Hetero-transglycosylase and uses thereof

Abstract

The present invention relates to a hetero-transglycosylase protein having cellulose:xyloglucan endotransglucosylase (CXE) activity in addition to mixed-linkage beta-glucan:xyloglucan endotransglucosylase (MXE) activity. The protein may comprise the amino acid sequence of any one of SEQ ID NOs: 2, 6 and 8 or a functional fragment thereof; or an amino acid sequence having at least 60% sequence identity to any one of SEQ ID NO: 2, 6 and 8, or to SEQ ID NO: 2 from amino acid 22 to 280, to SEQ ID NO: 6 from amino acid 26 to 283, or to SEQ ID NO: 8 from amino acid 29 to 287. The invention furthermore relates to an isolated nucleic acid encoding the protein described herein, a chimeric gene comprising, inter alia, the nucleic acid described herein, a vector comprising said chimeric gene, a host cell comprising said vector or said chimeric gene and an according transgenic plant. Further disclosed herein in are a method of producing a transgenic plant and a method of improving properties of cellulosic material.

1 - 19 . (canceled) 
     
     
         20 . A method for producing a cellulosic material with improved properties, the method comprising contacting, in the presence of xyloglucan (oligosaccharide), or in the presence of xyloglucan (oligosaccharide) to which an organic or inorganic molecule is covalently attached, cellulosic material with an effective amount of a protein of having cellulose:xyloglucan endotransglucosylase activity comprising
 1. the amino acid sequence of any one of SEQ ID NOs: 2, 6 and 8 or a functional fragment thereof; or   2. an amino acid sequence having at least 60% sequence identity to the sequence of any one of SEQ ID NOs: 2, 6 and 8, or   3. an amino acid sequence having at least 60% sequence identity to the sequence of SEQ ID NO: 2 from amino acid 22 to 280, or to the sequence of SEQ ID NO: 6 from amino acid 26 to 283, or to the sequence of SEQ ID NO: 8 from amino acid 29 to 287.   
     
     
         21 . (canceled) 
     
     
         22 . The method of  claim 20 , wherein the cellulosic material is selected from or comprised in fabric, paper, a cellulose derivative, packaging, building material, thickening agents, a medical dressing, cellophane, dialysis tubing and resin for chromatography columns. 
     
     
         23 . (canceled) 
     
     
         24 . Cellulosic material produced by the method of  claim 20 . 
     
     
         25 . Cellulosic material comprising cellulose covalently attached to xyloglucan oligosaccharides via a glycosidic bond. 
     
     
         26 . The cellulosic material of  claim 25 , wherein an organic or inorganic molecule is covalently attached to said xyloglucan or xyloglucan oligosaccharides. 
     
     
         27 - 30 . (canceled) 
     
     
         31 . The method of  claim 20 , wherein the protein having cellulose:xyloglucan endotransglucosylase activity comprises: an amino acid sequence having at least 90% sequence identity to the sequence of any one of SEQ ID Nos: 2, 6 and 8; an amino acid sequence having at least 90% sequence identity to the sequence of SEQ ID NO: 2 from amino acid 22 to 280, or having at least 90% sequence identity to the sequence of SEQ ID NO: 6 from amino acid 26 to 283, or having at least 90% sequence identity to the sequence of SEQ ID NO: 8 from amino acid 29 to 287. 
     
     
         32 . Cellulosic material produced by the method of  claim 22 .