The invention relates to a newly identified polynucleotide sequence comprisi ng a gene that encodes a novel lipolytic enzyme from Aspergillus niger. The invention features the full length nucleotide sequence of the novel gene, th e cDNA sequence comprising the full length coding sequence of the novel lipolytic enzyme as well as the amino acid sequence of the full-length functional protein and functional equivalents thereof. The invention also relates to methods of using these enzymes in industrial processes and method s of diagnosing fungal infections. Also included in the invention are cells transformed with a polynucleotide according to the invention and cells where in a lipolytic enzyme according to the invention is genetically modified to enhance its activity and/or level of expression.
