Fungal polygalacturonase with improved maceration properties

• Main Authors: SIBBEL-WAGEMAKERS, CORNELIA ANTONIA MARIA, BENEN, JAQUES ALEX ERWIN, JOOSTEN, ROB, VAN KAN, JOHANNES ARNOLDUS LAURENTIUS, KARS, ILONA, KROOSHOF, GEJA HERMIEN
• Format: Patent
• Language: English; French; German
• Published: 11.01.2006
• Subjects: AGRICULTURE; ANIMAL HUSBANDRY; BEER; BIOCHEMISTRY; CHEMISTRY; COMPOSITIONS THEREOF; CULTURE MEDIA; ENZYMOLOGY; FISHING; FORESTRY; HUMAN NECESSITIES; HUNTING; METALLURGY; MICROBIOLOGY; MICROORGANISMS OR ENZYMES; MUTATION OR GENETIC ENGINEERING; NEW PLANTS OR PROCESSES FOR OBTAINING THEM; PLANT REPRODUCTION BY TISSUE CULTURE TECHNIQUES; PROCESSES USING MICROORGANISMS; PROPAGATING, PRESERVING OR MAINTAINING MICROORGANISMS; SPIRITS; TRAPPING; VINEGAR; WINE

The present invention relates to an endo-polygalacturonase from the phytopathogenic fungus Botrytis cinerea and related enzymes, as well as nucleic acids encoding these enzymes, vectors comprising the nucleic acids and host cells for the production of the enzymes. The invention further relates to methods for producing these polygalacturonases and to methods in which the enzymes are used for hydrolysing internal glycosidic linkages in a polygalacturonic acid chain in a plant material. Such methods are useful in the production of food or feed products, in the extraction of sustances from plant material and in breeding plants having increased resistance towards Botrytis fungi.