Egvi endoglucanase and nucleic acids encoding the same

Abstract

The present invention provides a novel endoglucanase nucleic acid sequence, designated egl6, and the corresponding EGVI amino acid sequence. The invention also provides expression vectors and host cells comprising a nucleic acid sequence encoding EGVI, recombinant EGVI proteins and methods for producing the same.

1 - 36 . (canceled) 
     
     
         37 . A recombinant filamentous fungus comprising a heterologous nucleic acid construct comprising a nucleic acid sequence which encodes a polypeptide having at least 85% identity to SEQ ID NO: 2. 
     
     
         38 . The recombinant filamentous fungus of  claim 37  wherein the heterologous nucleic acid construct further comprises a selectable marker. 
     
     
         39 . The recombinant filamentous fungus of  claim 37  wherein the filamentous fungus is an  Aspergillus, Trichoderma, Fusarium, Chrysosporium, Penicillium, Humicola, Neurospora, Emericella , or  Hypocrea.    
     
     
         40 . A method of producing a recombinant filamentous fungus comprising: a) introducing a heterologous nucleic acid construct comprising a nucleic acid sequence which encodes a polypeptide having at least 85% sequence identity to SEQ ID NO: 2. 
     
     
         41 . The method of  claim 40  wherein the heterologous nucleic acid construct further comprises a selectable marker. 
     
     
         42 . The method of  claim 40  wherein the filamentous fungus is an  Aspergillus, Trichoderma, Fusarium, Chrysosporium, Penicillium, Humicola, Neurospora, Emericella , or  Hypocrea.    
     
     
         43 . The method of  claim 40  wherein the sequence encoding SEQ ID NO: 2 is engineered to modify the cloning, processing or expression of the EGVI protein. 
     
     
         44 . A biologically active fragment of the polypeptide sequence of SEQ ID NO: 2, wherein the fragment is about 100-200 amino acids in length.