Treatment of keratinous fibers with an enzyme having perhydrolase activity

Abstract

Described are compositions and methods relating to the treatment of keratinous fibers and textiles comprising such fibers with enzymatically-generated peracids in aqueous media. The treatment has beneficial effects, including reducing felting, increasing dye uptake, and reducing prickling tendency.

1 . A method for reducing felting of wool or another textile made from keratinous fibers, the method comprising:
 contacting the textile with an aqueous composition comprising an enzyme having perhydrolase activity, an ester substrate for the enzyme, and a source of hydrogen peroxide,   wherein the enzyme generates peracids in situ in an aqueous medium, and   wherein the peracids modify the textile, thereby reducing the tendency of the textile to felt.   
     
     
         2 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein the enzyme generates peracids in situ prior to contacting the textile with the aqueous composition. 
     
     
         3 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein contacting the textile with the aqueous composition occurs prior to the enzyme generating peracids in situ. 
     
     
         4 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein contacting the textile with the aqueous composition and the enzyme generating peracids in situ occur simultaneously. 
     
     
         5 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein the textile is wool. 
     
     
         6 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein the keratinous fibers are obtained from sheep. 
     
     
         7 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein the enzyme having perhydrolase activity is a polypeptide having an amino acid sequence that is at least 70% identical to the amino acid sequence set forth in SEQ ID NO: 1 or SEQ ID NO: 2. 
     
     
         8 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein the enzyme having perhydrolase activity is a polypeptide having an amino acid sequence that is at least 80% identical to the amino acid sequence set forth in SEQ ID NO: 1 or SEQ ID NO: 2. 
     
     
         9 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein the enzyme having perhydrolase activity is a polypeptide having an amino acid sequence that is at least 90% identical to the amino acid sequence set forth in SEQ ID NO: 1 or SEQ ID NO: 2. 
     
     
         10 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein the enzyme having perhydrolase activity is derived from  Mycobacterium smegmatis  perhydrolase. 
     
     
         11 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein the enzyme having perhydrolase activity is a variant of  Mycobacterium smegmatis  perhydrolase having the substitution S54V. 
     
     
         12 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein ester substrate is propylene glycol diacetate (PGDA), triacetin, ethyl acetate, tributyrin, and/or ethylene glycol diacetate (EGDA). 
     
     
         13 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein the source of hydrogen peroxide, is hydrogen peroxide, perborate, or percarbonate. 
     
     
         14 . The method of  claim 1 , further comprising the step of:
 treating the keratinous fiber or textiles comprising the keratinous fiber with sodium sulfite to further reduce felting of the textiles.   
     
     
         15 . The method of  claim 1 , further comprising the step of:
 treating the keratinous fiber or textiles comprising the keratinous fiber with transglutaminase to improve textile strength.   
     
     
         16 . A kit of parts for performing the method of  claim 1 , comprising:
 an enzyme having perhydrolase activity,   an ester substrate for the enzyme,   a source of hydrogen peroxide, and   instructions for use.   
     
     
         17 . Textiles produced by the method of  claim 1 .