Method for preparing xyloglucan-oligosaccharides

Abstract

The present invention relates to a method for preparing oligosaccharides which can be used among others as food additives to reduce calorie content, to sweeten food products, to increase the fiber content of food products, to improve the texture of food products and to stimulate the gut microbiome bacteria. Furthermore they can be applied in the fields of animal feed, or other applications. More particularly, this invention is directed to a high temperature hydrolysis of xyloglucan polysaccharide to defined xyloglucan oligosaccharides. The invention further relates to oligosaccharide hydrolysates produced with the method of the invention and to the use of said oligosaccharide hydrolysates in human and/or animal nutrition, as prebiotic or other uses. Further provided are novel endoglucanases for use in the method of the invention as well as in other applications.

We claim: 
     
         1 . An enzyme having xyloglucanase activity and having at least 75% identity to a polypeptide having an amino acid sequence selected from the group consisting of SEQ ID NO: 2, SEQ ID NO: 3 and SEQ ID NO: 4, with the proviso that said enzyme is not a polypeptide having SEQ ID NO:1. 
     
     
         2 . The enzyme of  claim 1 , wherein said enzyme has at least 75% identity to a polypeptide having SEQ ID NO: 2. 
     
     
         3 . The enzyme of  claim 1 , wherein said enzyme has at least 75% identity to a polypeptide having the amino acid sequence of SEQ ID NO: 3. 
     
     
         4 . The enzyme of  claim 1 , wherein said enzyme has at least 75% identity to a polypeptide having the amino acid sequence of SEQ ID NO: 4. 
     
     
         5 . The enzyme of  claim 1 , wherein said enzyme has at least 85% identity to a polypeptide having an amino acid sequence selected from the group consisting of SEQ ID NO: 2, SEQ ID NO: 3 and SEQ ID NO: 4. 
     
     
         6 . The enzyme of  claim 1 , wherein said enzyme has at least 95% identity to a polypeptide having an amino acid sequence selected from the group consisting of SEQ ID NO: 2, SEQ ID NO: 3 and SEQ ID NO: 4. 
     
     
         7 . The enzyme of  claim 1 , wherein said enzyme consists of an amino acid sequence selected from the group consisting of SEQ ID NO: 2, SEQ ID NO: 3, and SEQ ID NO: 4. 
     
     
         8 . A nucleic acid encoding an enzyme having xyloglucanase activity and having at least 75% identity to a polypeptide having an amino acid sequence selected from the group consisting of SEQ ID NO: 2, SEQ ID NO: 3 and SEQ ID NO: 4 as claimed in  claim 1 , with the proviso that the endoglucanase is not a polypeptide with SEQ ID NO:1. 
     
     
         9 . The nucleic acid of  claim 8 , wherein said nucleic acid is selected from the group consisting of SEQ ID NO: 12, SEQ ID NO: 13 and SEQ ID NO: 14.