granulated or coated before the incorporation in the composition.

[0129] The detergent compositions of this invention may be incubated with cellulose-containing fabric, for example soiled fabrics, in industrial and household uses at temperatures, reaction times and liquor ratios conventionally employed in these environments.

[0130] Detergents according to the present invention may additionally be formulated as a pre-wash in the appropriate solution at an intermediate pH where sufficient activity exists to provide desired improvements softening, depilling, pilling prevention, surface fiber removal or cleaning. When the detergent composition is a pre-soak (e.g., pre-wash or pre-treatment) composition, either as a liquid, spray, gel or paste composition, the cellulase enzyme is generally employed from about 0.0001 to about 1 weight percent based on the total weight of the pre-soak or pre-treatment composition. In such compositions, a surfactant may optionally be employed and when employed, is generally present at a concentration of from about 0.005 to about 20 weight percent based on the total weight of the pre-soak. The remainder of the composition comprises conventional components used in the pre-soak, i.e., diluent, buffers, other enzymes (proteases), and the like at their conventional concentrations.

[0131] It is contemplated that compositions comprising cellulase enzymes described herein can be used in home use as a stand alone composition suitable for restoring color to faded fabrics (see, for example, U.S. Pat. No. 4,738,682, which is incorporated herein by reference in its entirety) as well as used in a spot-remover and for depilling and antipilling (pilling prevention).

[0132] The use of the cellulase according to the invention may be particularly effective in feed additives and in the processing of pulp and paper. These additional industrial applications are described in, for example, PCT Publication No. 95/16360 and Finnish Granted Patent No. 87372, respectively.

[0133] In order to further illustrate the present invention and advantages thereof, the following specific examples are given with the understanding that they are being offered to illustrate the present invention and should not be construed in any way as limiting its scope.

EXAMPLES

Example 1

Isolation of Cellulase Producing Micro-organisms from Alkaline Soil and Water

Samples

[0134] Alkaline mud samples were suspended in 5 mL 4% (w/v) NaCl, 1% (w/v) Na2CO3, and shaken vigorously. Serial dilutions in the same solution were plated out on Soil Extract Agar, pH 10 containing rifampicine 50 μg/mL.

[0135] Soil Extract Agar was prepared as follows: 1 kg of garden soil was suspended in 1 liter of demineralised water. The suspension was autoclaved for 20 minutes at 120° C. The suspension was filtered over a glass fiber filter (Whatman, GF/A) and the solids washed twice with demineralised water (1×200 ml, 1×100 ml). The filtrate is made up to 1 liter with water. An equal volume of sterilized filtrate was mixed with a sterile solution of 8% (w/v) NaCl, 2% w/v) Na2CO3 with 2% (w/v) agar added for solidification.

[0136] The plates were incubated at 30° C. for several weeks in a closed box to prevent evaporation. The plates were examined periodically under the stereo-microscope and microcolonies were transferred to Alkaline Agar containing 0.3% (w/v) carboxymethylcellulose (CMC). Duplicate cultures were used to detect cellulase activity. The duplicate plates were flooded with 0. 1% (w/v) Congo Red for 15 minutes and destained with 1 M NaCl for 30 minutes. The strains that exhibited a clearing zone around the colonies were selected as potential cellulase producing microorganisms.

[0137] Strains that showed clearing zones were fermented in 25 mL as described in PCT Publication No. WO 96/34108 after which CMC was added.

[0138] Using the method described above, the strain that produced a cellulase according to the invention was isolated and further characterized as filamentous bacteria. Based on appearance and partial 16s rRNA gene sequence analysis (Example 4), the microorganism was classified as a species of Streptomyces.

[0139] A morphological examination of the cellulase producing strain was made. When grown on Soil Extract Agar at pH 10; the initially small round glistening transparent colony developed after a few days a white to gray-white aerial mycelium. On Alkaline Agar the strain formed a dry leathery, cream colored, opaque colony producing aerial mycelium on maturity. Under the microscope, the strain exhibited extensively branched pseudo-mycelium which fragmented into irregular rods, isolated spores and spores in chains.

Example 2

Isolation of DNA, Transformation and Expression of Cellulase

[0140] An alkaliphilic Actinomycete strain isolated according to Example 1 was chosen as a donor strain for expression cloning in E. coli. Chromosomal DNA was isolated according to the method described by Saito & Miura, Biochim. Biophys. Acta., 72:619-629 (1963).

[0141] The isolated chromosomal DNA was partially digested by the restriction enzyme Sau3A using serial diluted enzyme solutions for one hour at 37° C. using React Buffers (Gibco BRL Life Technologies, Gaithersburg, Md., USA) under conditions recommended by the supplier. The digested DNA was fractionated by agarose gel electrophoresis and suitable fractions (2-6 kb) were isolated from the gel using QIAquick Gel Extraction Kit according to the protocol described by the supplier (QIAGEN Inc., Chatsworth, Calif., USA).

[0142] Genomic gene libraries of the alkalitolerant Actinomycete strains were constructed in a pUC19-derived plasmid (Yanisch-Perron, C. et al., Gene 33:103 (1985)). Recombinant clones were screened by agar diffusion as described by Wood, et al., Meth. Enzym., 160:59-74 (1988). Strains that showed clearing zones around the colonies were isolated. Plasmid DNA of the cellulase producing recombinant was isolated using a QIAprep Plasmid Kit according to the protocol described by the supplier (QIAGEN Inc.). The nucleotide sequence of a 3.5 kb fragment was determined from both ends until a sequence bearing resemblance to known conserved cellulase sequences was identified by a FASTA search against the public databases. Upon determination of conserved sequences, the remainder of the gene was sequenced.

[0143] The isolated gene contained 1173 base pairs coding for a precursor protein having 371 amino acids including a signal sequence of 27 amino acids. The mature protein comprised 344 amino acids for a deduced molecular weight of 35,766 and a calculated pI of 5.9. The nucleotide sequence of the gene (SEQ. ID. NO:2) coding for the cellulase and the deduced amino acid sequence (SEQ ID NO: 1) of the mature cellulase are illustrated in FIGS. 1 and 2.

[0144] The DNA fragment of the cellulase gene coding for the structural gene prepared as described above was cloned in the vector pHPLT (see FIG. 4). This vector already contained the promoter and signal sequence of the thermostable amylase gene of Bacillus licheniformis and had been found to deliver high expression in Bacillus (see FIG. 5). Transformation of competent Bacillus host cells was performed with resulting recombinant cellulase producing Bacillus clones isolated and grown under suitable conditions for producing the cloned cellulase.

[0145] The gene encoding the amino acid sequence of the 36 kD cellulase was analyzed by comparison with the accessible sequence data in various libraries (GenBank, Swiss-Prot, EMBL and PIR) was performed to determine the close phylogenetic neighbors. The highest amount of homology found was to endoglucanase I from Aspergillus aculeatus, exocellobiohydrolase from Cellulomonas fimi and endoglucanase C from Clostridium cellulovorans. The approximately 36 kD cellulase was shown to be 35.1% identical in sequence to endoglucanase I from Aspergillus aculeatus in a 242 residue overlap, 48.2% identical in sequence to exocellobiohydrolase from Cellulomonas fimi in a 112 residue overlap and 44.7% identical to endoglucanase C from Clostridium cellulovorans in a 114 amino acid overlap using the TFASTA program as described by Pearson & Lipman, Proc. Nat. Acad. Sci., 85:2444-2448 (1988). The TFASTA Data Searching Program is commercially available in the Sequence Analysis Software Package Version 6.0 (Genetic Computer Group, Univ. Wisconsin Biotechnology Center, Madison, Wis. 53705). A comparison of the DNA sequences encoding the 36 kD cellulase with DNA sequences in the public databases indicate that the closest homology was to the gene encoding eglS from Streptomyces rochei (75.8% identity in an 823 base pair overlap) and to the gene encoding celB from Streptomyces lividans (74.9% identity in a 765 base pair overlap).

Example 3

Purification of Cellulase

[0146] The cellulase producing Bacillus licheniformis clones from Example 2 were grown in a complex medium comprising Trypton Soya Broth (Oxoid CM129) 3%, 20 μg/mL neomycin. Purification of the recombinant cellulase may be accomplished as follows: Fermentation broth is separated from the culture liquid by centrifugation (8000 rpm). The cellulase in the supernatant is precipitated with ammonium sulphate (65% saturation). The precipitate is dissolved in 25 mM phosphate buffer pH 7+5 mM EDTA until a conductivity of 7 mS/cm was achieved. This solution is applied to a Q-Sepharose FF (diameter 5 cm, length 10 cm) Anion Exchange column, after which the column is washed with 25 mM phosphate buffer pH 7+5 mM EDTA until an absorbency of 0.2 AU. A gradient of 0 to 0.5 M NaCl in 25 mM phosphate pH7 is applied to the column in 80 minutes followed by a gradient from 0.5 to 1 M NaCl in 10 minutes. Elution may be performed in the first gradient. After elution the column is cleaned (upflow) with 1 M NaOH and equilibrated again with 25 MM phosphate pH 7+5 mM EDTA.

Example 4

Characterization of 16S rDNA from Cellulase Producing Actinomveete

[0147] The nucleotide sequence of the first 400 bps of the 16S-rDNA sequence of the cellulase-producing organism isolated in Example 1 was obtained and is provided in FIG. 6 (SEQ.ID.NO:3). This sequence was analyzed with the FASTA sequence analysis software package to provide a comparison with the sequences in public databases. The analysis results illustrated that the nearest neighbor was Streptomyces thermoveolaceous which had a 16S rDNA identity of 95.5% in an overlap of 465 base pairs. The percentage of identity of the partial 16S rDNA fraction of the strains is a strong indication that the strain represents an unknown species of Actinomycetes. Based on an analysis of the obtained 16S rRNA sequence (in combination with the appearance, Example 1), the microorganism was classified as a species of Streptomyces.

Example 5

Properties of the Cellulase Accordin2 to the Invention

[0148] To determine the pH/temperature profile of the approximately 36 kD cellulase of this invention, the activity of the cellulase was measured on CMC at various pH and temperature values. The assay was a colorimetric method for the determination of (total) cellulase activity, utilizing Carboxy Methyl Cellulose (CMC) as substrate. Detection of cellulase as based on the release of reducing sugars from cellulose by cellulase. The free sugars react with “PAHBAH” at high pH and temperature. This reaction product was measured with a spectrophotometer. The activity was determined using a calibration curve of glucose.

[0149] Chemicals: - CMC, low viscosity (Sigma C-5678, batch # 23HO244)

[0150] p-Hydroxybenzoic acidhydrazide (“PAHBAH”,Sigma H-9882)

[0151] D-glucose monohydrate (Boom 8342)

[0152] NaH2PO4* 1 aq (Merck 6346)

[0153] H3PO4 (85%; Merck 573)

[0154] Citric acid* 1 aq (Merck 244)

[0155] 4NNaOH

[0156] 0.5NHCl

[0157] Incubation buffer A (0.01 M phosphate):

[0158] 1.38 g NaH2PO4 *1 aq was dissolved in 800 mL of demi water. The pH was adjusted to 7 with 4 N NaOH and the mixture was filled up to 1000 ML with demi water. Finally the pH was checked and adjusted if necessary. This buffer was used for dissolving and diluting the enzyme samples.

[0159] Incubation buffer B (0.1 M citrate +0.1 M phosphate):

[0160] 23.06 g H3PO4 was dissolved in demi water to a final volume of 200 mL (=1 M). 42 g citric acid was dissolved in demi water to a final volume of 200 mL (=1 M). 20 mL citric acid solution was added to 20 mL phosphoric acid, and then made to 150 mL with demi water. The pH (to range from 4 to 10) was adjusted with 4 N NaOH and the final volume made to 200 mL with demi water. This buffer was used for diluting the substrate preparation.

[0161] Incubation buffer C (0.05 M citrate+0.05 M phosphate):

[0162] Incubation buffer B was diluted 1:1 with demi water. The pH was checked and corrected if necessary. This solution was used for the glucose calibration curve.

[0163] Substrate preparation (1%):

[0164] Under strong stirring, 1 g of CMC was slowly added to 100 mL of demi water. Vigorous stirring was continued for at least one hour followed by a treatment with an ultraturrax for 30 seconds.

[0165] Enzyme solution:

[0166] The enzyme sample was dissolved and diluted in Incubation buffer A to an activity of about 0.05 U/mL (50% on the glucose calibration curve).

[0167] Color reagent (5%):

[0168] 5 g PAHBAH was dissolved in 80 mL of 0.5 N HCl, after which the solution was made to 100 mL with 0.5 N HCl. Prior to use, one part of the PAHBAH solution was diluted with four parts of 0.5 N NaOH.

[0169] Calibration curve:

[0170] Stock solution # 1:1000 mg glucose was dissolved in 100 mL demi water (10 mg/ml).—

[0171] Stock solution # 2: 0.5 mL stock solution #1 was diluted with 9.5 mL Incubation buffer C of the pH concerned (0.5 mg/ml). The following titration scheme was used:

μMol glucose/	stock solution	incubation buffer
0.1 mL	# 2	C
0	0 μL	1000 μL
0.05	200 μL	800 μL
0.1	400 μL	600 μL
0.15	600 μL	400 μL
0.2	800 μL	200 μL
0.25	1000 μL	0 μL

[0172] Assay procedure:

[0173] (1) test tubes of the glucose standards, controls, samples and blanks were filled with 0.5 mL of substrate (1%) and 0.5 mL Incubation buffer B of desired pH and placed in a waterbath at the desired temperature;

[0174] (2) the solutions were incubated for 10 minutes;

[0175] (3) 15 second intervals 100 μL glucose standard, control or sample at each pH was added to tubes with substrate;

[0176] (4) the solutions were vortexed for 3 seconds and placed back in the waterbath;

[0177] (5) each sample was incubated for 30 minutes;

[0178] (6) the enzyme reaction was stopped by adding 3 mL of the PAHBAH reagent;

[0179] (7) the resulting solutions were vortexed for 3 seconds and placed in a rack outside the waterbath;

[0180] (8) when all of the reactions had been stopped, 100 μL of sample was added to blank tubes and vortexed 3 seconds;

[0181] (9) the samples were placed for 15 minutes in a boiling water bath;

[0182] (10) the resulting samples were cooled down in cold tap water for 5 to 10 minutes and then revortexed for 3 seconds;

[0183] (11) the absorbance of the mixture was measured at 410 nm with water as a reference.

[0184] The results are shown in FIG. 3. As shown in FIG. 3, the pH optimum of the 36 kD cellulase was observed to be about 8 at 40° C. and 7 at 60° C.

Example 6

Cellulase Production in Streptomyces Iividans

[0185] This example describes the construction of a plasmid comprising a nucleic acid encoding a cellulase of this invention and used to transform Streptomyces lividans. The final plasmid vector is referred to as pSEGCT.

[0186] The construction of pSEGCT made use of two other plasmids, pIJ486, described in Ward, et al., Mol. Gen. Genet. 203:468-478 (1986) and pIJ488. Plasmid pIJ488 is pUC18 (Yanisch-Perron, et al., Gene 33:103-119 (1985) containing, in its KpnI site, a 1.5 kb ermE fragment from Saccharopolyspora erythrea encoding erythromycin resistance. The nucleotide sequence of this fragment has been determined (Uchiyama & Weisblum, Gene 38:103-110 (1985) and Bibb, et al., Gene 38:215-226 (1985).

[0187] Both plasmids were originally derived from the natural Streptomyces plasmid pU101 (D.A. Hopwood, et al., J. Gen. Microbiol. 129:2257-2260 (1983). pIJ101 contains the tsr gene, encoding resistance to thiostrepton, from Streptomyces azureus. However, only the pIJ101 replication origin and replicase gene are still present in the pU486 and the pIJ488 plasmids.

[0188] Plasmid pIJ488-101 was constructed by ligating the large PstI fragment of pIJ486, containing the pIJ101 replication origin and the thiostrepton resistance gene, with PstI digested pIJ488, yielding plasmid pIJ488-101 (see FIG. 7).

[0189] To introduce a suitable promoter, a plasmid was constructed from plasmid pIJ488-101 described above. The Glucose Isomerase gene of Actinoplanes missouriensis was introduced into plasmid pIJ488. This gene, GI, as well as the gene encoding a protein-engineered derivative known as GIT, have been described (European Patent Application 351029) and serve as a source for a suitable promoter sequence functional in Streptomyces.

[0190] Briefly, plasmid pIJ488-101 was digested with EcoRI and SphI, and the large fragment was isolated and ligated to the GIT gene on an EcoRI-SphI fragment. The resulting plasmid pWGE.GIT was found to be structurally unstable. This instability was attributed to the ermE gene. Therefore the ermE gene was removed from the construct by deletion of the Xbal fragment, resulting in plasmid pWGx.GIT (see FIG. 8).

[0191] Plasmid pWGx.GIT was found to still exhibit small segregational instability. A study had been reported describing the replication of the natural Streptomyces plasmid pIJ101 from which all these plasmids were derived (Z. Deng, et al., Mol. Gen. Genet. 214:286-294 (1988) In this study, it was demonstrated that pIJ101 replicates using the “rolling circle” mechanism. Plasmids replicating using this mechanism first synthesize a single-strand intermediate molecule using the known origin of replication, called the plus-origin. Efficient conversion into an active double-strand molecule requires a second origin of replication, called the minus-origin. During the construction of most derivatives ofpIJ101, this minus-origin had been removed.

[0192] The minus-origin, also called “sti,” was isolated from plasmid pIJ211 which is a derivative of pIJ1 01, as a KpnI-FspI fragment and ligated into the general cloning vector pTZ18R (Pharmacia, Analects 13, no. 4.). The vector was digested with BamHI and blunted and digested with KpnI. This resulted in plasmid pTZI 8Rsti (see FIG. 9).

[0193] Plasmid pWGxGIT was digested with KpnI and Xbal. The large fragment was isolated and ligated to the sti-containing fragment isolated from a KpnI and Xbal fragment of pTZ18Rsti. In this manner, plasmid pWGxsGIT was formed (see FIG. 10).

[0194] A shuttle-plasmid was constructed by combining plasmids pIJ488-101 and plasmid pWGxsGIT. The fragment containing the Streptomyces replication functions (plus-origin, sti and rep gene) from pWGxsGIT was isolated after digestion with XbaI and SphI. The fragment containing the E. coli replication function was isolated from pIJ488-101 after digestion with Xbal, SphI and NcoI. After ligation of these two fragments, plasmid pU488sti was formed (see FIG. 11).

[0195] To drive expression of the cellulase, the GI promoter was used together with the signal-sequence of S. lividans cellulase, CelA (D. Kluepfel, et al., Nature Biotechnol. 14:756-759 (1996). A fusion between the GI-promoter and the CelA signal-sequence was constructed by fusion-PCR techniques, as a XbaI-EcoRI fragment. On the same fragment, a NheI site was introduced for cloning reasons. The fragment was ligated into plasmid pIJ488sti digested with Xbal and EcoRI, resulting in plasmid pIJSEGiCe. (see FIG. 12)

[0196] To complete the expression vector, a terminator sequence of cellulase was inserted. Strain Streptomyces 11AG3 is closely related, if not identical, to the Streptomyces strain isolated in Example 1(11AG8). Both strains were isolated from the same sample, and the sequenced 16S rDNA of the two strains was found to be identical. The 11AG3 cellulase gene was isolated as a NheI-EcoRI PCR-fragment. On the same fragment, a BamHI and a HpaI site were introduced to facilitate cloning. The plasmid pIJSEGiCel was digested with NheI and EcoRI and the PCR-terminator fragment was ligated into the digested plasmid to create vector pIJSEGCi. Next, the cellulase 11AG3 coding region was removed by deletion of the internal BamHI fragment from plasmid pIJSEGCi, resulting in vector pSEGCT (see FIG. 13).

[0197] The cellulase 11AG8 gene was isolated from Streptomyces lividans TK23 using PCR as a NheI-BamHI fragment. Vector pSEGCT was digested with NheI and BamHI, and the PCR fragment was ligated into the digested vector resulting in plasmid pSEGCT11AG8 (see FIG. 14). The DNA nucleotide sequence of the complete expression cassette consisting of GI-promoter, celA signal-sequence, cellulase 11AG8 and GI-terminator is depicted in FIG. 15, as well as the amino acid sequence of the product (SEQ ID NO:4 and 5).

[0198] The host Streptomyces lividans TK23 was transformed with plasmid vector pSEGCT11AG8 using the protoplast method described in Hopwood, et al.,. GENETIC MANIPULATION OF STREPTOMYCES, A LABORATORY MANUAL. The John Innes Foundation, Norwich, United Kingdom (1985).

[0199] The transformed culture was expanded to provide two fermentation cultures. At various time points, samples of the fermentation broths were removed for analysis. For purposes of this experiment, the samples were assayed for CMC activity and for molecular weight (SDS-PAGE). At the end of the fermentation run, significant amounts (5-15%) of full length cellulase was observed by SDS-PAGE.

[0200] In one of the fermentation runs, full length cellulase rapidly accumulated until about 110.3 hours. From then until 205.5 hours, little more full-length cellulase accumulated and the majority of full length cellulase was processed to a truncated form. In the other fermentation run, the full length cellulase was the dominant cellulase present in the fermenter until about 66.2 hours. After that, truncated forms of cellulase accumulated. Thus, it is likely that in both of these runs, the host cells produced full length cellulase which was then cleaved in the fermenter medium to form the truncated forms of cellulase.

Example 7

Expression of Truncated Actinomycete Cellulase

[0201] As found in Example 6, the 35 kD cellulase of the invention when expressed in a Streptomyces lividans expression system appears in the extracellular space initially as “full-length” enzyme (from N- to C-terminus: catalytic core, linker region, and cellulose binding domain (CBD) consisting of a total of 340 amino acid residues having a molecular weight of about 35kD, and including 3 disulfide bond bridges. After the fermentation has proceeded for a significant period of time, i.e., about 66 hours, the cellulase is modified by virtue of its cellulose binding domain being clipped off. The resulting “core” molecule retains cellulase activity and has a molecular weight of about 25 kD. An initial cleavage site of the full-length enzyme, if there is one, has not been determined but the precise amino acid sequence (mw) of the core was determined using either purified protein or UF concentrated cell-free broth. From the amino acid sequence an average molecular weight for the truncated protein was calculated.

[0202] The sequence identity of the truncated core was determined as follows: An aliquot of 0.2 mg of dissolved enzyme was diluted with chilled water (at least 2 volumes of the sample aliquot) to 0.45 mL, then mixed with 0.05 mL of 1 N HCl, and incubated on ice for 10 min. The solution was centrifuged for 2 min at 13,000 x g, the supernatant recovered and incubated with 0.065 mL of 50% (w/v) trichloroacetic acid for 10 min on ice. The precipitated protein was recovered by centrifugation, the pellet was washed once with 1 mL of chilled 90% (v/v) acetone and then dissolved in 0.025 mL of 8 M urea in 0.5 M ammonium bicarbonate. After the pellet had dissolved, 2.5 μL of 0.2 M dithiothreitol was added and the solution incubated for 15 min at 50° C. Thereafter, 2.5 μL of 0.44 M iodoacetamide in 0. 1 M ammonium bicarbonate was added and the solution incubated for 15 min in the dark at room temperature. This solution was diluted with 0.1 mL of 0.1% (w/v) n-octyl-β-D-glycoside, and the protein digested with 6 μg of trypsin for 60 min at 37° C. The resulting peptides were separated by RP-HPLC on a C18 column and the elution profile was monitored both by UV absorption and mass spectrometry. The assignment of peptides to the given sequence was supported by partial sequencing of 11 out of 13 peaks.

[0203] Although the mass determination already provided the information that the “core” consisted of two molecules and of their respective sequence, the C-terminal tryptic peptide mixture was digested with endoproteinase AspN and reanalyzed by LC/MS. The results show that the “core” protein was an approximately 1:2 ratio of two molecules, one with a molecular weight of 24,469.0 Daltons (comprising 230 amino acid residues, 2 disulfide bond bridges) and one with a molecular weight of 24,724.3 Daltons (comprising 233 amino acid residues, 2 disulfide bond bridges). This finding is corroborated by direct mass measurements with a PE Bioscience ESI-TOF mass spectrometer, model Mariner (Foster City, Calif.) which indicated molecular weights of the purified variant core proteins of 24,467.0 and 24,727.6, respectively.

Example 8

Expression of Cellulase via an Alternative Promoter

[0204] The GI-promoter has been known to result in very high expression. Because of, e.g., promoter instability, it is possible that high expression of cellulases is not desirable. Thus, an alternative promoter was cloned into the cellulase expression vectors of this invention. The promoter used was the weaker aph promoter of the Streptomyces fradiae aminoglycoside 3′-phosphotransferase gene. This promoter was isolated from the plasmid pIJ61, which is a derivative of the natural Streptomyces plasmid SLP1. The complete nucleotide sequence of the aph gene has been known and the promoter region has been characterized.

[0205] A fusion-PCR technique was used to obtain a SpeI-NheI fragment containing the aph promoter fused to the celA signal-sequence. The GI-promoter in plasmid pSEGCTl lAG8 was then exchanged for the aph promoter by digesting this plasmid with SpeI and NheI, isolating the large fragment, and ligating the PCR-fragment into it. This resulted in plasmid pSEACT11AG8 (see FIG. 16). This plasmid is equivalent to the plasmid pSEGCT11AG8 (see FIG. 14), and can be regarded as to be constructed by insertion of the cellulase from S. lividens 11AG8 into a vector pSEACT, which is identical to vector pSEGCT except for the promoter used to drive the expression of the cellulase gene.

[0206] To remove all E. coli sequences from the plasmid pSEACTI 1AG8, the plasmid was digested with SphI and religated. This formed plasmid pSACT11AG8 (see FIG. 17). This construct was transfected into a Bacillis host cell. “although high levels of expressed cellulase were observed in plate cultures, production of cellulase by the Bacillis host cells in a fermenter environment was very low. However, it is possible that with better control over promoter induction, production of cellulase under the control of the aph promoter will improve.

Example 9

Comparison of full length cellulase and truncated cellulases

[0207] A comparison of the depilling performance of full length and truncated cellulase was made.

[0208] A three cycle Detergent Cellulase Terg-O-Tometer Test (DCTT) was used to evaluate the dose responses of full length (15.4 mg/mL) and truncated (approximately 14 mg/mL) at 20° C. and 40° C. in Wisk® and Gessy Lever # 1 liquid detergents. The experiments were conducted using both prepilled cotton knit swatches and woven cotton swatches. The conditions of the test were:

Temperature:      40° C.
Cycle time:       2.5 hours
Number of cycles: 3
Agitation speed:  125
Water hardness:   150 ppm
Enzyme dose:      0, 45, 90, 135, 180, 225 NPC units/L
                  (225 NPC units = 30 mg full length protein)
pH liquor:        8.55

[0209] The pH was checked before addition of the enzymes and then every 30 minutes during the test.

[0210] In performing the 3 cycle test, the swatches were removed from the Terg pot at the end of each cycle, rinsed in the washing machine, then placed back into the Terg pot containing fresh enzyme and detergent. At the end of the 3rd cycle rinse, the swatches were dried in a tumble dryer.

[0211] Data Analysis Depilling: FIG. 18a shows the depilling dose response of full length vs truncated in Wisk® at 40° C. The raw data were fit to the Michaelis-Menten equation and plotted on the graph. These results suggest that there is not a significant difference in the depilling performance of full length vs. truncated in Wisk® at 40° C.

[0212] Peak load: FIG. 18b shows the dose response of full length vs truncated in Wisk(® at 40° C. Peak load is inversely proportional to strength loss, i.e., the higher the peak load, the lower the TSL. The peak load values are slightly greater in truncated than full length. Thus, although peak load values are slightly lower and TSL greater in truncated than full length, the two enzymes have equal depilling performance.

[0213] However, when depilling and %TSL are compared, some differences between the full length and the truncated cellulase are observed. FIG. 18c shows the %TSL vs depilling for full length versus truncated in Wisk® at 40° C. A trendline could be drawn for both full length and truncated showing that as depilling increases TSL increases. This shows that at a depilling rating of 4, truncated has a greater TSL than full length.

[0214] In addition to Wisk® liquid detergent, depilling performance was determined in Gessy Lever #1 liquid detergent. Under the same conditions (except for an increase in the pH of the wash to 10.57), the dose responses of full length to truncated were compared at 20° C. and 40° C. in Gessy Lever # 1. The pH was checked before enzyme addition and every 30 minutes.

[0215] Data Analysis

[0216] Depilling: FIG. 19a shows the dose response of full length vs truncated in Gessy Lever # 1 @20° C. The raw data were fit to the Michaelis-Menten equation and plotted on the graph. As can be seen on the graph, the depilling performance of truncated was better than full length in Gessy Lever # 1. In summary, it took 1.6X as much as full length to achieve a depilling rating of two compared to truncated.

[0217] Peak Load: FIG. 19b shows the peak load values and TSL of full length vs truncated in Gessy Lever # 1 @ 20° C. As expected, the peak load values were greater for truncated than for full length. The scatter in the full length data and low correlation coefficient suggested the enzyme had little effect on the fabric, and therefore caused no TSL. TSL was much lower in Gessy Lever #1 than in Wisk® most likely due to differences in pH.

[0218] To determine the depilling performance in the presence of bleaching agents, the same experiments were performed in the presence of a bleaching system. The conditions of the test were:

Temperature:      40° C.
Cycle time:       2.5 hours
Number of cycles: 3
Agitation speed:  125 rpm
Water hardness:   70 ppm as CaCO3 (2:1 Ca:Mg)
Detergent matrix: 0.51 grams LAS/0.35 grams STPP/0.68 grams
                  Na2SO4
Bleaching system: 0.50 grams Perborate monohydrate (PBS)/0.10
                  grams TAED (bleach activator)
pH:               10
Enzyme doses:     225 NPC/L full length at 115.6 NPC/mL, (dosed at
                  30 mg/L)
                  225 NPC/L truncated at 149.2 NPC/mL, (dosed at
                  equal act. to full length)
                  34 NPC/L “Super L” EGIII @ 23 NPC/mL, (dosed
                  at 30 mg/L)

[0219] The pH was adjusted both before and after enzyme dosing, then checked every 30 minutes and adjusted as needed. Data Analysis Depilling: FIG. 20a shows the depilling performance of full length, truncated and EGIII in an alkaline detergent matrix ± an oxygen bleaching system. As can be seen on the graph, with the addition of PBS/TAED, depilling decreased in all three enzymes. The full length and EGIII was the most affected in the presence of the bleaching system. The truncated had the best depilling performance even in the presence of an oxygen bleaching system with a depilling rating of 3.5. This data suggest that truncated is more stable than full length and EGIII in the presence of the bleaching system.

[0220] Peak Load: FIG. 20b shows peak load values of full length, truncated and EGIII in an alkaline detergent matrix ± an oxygen bleaching system. As can be seen, the peak load values were the same for full length and EGIII in the presence of an bleaching system, while the peak load values increased for truncated. TSL was found to be inversely proportional to peak load. The peak load values for truncated increased in the presence of the bleaching system, thus TSL decreased.

[0221] In addition to bleach, laundry detergents may contain proteases. Thus, the experiments described above were performed with Purafect 4000L® (Genencor, International) present. The conditions of the test were:

Temperature:      40° C.
Cycle time:       2.5 hours
Number of cycles: 3
Agitation speed:  125 rpm
Water hardness:   70 ppm as CaCO3 (2:1 Ca:Mg)
Detergent matrix: 0.51 grams LAS/0.35 grams STPP/0.68 grams
                  Na2SO4
Protease:         1 mg/L Purafect 4000L ®
pH:               10
Enzyme doses:     225 NPC/L full length at 115.6 NPC/ml, (dosed at
                  30 mg/L)
                  225 NPC/L truncated at 149.2 NPC/ml, (dosed at
                  equal act. to full length)
                  34 NPC/L “Super L” EGIII at 23 NPC/ml, (dosed
                  at 30 mg/L)

[0222] Data Analysis

[0223] Depilling: FIG. 21a shows the depilling performance of full length, truncated and EGIII in an alkaline detergent matrix ± Purafect 4000L® protease. The no cellulase control ± Purafect 4000L had no depilling performance. The depilling performance of full length increased in the presence of Purafect 4000L®, while the performance of the truncated was unchanged. This suggested the truncated is more proteolytically stable than the full length enzyme. The performance of the full length +Purafect 4000L® increased to the same performance level of the truncated. This observation agrees with earlier observations that truncated performs better than full length under alkaline conditions. The performance of EGIII is unaffected by the presence of Purafect 4000L® protease.

[0224] Peak Load: FIG. 21b shows the peak load values of full length, truncated and EGIII in an alkaline detergent matrix ± Purafect 400L® protease. The addition of Purafect 4000L® to the null control had no effect on peak load values. The peak load values for full length decreased in the presence of Purafect 4000L®, meaning TSL increased in the presence of protease. Because TSL is inversely proportional to peak load, as the depilling of full length increased upon addition of Purafect 4000L®, TSL increased as well. Once again, protease had little or no effect on the truncated. The peak load values for EGIII remained unaffected in the presence of Purafect 4000L.

Claims

1. A cellulase that is substantially identical to the amino acid sequence provided in SEQ. ID. NO: 1, a fragment, or a derivative thereof having cellulolytic activity.

2. The cellulase according to claim 1 wherein the cellulase comprises a contiguous amino acid sequence that is substantially identical to an amino acid sequence that corresponds to about position 31 and extends to about position 261 of SEQ ID NO:1.

3. The cellulase according to claim 1, wherein said derivative has at least 50% sequence identity to SEQ. ID. NO: 1.

4. The cellulase according to claim 3, wherein said derivative has at least 70% sequence identity to SEQ. ID. NO: 1.

5. The cellulase according to claim 1, wherein said cellulase is encoded by a DNA sequence which is selected from the group consisting of DNA which corresponds in sequence to SEQ. ID. NO:2, DNA which remains hybridized ot SEQ ID NO:2 under conditions of high stringency, DNA which has at least 76% sequence identity to SEQ. ID. NO:2 and DNA which hybridizes to a second DNA molecule comprising at least a portion the sequence according to SEQ. ID. NO:2 under conditions of low stringency.

6. The cellulase according to claim 1, wherein said cellulase comprises the amino acid sequence provided in SEQ. ID. NO: 1.

7. The cellulase according to claim 1, wherein said cellulase is obtainable from an Actinomycete.

8. The cellulase according to claim 1 wherein the cellulase is cleaved to form a fragment having cellulolytic activity and a molecular weight of about 25 kD.

9. A cellulase derived from Actinomycetes that has a molecular weight of approximately 36 kD as measured on SDS-PAGE, a calculated isoelectric point of about 5.9, a pH optimum of about 8 at 40° C. and 7 at 60° C.

10. A DNA which encodes a cellulase according to claim 1.

11. A DNA which encodes a cellulase according to claim 2.

12. A DNA which encodes a cellulase according to claim 3.

13. A DNA which encodes a cellulase according to claim 4.

14. A DNA which encodes a cellulase according to claim 5.

15. A DNA that remains hybridized to SEQ ID NO:2 under conditions of low stringency.

16. The DNA of claim 14, wherein the DNA remains hybridized under conditions of moderate stringency.

17. The DNA of claim 15, wherein the DNA remains hybridized under conditions of high stringency.

18. A method of producing a cellulase comprising the steps of: (a) isolating a DNA molecule according to claim 10; (b) transforming said DNA into a suitable organisms for expression; (c) growing said transformed organism under conditions suitable for expression of said DNA encoding said cellulase; and (d) collecting the resulting aqueous mixture comprising said cellulase.

19. The method according to claim 18, wherein said cellulase is further purified from said aqueous mixture.

20. The method according to claim 18, wherein said organism comprises Bacillus sp.

21. The method according to claim 18, wherein said organism comprises Streptomyces sp.

22. The method according to claim 21, wherein said organism comprises Streptomyces lividens.

23. A method of identifying DNA encoding a cellulase in a microorganism comprising the steps of: (a) preparing a DNA probe comprising at least a portion of the sequence corresponding to SEQ. ID. NO:2 wherein said DNA is capable of producing a detectable signal upon hybridization to a second DNA; (b) preparing said second DNA from said microorganism by isolating said second DNA from said organism and randomly cleaving said second DNA to produce a DNA fragment library; (c) reacting said DNA probe with said second DNA under conditions of low stringency; (d) detecting and isolating hybridized DNA fragments form step (c); and (e) obtaining a full length gene corresponding to said fragment of said second DNA which hybridizes with said DNA probe.

24. A method for producing a cellulase encoded by a gene isolated according to claim 23 comprising: (a) transforming said DNA into a suitable organism for expression; (b) growing said transformed organism under conditions suitable for expression of a gene comprised by said DNA; (c) collecting an aqueous mixture comprising said cellulase.

25. An expression vector comprising a regulatory polynucleotide sequence that is operably linked to a second polynucleotide sequence which encodes a cellulase according to claim 1 wherein said regulatory polynucleotide sequence comprises a promoter derived from an Actinoplanes glucose isomerase gene and a signal sequence derived from a Streptomyces cellulase gene.

26. The expression vector of claim 25, wherein the promoter is derived from an A. missouriensis glucose isomerase gene.

27. The expression vector of claim 25, wherein the signal sequence is derived from a Streptomyces cellulase A gene.

28. The expression vector of claim 27, wherein the signal sequence is derived from a Streptomyces lividens cellulase A gene.

29. The expression vector of claim 25, wherein the cellulase is obtainable from an Actinomyces.

30. A host cell comprising the expression vector of claim 25.

31. The host cell of claim 30 wherein said host cell is Streptomyces lividans.

32. A method of producing a cellulase comprising the steps of: (a) transforming a Streptomyces host cell with the expression vector according to claim 25; (b) growing the transformed host cells under conditions suitable for the expression of said cellulase; and (c) recovering the cellulase.

33. The expression vector plasmid pSEGCT.

34. A detergent composition comprising the cellulase according to claim 1.

35. A detergent composition comprising the cellulase according to claim 2.

36. A detergent composition comprising the cellulase according to claim 5.

37. The use of the cellulase according to claim 1 as an additive for animal feed.

38. The use of the cellulase according to claim 1 for the treatment of textiles.

39. The use of the cellulase according to claim 1 in the treatment of pulp and paper.