Beta-amylase enzymes

Abstract

Variant polypeptides having beta-amylase activity and methods of making and using the enzymes in baking, detergents, personal care products, in the processing of textiles, in pulp and paper processing, in the production of ethanol, lignocellulosic ethanol, or syrups; as viscosity breakers in oilfield and mining industries.

What is claimed is: 
     
         1 . A variant polypeptide having beta-amylase activity, wherein the variant polypeptide is selected from the group consisting of:
 (a) variant polypeptide is an amino acid sequence that is at least 95% identical to the amino acid sequence as set forth in SEQ ID NO:2, wherein the variant polypeptide has at least one single amino acid modification to the amino acid sequence of SEQ ID NO:2, at an amino acid residue position number: 16, 19, 24, 25, 27, 28, 48, 101, 105, 107, 119, 141, 143, 145, 146, 147, 153, 172, 175, 179, 197, 201, 203, 205, 206, 215, 219, 220, 221, 230, 364, 366, 369, 398, 399, 438, 440, 446, 452, 453, 456, 458, 463, 464, 465, 468, 476, 490, 499, 504, 508, or any combination thereof to the amino acid sequence of SEQ ID NO:2, and the variant polypeptide has beta-amylase activity; (b) variant polypeptide is an amino acid sequence that is at least 99.4% identical to the amino acid sequence as set forth, in SEQ ID NO:3, wherein the variant polypeptide has at least one single ammo acid modification to the amino acid sequence of SEQ ID NO:3, at an ammo acid residue position. number: 16, 19, 24, 25, 27, 28, 48, 83, 101, 105, 107, 119, 141, 143, 145, 146, 147, 153, 155, 172, 175, 179, 197, 201, 203, 205, 206, 215, 219, 220, 221, 230, 273, 280, 286, 319, 322, 364, 366, 369, 398, 399, 438, 440, 446, 452, 453, 456, 458, 463, 464, 465, 468, 476, 490, 499, 504, 508, or any combination thereof to the amino acid sequence of SEQ ID NO:3, and the variant polypeptide has beta-amylase activity; (c) variant poly peptide is an amino acid sequence that is at least 95% identical to the amino acid sequence as set forth in SEQ ID NO:4, wherein the variant polypeptide has at least one single amino acid modification to the amino acid sequence of SEQ ID NO:4, at an amino acid residue position number: 16, 19, 24, 25, 27, 28, 48, 83, 101, 105, 107, 119, 141, 143, 145, 146, 147, 153, 155, 172, 175, 179, 197, 201, 203, 205, 206, 215, 219, 220, 221, 230, 273, 280, 286, 319, 322, 364, 366, 369, 398, 399, 438, 440, 446, 452, 453, 456, 458, 463, 464, 465, 468, 476, 490, 499, 504, 508, or any combination thereof to the amino acid sequence of SEQ ID NO:4, and the variant polypeptide has beta-amylase activity; (d) the variant polypeptide is an amino add sequence that is at least 95% identical to the amino acid sequence as set forth in SEQ ID NO:5, wherein the variant polypeptide has at least one single amino acid modification to the amino acid sequence of SEQ ID NO:5, at an amino acid residue position number: 16, 19, 24, 25, 27, 28, 48, 83, 101, 105, 107, 119, 141, 143, 145, 146, 147, 153, 155, 172, 175, 179, 197, 201, 203, 205, 206, 215, 219, 220, 221, 230, 273, 280, 286, 319, 322, 364, 366, 369, 398, 399, 438, 440, 446, 452, 453, 456, 458, 463, 464, 465, 468, 476, 490, 499, 504, 508, or any combination thereof to the amino acid sequence of SEQ ID NO:5, and the variant polypeptide has beta-amylase activity; (e) the variant polypeptide is an amino acid sequence that is at least 95% identical to the amino acid sequence as set forth in SEQ ID NO:6, wherein the variant polypeptide has at least one single amino acid modification to the amino acid sequence of SEQ ID NO:6, at an amino acid residue position number: 16, 19, 24, 25, 27, 28, 48, 83, 101, 105, 107, 119, 141, 143, 145, 146, 147, 153, 155, 172, 175, 179, 197, 201, 203, 205, 206, 215, 219, 220, 221, 230, 273, 280, 286, 319, 322, 364, 366, 369, 398, 399, 438, 440, 446, 452, 453, 456, 458, 463, 464, 465, 468, 476, 490, 499, 504, 508, or any combination thereof to the amino acid sequence of SEQ ID NO:6, and the variant polypeptide has beta-amylase activity; and, (f) the variant polypeptide is an amino acid sequence that is at least 95% identical to the amino acid sequence as set forth in SEQ ID NO:7, wherein the variant polypeptide has at least one single amino acid modification to the amino acid sequence of SEQ ID NO:7, at an amino acid residue position number: 48, 51, 56, 57, 59, 60, 80, 115, 133, 137, 139, 151, 173, 175, 177, 178, 179, 185, 187, 204, 207, 211, 229, 233, 235, 237, 238, 247, 251, 252, 253, 262, 305, 231, 318, 351, 354, 396, 393, 401, 430, 431, 470, 472, 478, 484, 485, 438, 490, 495, 496, 497, 500, 508, 522, 531, 536, 540, or any combination thereof to the amino acid sequence of SEQ ID NO:7, and the variant polypeptide has beta-amylase activity.   
     
     
         2 . A method of preparing a dough or a baked product prepared from the dough, the method comprising adding one of the variant polypeptides of  claim 1 , to the dough and baking it. 
     
     
         3 . A method of use of the variant polypeptide of  claim 1 , for processing starch. 
     
     
         4 . A method of use of the variant polypeptide as in  claim 1 , for cleaning or washing textiles, hard surfaces, or dishes. 
     
     
         5 . A method of use of the variant polypeptide as in  claim 1 , for making ethanol. 
     
     
         6 . A method of use of the variant polypeptide as in  claim 1 , for treating an oil well. 
     
     
         7 . A method of use of the variant polypeptide as in  claim 1 , for processing pulp or paper. 
     
     
         8 . A method of use of the variant polypeptide as in  claim 1 , for feeding an animal. 
     
     
         9 . A method of use of the variant polypeptide as in  claim 1 , for making syrup.