Fungal proteases

Abstract

The present invention provides fungal proteases and improved fungal strains that are deficient in protease production.

What is claimed is: 
     
         1 . A method for producing a genetically modified  Myceliophthora  deficient in at least one protease native to said  Myceliophthora , comprising providing a  Myceliophthora  having protease activity, wherein said protease activity comprises lysing  Myceliophthora  cellobiohydrolase enzymes and said protease comprises an amino acid sequence having at least 98% identity with the polypeptide sequence set forth in SEQ ID NO:3, 6, 9, or 12; and mutating said  Myceliophthora  under conditions such that said protease is mutated to produce a protease-deficient  Myceliophthora.    
     
     
         2 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein said  Myceliophthora  is  Myceliophthora thermophila.    
     
     
         3 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein said  Myceliophthora  further produces at least one cellulase selected from endoglucanases, cellobiohydrolases, cellobiose dehydrogenases, endoxylanases, beta-xylosidases, arabinofuranosidases, alpha-glucuronidases, acetylxylan esterases, feruloyl esterases, and/or alpha-glucuronyl esterases. 
     
     
         4 . The method of  claim 3 , wherein said cellulase is a recombinant cellulase selected from EG1b, EG2, EG3, EG4, EG5, EG6, CBH1a, CBH1b, CBH2a, CBH2b, GH61a, GH61f, and/or GH61p. 
     
     
         5 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein at least one polynucleotide sequence selected from SEQ ID NOS:1, 2, 4, 5, 7, 8, 10, or 11 have been deleted from the genome of said  Myceliophthora , such that the  Myceliophthora  produces a reduced level of at least one protease, as compared to a wild-type  Myceliophthora.    
     
     
         6 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein at least one polynucleotide sequence selected from SEQ ID NOS:1, 2, 4, 5, 7, 8, 10, or 11 have been mutated in the genome of said  Myceliophthora , such that the  Myceliophthora  produces a reduced level of at least one protease, as compared to a wild-type  Myceliophthora.    
     
     
         7 . The method of  claim 5 , wherein said  Myceliophthora  is  Myceliophthora thermophila.    
     
     
         8 . The method of  claim 6 , wherein said  Myceliophthora  is  Myceliophthora thermophila.