Screening methods for enzymes and enzyme kits

Abstract

Recombinant enzyme libraries and kits where a plurality of enzymes are each characterized by different physical and/or chemical characteristics and classified by common characteristics. The characteristics are determined by screening of recombinant enzymes expressed by a DNA library produced from various microorganisms. Also disclosed is a process for identifying clones of a recombinant library which express a protein with a desired ctivity by screening a library of expression clones randomly produced from DNA of at least one microorganism, said screeing being effected on expression products of said clones to thereby identify clones which express a protein with a desired activity. Also disclosed is a process of screening clones having DNA from an uncultivatedmicroorganism for a specified protein activity by screening for a specified protein activity in a library of clones prepared by (I) recovering DNA from a DNA population derived from at least one uncultivated microorganism; and (ii) transforming a host with recovered DNA to produce a library of clones which is screened for the specified protein activity.

What is claimed is:  
     
         1 . A process for identifying clones of a recombinant library produced from DNA derived from at least one uncultivated organism which express a protein with a desired characteristic, comprising: 
 screening in the liquid phase a library of expression clones randomly produced from DNA of at least one uncultivated organism, said screening being effected on expression products of said clones to thereby identify clones which express a protein with a desired characteristic.    
     
     
         2 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein the DNA is optionally modified or mutagenized prior to formation of the recombinant library.  
     
     
         3 . A process of screening clones having DNA recovered from an uncultivated organism for a specified protein characteristic, which process comprises: 
 screening for a specified protein characteristic in a library of clones prepared by 
 (i) recovering DNA from a DNA population derived from at least one uncultivated organism; and  
 (ii) transforming a host cell with the recovered DNA to produce a library of clones which is screened for the specified protein characteristic, wherein the DNA is optionally modified or mutagenized prior to forming a library of clones.