Catalase, its production and use

Details Catalase, its production and use Catalase, its production and use

1993-09-15

1996-11-05

Wong, Leslie

Chemistry: molecular biology and microbiology

Process of utilizing an enzyme or micro-organism to destroy...

Cleaning using a micro-organism or enzyme

134901, 422 30, 424 944, 435192, 4352541, 435911, 514839, D06M 1600

Patent

active

055717195

DESCRIPTION:

BRIEF SUMMARY
CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS

This application is a 35 U.S.C. 371 national application of PCT/DK92/00098 filed Mar. 27, 1992, which is incorporated herein by reference.


TECHNICAL FIELD

This invention relates to a novel catalase preparation, a process for its production and to its use in removal of hydrogen peroxide.


BACKGROUND ART

Catalase (EC 1.11.1.6) is an enzyme that catalyses the decomposition of hydrogen peroxide into water and molecular oxygen. It can be used to remove residual hydrogen peroxide in applications where hydrogen peroxide is added e.g. for pasteurization or bleaching.
Thus, it has been suggested to use catalase in the textile industry for the removal of hydrogen peroxide from fabric which is bleached by an alkaline hydrogen peroxide treatment before dyeing (GB 2,216,149, JP-A 2-104781) The peroxide bleaching is commonly done at high pH and temperature, e.g. 80.degree.-100.degree. C. and pH 10 or higher, and it is therefore desirable to use a catalase with good stability at high pH and temperature in order to avoid or minimize the need for neutralization and cooling.
Catalases are known both from animal sources (e.g. cow liver) and from many different microorganisms. JP-A 2-76579 discloses catalase from Aspergillus niger strain NFAG-2 at pH 3-8. GB 2,216,149 states that catalase from Penicillium has good stability at high pH.
It is the object of this invention to provide an improved catalase for use in such processes.


STATEMENT OF THE INVENTION

We have unexpectedly found that a novel catalase can be obtained from strains of Scytalidium and Humicola, two genera not previously reported to produce catalase, and we have further found that, surprisingly, this novel catalase has better stability at high pH and temperature than known catalases.
Accordingly, the invention provides a catalase, characterized by having a pH optimum of approx. 6-8 and immunochemical properties identical to those of catalase produced by a catalase-producing strain of Scytalidium. In another aspect the invention provides a catalase preparation, characterized by being derived from a strain of Scytalidium and by at least 75% residual activity after 20 minutes at 70.degree. C., pH 9-10.5 in the presence of 40 ppm polyvinyl pyrrolidone.
The invention further provides a process for the production of catalase, characterized by comprising cultivation in a suitable nutrient medium of a microorganism containing a gene encoding for and expressing a catalase derived from a strain of the genus Humicola or the genus Scytalidium, preferably followed by recovery of catalase from the culture medium. Finally, the invention provides use of said catalase in removal of hydrogen peroxide.


DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION



Microorganism

The Humicola-Scytalidium complex is described by D. H. Ellis, Trans. Br. Mycol. Soc. 78 (1), 129-139 (1982). All isolates belonging to this complex can be placed in two distinct species: Humicola insolens (Cooney & Emerson) and Scytalidium thermophilum (Cooney & Emerson) Austwick.
The definition and taxonomy of the genus Scytalidium is described by Pesante, 1957, Annali Sper. Agr. N.S., 11, Suppl.: CCLXI-CCLXV, and by M. B. Ellis (1971), Dematiaceous Hyphomycetes, Commonwealth Mycological Institute, Kew, Surrey, England, page 28.
Examples of catalase producing strains of S. thermophilum are strains ATCC 28085, ATCC 48409 and CBS 671.88, and of H. insolens are strains UAMH 2925, IMI 158747 and ATCC 34627, publicly available from American Type Culture Collection, Centralbureau voor Schimmelculturen, University of Alberta Microfungus Collection and Herbaria and CAB International Mycological Institute, respectively.
The Humicola-Scytalidium complex includes the thermophilic hyphomycetes previously classified as Humicola grisea var. thermoidea Cooney & Emerson, H. insolens Cooney & Emerson and Torula thermophila Cooney & Emerson, described in Cooney, D. G. & Emerson, R.: Thermophilic Fungi. An account of their biology, activities and classification. San Fransisco: Freeman (1964).
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REFERENCES:
patent: 5273896 (1993-12-01), Pedersen et al.
Hudson et al. Practical Immunology 2nd Ed. Blackwell Scientific Publications, London, 1980. pp. 8, 117-121.
Weir, D. M. (Ed.) Handbook of Experimental Immunology vol I Immunochemistry 3rd Ed. Blackwell Scientific Publications, London 1978. pp. 14.1, 14.26.

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