ENZYMES MODIFYING RHAMNOGALACTURONANE II, DNA CODING FOR SAID ENZYMES AND METHOD FOR PRODUCING THE ENZYMES

摘要

The present invention provides an enzyme in substantially pure form, having Rhamnogalacturonan-II modifying activity. A preferred enzyme according to the invention is obtainable from Penicillium daleae. More in particular, the enzymatic activity is a degrading activity (with degrading is meant reducing the polymerisation state). According to a more preferred embodiment, the enzyme comprises fragments having an amino acid sequence selected from the group consisting of: (a) Lys Pro Tyr Gly Asp His Gly Val Trp Val Gln Asn Ala Ile Gly Leu Leu His Glu Gly Gly Gln Tyr Tyr; (b) Val Ser Gly Trp Thr Ala Asn Asp Asp Gly Ile Tyr Val Ala Ser Val Pro Glu; and (c) Asn Leu Tyr Ile Asp Gly Gln Ala Ala Asn Tyr Ala Arg. A particularly preferred enzyme has the amino acid sequence as represented in SEQ ID NO: 1, or a fragment or variant thereof which has rhamnogalacturonan-II modifying properties. According to a preferred embodiment of the invention, the RG-II modifying enzyme is a rhamnogalacturonan-II hydrolase. Also provided are DNA sequences coding for an RG-II modifying enzyme, transformed host cells capable of expressing said DNA sequences and methods for producing an RG-II modifying enzyme. The enzyme or compositions of enzyme containing an RG-II modifying enzyme are suitably used in the manufacturing of fruit or vegetable derived products, such as beverages.