Novel Variant EGIII-Like Cellulase Compositions

Abstract

The present invention relates to novel variant EGIII or EGIII-like cellulases that have improved stability. The variant cellulases have performance sensitive residues replaced to a residue having modified stability.

1 . A variant EGIII or EGIII-like cellulase, wherein said variant comprises a substitution or deletion at a position corresponding to one or more of residues P201, G170 and/or V210 in EGIII from  Trichoderma reesei.    
     
     
         2 . The variant of  claim 1 , wherein said EGIII variant comprises a substitution at a position corresponding to one or more of residues P201C, G170C and/or V210C in EGIII. 
     
     
         3 . The cellulase according to  claim 1 , wherein said EGIII-like cellulase comprises a substitution at a position corresponding to one or more of residues C190G/S, C221S/P and or C231S/V of  H. grisea.    
     
     
         4 . The cellulase according to  claim 1 , said cellulase being derived from a fungus, bacteria or Actinomycete. 
     
     
         5 . The cellulase according to  claim 4 , wherein said cellulase is derived from a fungus. 
     
     
         6 . The cellulase according to  claim 5 , wherein said fungus is a filamentous fungus. 
     
     
         7 . The cellulase according to  claim 6  wherein said filamentous fungus belongs to Euascomycete. 
     
     
         8 . The cellulase according to  claim 7  wherein said Euascomycete is  Aspergillus  spp.,  Gliocladium  spp.,  Fusarium  spp.,  Acremonium  spp.,  Myceliophtora  spp.,  Verticillium  spp.,  Myrothecium  spp., or  Penicillium  spp. 
     
     
         9 . The cellulase according to  claim 1 , wherein said cellulase is an endoglucanase. 
     
     
         10 . A DNA encoding the cellulase according to  claim 1 . 
     
     
         11 . A vector comprising the DNA of  claim 10 . 
     
     
         12 . A host cell transformed with the vector of  claim 11 . 
     
     
         13 . A method of producing a cellulase comprising the steps of:
 (a) culturing the host cell according to  claim 11  in a suitable culture medium under suitable conditions to produce cellulase;   (b) obtaining said produced cellulase.   
     
     
         14 . A detergent composition comprising a surfactant and a cellulase, wherein said cellulase comprises a variant EGIII-like cellulase comprising a substitution or deletion at a position corresponding to one or more of residues P201, G170 and/or V210 in EGIII from  Trichoderma reesei.    
     
     
         15 . The detergent of  claim 14 , wherein said variant comprises a substitution at a position corresponding to one or more of residues residues P201C, G170C and/or V210C in EGIII. 
     
     
         16 . The detergent according to  claim 15 , wherein said detergent is a laundry detergent. 
     
     
         17 . The detergent according to  claim 15 , wherein said detergent is a dish detergent. 
     
     
         18 . The use of the variant EGIII or EGIII-like cellulase according to  claim 1  in the treatment of a cellulose containing textile. 
     
     
         19 . The use of the EGIII or EGIII-like cellulase according to  claim 18  in the stonewashing or indigo dyed denim. 
     
     
         20 . The use of the EGIII or EGIII-like cellulase according to  claim 1  as a feed additive. 
     
     
         21 . The use of the EGIII or EGIII-like cellulase according to  claim 1  in the treatment of wood pulp. 
     
     
         22 . The use of the EGIII or EGIII-like cellulase according to  claim 1  in the reduction of biomass to glucose.