Classifications

• • C—CHEMISTRY; METALLURGY
  • C11—ANIMAL OR VEGETABLE OILS, FATS, FATTY SUBSTANCES OR WAXES; FATTY ACIDS THEREFROM; DETERGENTS; CANDLES
  • C11D—DETERGENT COMPOSITIONS; USE OF SINGLE SUBSTANCES AS DETERGENTS; SOAP OR SOAP-MAKING; RESIN SOAPS; RECOVERY OF GLYCEROL
  • C11D3/00—Other compounding ingredients of detergent compositions covered in group C11D1/00
  • C11D3/16—Organic compounds
  • C11D3/20—Organic compounds containing oxygen
  • C11D3/22—Carbohydrates or derivatives thereof
  • C11D3/222—Natural or synthetic polysaccharides, e.g. cellulose, starch, gum, alginic acid or cyclodextrin
• • C—CHEMISTRY; METALLURGY
  • C08—ORGANIC MACROMOLECULAR COMPOUNDS; THEIR PREPARATION OR CHEMICAL WORKING-UP; COMPOSITIONS BASED THEREON
  • C08B—POLYSACCHARIDES; DERIVATIVES THEREOF
  • C08B37/00—Preparation of polysaccharides not provided for in groups C08B1/00 - C08B35/00; Derivatives thereof
  • C08B37/0006—Homoglycans, i.e. polysaccharides having a main chain consisting of one single sugar, e.g. colominic acid
  • C08B37/0009—Homoglycans, i.e. polysaccharides having a main chain consisting of one single sugar, e.g. colominic acid alpha-D-Glucans, e.g. polydextrose, alternan, glycogen; (alpha-1,4)(alpha-1,6)-D-Glucans; (alpha-1,3)(alpha-1,4)-D-Glucans, e.g. isolichenan or nigeran; (alpha-1,4)-D-Glucans; (alpha-1,3)-D-Glucans, e.g. pseudonigeran; Derivatives thereof
• • C—CHEMISTRY; METALLURGY
  • C08—ORGANIC MACROMOLECULAR COMPOUNDS; THEIR PREPARATION OR CHEMICAL WORKING-UP; COMPOSITIONS BASED THEREON
  • C08L—COMPOSITIONS OF MACROMOLECULAR COMPOUNDS
  • C08L5/00—Compositions of polysaccharides or of their derivatives not provided for in groups C08L1/00 or C08L3/00
• • C—CHEMISTRY; METALLURGY
  • C11—ANIMAL OR VEGETABLE OILS, FATS, FATTY SUBSTANCES OR WAXES; FATTY ACIDS THEREFROM; DETERGENTS; CANDLES
  • C11D—DETERGENT COMPOSITIONS; USE OF SINGLE SUBSTANCES AS DETERGENTS; SOAP OR SOAP-MAKING; RESIN SOAPS; RECOVERY OF GLYCEROL
  • C11D3/00—Other compounding ingredients of detergent compositions covered in group C11D1/00
  • C11D3/16—Organic compounds
  • C11D3/20—Organic compounds containing oxygen
  • C11D3/22—Carbohydrates or derivatives thereof
  • C11D3/222—Natural or synthetic polysaccharides, e.g. cellulose, starch, gum, alginic acid or cyclodextrin
  • C11D3/225—Natural or synthetic polysaccharides, e.g. cellulose, starch, gum, alginic acid or cyclodextrin etherified, e.g. CMC
• • C—CHEMISTRY; METALLURGY
  • C11—ANIMAL OR VEGETABLE OILS, FATS, FATTY SUBSTANCES OR WAXES; FATTY ACIDS THEREFROM; DETERGENTS; CANDLES
  • C11D—DETERGENT COMPOSITIONS; USE OF SINGLE SUBSTANCES AS DETERGENTS; SOAP OR SOAP-MAKING; RESIN SOAPS; RECOVERY OF GLYCEROL
  • C11D3/00—Other compounding ingredients of detergent compositions covered in group C11D1/00
  • C11D3/16—Organic compounds
  • C11D3/20—Organic compounds containing oxygen
  • C11D3/22—Carbohydrates or derivatives thereof
  • C11D3/222—Natural or synthetic polysaccharides, e.g. cellulose, starch, gum, alginic acid or cyclodextrin
  • C11D3/226—Natural or synthetic polysaccharides, e.g. cellulose, starch, gum, alginic acid or cyclodextrin esterified
• • C—CHEMISTRY; METALLURGY
  • C11—ANIMAL OR VEGETABLE OILS, FATS, FATTY SUBSTANCES OR WAXES; FATTY ACIDS THEREFROM; DETERGENTS; CANDLES
  • C11D—DETERGENT COMPOSITIONS; USE OF SINGLE SUBSTANCES AS DETERGENTS; SOAP OR SOAP-MAKING; RESIN SOAPS; RECOVERY OF GLYCEROL
  • C11D7/00—Compositions of detergents based essentially on non-surface-active compounds
  • C11D7/22—Organic compounds
  • C11D7/26—Organic compounds containing oxygen
  • C11D7/268—Carbohydrates or derivatives thereof
• • C—CHEMISTRY; METALLURGY
  • C11—ANIMAL OR VEGETABLE OILS, FATS, FATTY SUBSTANCES OR WAXES; FATTY ACIDS THEREFROM; DETERGENTS; CANDLES
  • C11D—DETERGENT COMPOSITIONS; USE OF SINGLE SUBSTANCES AS DETERGENTS; SOAP OR SOAP-MAKING; RESIN SOAPS; RECOVERY OF GLYCEROL
  • C11D2111/00—Cleaning compositions characterised by the objects to be cleaned; Cleaning compositions characterised by non-standard cleaning or washing processes
  • C11D2111/10—Objects to be cleaned
  • C11D2111/12—Soft surfaces, e.g. textile

Definitions

• This disclosure relates to oligosaccharides, polysaccharides, and derivatives thereof.
• the disclosure pertains to certain a-glucan polymers, derivatives of these a-glucans such as ⁇ -glucan ethers, and their use in fabric care and laundry care applications.
• U.S. Patent 6,486,314 discloses an a-glucan comprising at least 20, up to about 100,000 a-anhydroglucose units, 38- 48% of which are 4-linked anhydroglucose units, 17-28% are 6-linked anhydroglucose units, and 7-20% are 4, 6-linked anhydroglucose units and/or gluco-oligosaccharides containing at least two 4-linked
• U.S. Patent Appl. Pub. No. 2010-0284972A1 discloses a composition for improving the health of a subject comprising an a-(1 ,2)-branched a-(1 , 6) oligodextran.
• U.S. Patent Appl. Pub. No. 2010-0284972A1 discloses a composition for improving the health of a subject comprising an a-(1 ,2)-branched a-(1 , 6) oligodextran.
• 201 1 -0020496A1 discloses a branched dextrin having a structure wherein glucose or isomaltooligosaccharide is linked to a non- reducing terminus of a dextrin through an a-(1 ,6) glycosidic bond and having a DE of 10 to 52.
• U.S. Patent 6,630,586 discloses a branched maltodextrin composition comprising 22-35% (1 ,6) glycosidic linkages; a reducing sugars content of ⁇ 20%; a polymolecularity index (Mp/Mn) of ⁇ 5; and number average molecular weight (Mn) of 4500 g/mol or less.
• Mp/Mn polymolecularity index
• Mn number average molecular weight
• Patent 7,612, 198 discloses soluble, highly branched glucose polymers, having a reducing sugar content of less than 1 %, a level of a-(1 ,6) glycosidic bonds of between 13 and 17% and a molecular weight having a value of between 0.9x 10 5 and 1 .5x 10 5 daltons, wherein the soluble highly branched glucose polymers have a branched chain length distribution profile of 70 to 85% of a degree of polymerization (DP) of less than 15, of 10 to 14% of DP of between 1 5 and 25 and of 8 to 13% of DP greater than 25.
• DP degree of polymerization
• Poly a-1 ,3-glucan has been isolated by contacting an aqueous solution of sucrose with a glucosyltransferase (gtf) enzyme isolated from Streptococcus salivarius (Simpson et al., Microbiology 141 : 1451 -1460, 1995).
• gtf glucosyltransferase
• polysaccharide fiber using an S. salivarius gtfJ enzyme. At least 50% of the hexose units within the polymer of this fiber were linked via a-1 ,3- glycosidic linkages.
• the disclosed polymer formed a liquid crystalline solution when it was dissolved above a critical concentration in a solvent or in a mixture comprising a solvent. From this solution continuous, strong, cotton-like fibers, highly suitable for use in textiles, were spun and used.
• glucan polysaccharides and derivatives thereof are desirable given their potential utility in various applications. It is also desirable to identify glucosyltransferase enzymes that can synthesize new glucan polysaccharides, especially those with mixed glycosidic linkages, and derivatives thereof.
• the materials would be attractive for use in fabric care and laundry care applications to alter rheology, act as a structuring agent, provide a benefit (preferably a surface substantive effect) to a treated fabric, textile and/or article of clothing (such as improved fabric hand, improved resistance to soil deposition, etc.).
• Many applications, such as laundry care often include enzymes such as cellulases, proteases, amylases, and the like.
• the glucan polysaccharides are preferably resistant to cellulase, amylase, and/or protease activity.
• a fabric care composition comprising:
• an a-glucan oligomer/polymer composition comprising:
• iii less than 5% a-(1 ,3,6) glycosidic linkages; iv. a weight average molecular weight (Mw) of less than 5000 Daltons;
• PDI polydispersity index
• a laundry care composition comprising:
• an a-glucan oligomer/polymer composition comprising:
• iii less than 5% a-(1 ,3,6) glycosidic linkages; iv. a weight average molecular weight (Mw) of less than 5000 Daltons;
• the additional ingredient in the above fabric care composition or the above laundry care composition is at least one cellulase, at least one protease, at least one amylase or any combination thereof.
• the fabric care composition or the laundry care composition comprises 0.01 to 90% wt% of the soluble a-glucan oligomer/polymer composition.
• the fabric care composition or the laundry care composition comprises at least one additional ingredient comprising at least one of surfactants (anionic, nonionic, cationic, or zwitterionic), enzymes (proteases, cellulases, polyesterases, amylases, cutinases, lipases, pectate lyases, perhydrolases, xylanases, peroxidases, and/or laccases in any combination), detergent builders, complexing agents, polymers (in addition to the present ⁇ -glucan oligomers/polymers and/or a- glucan ethers), soil release polymers, surfactancy-boosting polymers , bleaching systems, bleach activators, bleaching catalysts, fabric
• surfactants anionic, nonionic, cationic, or zwitterionic
• enzymes proteases, cellulases, polyesterases, amylases, cutinases, lipases, pectate lyases, perhydrolases, xylanases,
• redeposition agents dyes, bactericides, tarnish inhibiters, optical brighteners, perfumes, saturated or unsaturated fatty acids, dye transfer inhibiting agents, chelating agents, hueing dyes, calcium and magnesium cations, visual signaling ingredients, anti-foam, structurants, thickeners, anti-caking agents, starch, sand, gelling agents, and any combination thereof.
• a fabric care and/or laundry care may be any combination thereof.
• composition wherein the composition is in the form of a liquid, a gel, a powder, a hydrocolloid, an aqueous solution, granules, tablets, capsules, single compartment sachets, multi-compartment sachets or any combination thereof.
• the fabric care composition or the laundry care composition is packaged in a unit dose format.
• glucan ethers may be produced from the present a-glucan oligomers/polymers.
• an a-glucan ether composition comprising:
• iii less than 5% a-(1 ,3,6) glycosidic linkages; iv. a weight average molecular weight (Mw) of less than 5000 Daltons;
• glucan ether composition has a degree of substitution (DoS) with at least one organic group of about 0.05 to about 3.0.
• DoS degree of substitution
• the ⁇ -glucan ether compositions may be used in a fabric care and/or laundry care formulation comprising enzymes such as a cellulases, amylases, and proteases.
• glucan ether composition is cellulase resistant, protease resistant, amylase resistant or any combination thereof.
• the ⁇ -glucan ether compositions may be used in a fabric care and/or laundry care and/or personal care compositions.
• a personal care composition, fabric care composition or laundry care composition is provided comprising the above ⁇ -glucan ether
• compositions in another embodiment, a method for preparing an aqueous
• composition comprising: contacting an aqueous composition with the above glucan ether composition wherein the aqueous composition comprises at least one cellulase, at least one protease, at least one cellulase or any combination thereof.
• a method of treating an article of clothing, textile or fabric comprising:
• a-glucan oligomer/polymer composition comprising:
• PDI polydispersity index
• composition of (a) with a fabric, textile or article of clothing whereby the fabric, textile or article of clothing is treated and receives a benefit; and c. optionally rinsing the treated fabric, textile or article of clothing of (b).
• the a-glucan oligomer/polymer composition or the ⁇ -glucan ether composition is a surface substantive.
• the benefit is selected from the group consisting of improved fabric hand, improved resistance to soil deposition, improved colorfastness, improved wear resistance, improved wrinkle resistance, improved antifungal activity, improved stain resistance, improved cleaning performance when laundered, improved drying rates, improved dye, pigment or lake update, and any combination thereof.
• a method to produce a glucan ether composition comprising:
• a-glucan oligomer/polymer composition comprising:
• PDI polydispersity index
• step (b) optionally isolating the ⁇ -glucan ether produced in step (b).
• a textile, yarn, fabric or fiber may be modified to comprise (e.g., blended or coated with) the above ⁇ -glucan oligomer/polymer
• a textile, yarn, fabric or fiber comprising:
• an ⁇ -glucan oligomer/polymer composition comprising:
• iii less than 5% a-(1 ,3,6) glycosidic linkages; iv. a weight average molecular weight (Mw) of less than 5000 Daltons;
• PDI polydispersity index
• a glucan ether composition comprising
• PDI polydispersity index
• glucan ether composition has a degree of substitution (DoS) with at least one organic group of about 0.05 to about 3.0; or
• SEQ ID NO: 1 is the amino acid sequence of the Streptococcus mutans NN2025 Gtf-B glucosyltransferase as found in GENBANK ® gi: 290580544.
• SEQ ID NO: 2 is the nucleic acid sequence encoding a truncated Streptococcus mutans NN2025 Gtf-B (GENBANK ® gi: 290580544) glucosyltransferase.
• SEQ ID NO: 3 is the amino acid sequence of the truncated
• Streptococcus mutans NN2025 Gtf-B glucosyltransferase also referred to herein as the "0544 glucosyltransferase” or "GTF0544”).
• SEQ ID NO: 4 is the amino acid sequence of the Paenibacillus humicus mutanase as found in GENBANK ® gi: 257153264).
• SEQ ID NO: 5 is the nucleic acid sequence encoding the
• Paenibacillus humicus mutanase (GENBANK ® gi: 257153265 where GENBANK ® gi: 257153264 is the corresponding polynucleotide sequence) used in for expression in E. coli BL21 (DE3).
• SEQ ID NO: 6 is the amino acid sequence of the mature
• Paenibacillus humicus mutanase (GENBANK ® gi: 257153264; referred to herein as the "3264 mutanase” or "MUT3264" used for expression in E. coli BL21 (DE3).
• SEQ ID NO: 7 is the amino acid sequence of the B. subtilis AprE signal peptide used in the expression vector that was coupled to various enzymes for expression in B. subtilis.
• SEQ ID NO: 8 is the nucleic acid sequence encoding the
• SEQ ID NO: 9 is the amino acid sequence of the mature
• SEQ ID NO: 10 is the nucleic acid sequence encoding the
• SEQ ID NO: 1 1 is the amino acid sequence of the Penicillium marneffei ATCC ® 18224TM mutanase (GENBANK ® gi: 212533325; also referred to herein as the "3325 mutanase” or "MUT3325").
• SEQ ID NO: 12 is the polynucleotide sequence of plasmid pTrex3.
• SEQ ID NO: 13 is the amino acid sequence of the Streptococcus mutans glucosyltransferase as provided in GENBANK ® gi:3130088.
• SEQ ID NO: 14 is the nucleic acid sequence encoding a truncated version of the Streptococcus mutans glucosyltransferase.
• SEQ ID NO: 15 is the nucleic acid sequence of plasmid pMP69.
• SEQ ID NO: 16 is the amino acid sequence of a truncated
• Streptococcus mutans glucosyltransferase referred to herein as
• SEQ ID NO: 17 is the amino acid sequence of the Streptococcus mutans LJ23 glucosyltransferase as provided in GENBANK ®
• gi:387786207 also referred to as the "6207” glucosyltransferase or the "GTF6207".
• SEQ ID NO: 18 is the nucleic acid sequence encoding a truncated Streptococcus mutans LJ23 glucosyltransferase.
• SEQ ID NO: 19 is the amino acid sequence of a truncated version of the Streptococcus mutans LJ23 glucosyltransferase, also referred to herein as "GTF6207".
• SEQ ID NO: 20 is a 1630 bp nucleic acid sequence used in Example 8.
• SEQ ID NOs: 21 -22 are primers.
• SEQ ID NO: 23 is the nucleic acid sequence of plasmid p6207-1 .
• SEQ ID NO: 24 is a polynucleotide sequence of a terminator sequence.
• SEQ ID NO: 25 is a polynucleotide sequence of a linker sequence.
• SEQ ID NO: 26 is the native nucleotide sequence of GTF0088.
• SEQ ID NO: 27 is the native nucleotide sequence of GTF5330.
• SEQ ID NO: 28 is the amino acid sequence encoded by SEQ ID NO: 27.
• SEQ ID NO: 29 is the native nucleotide sequence of GTF5318.
• SEQ ID NO: 30 is the amino acid sequence encoded by SEQ ID NO: 29.
• SEQ ID NO: 31 is the native nucleotide sequence of GTF5326.
• SEQ ID NO: 32 is the amino acid sequence encoded by SEQ ID NO: 31 .
• SEQ ID NO: 33 is the native nucleotide sequence of GTF5312.
• SEQ ID NO: 34 is the amino acid sequence encoded by SEQ ID NO: 33.
• SEQ ID NO: 35 is the native nucleotide sequence of GTF5334.
• SEQ ID NO: 36 is the amino acid sequence encoded by SEQ ID NO:
• SEQ ID NO: 37 is the native nucleotide sequence of GTF0095.
• SEQ ID NO: 38 is the amino acid sequence encoded by SEQ ID NO: 37.
• SEQ ID NO: 39 is the native nucleotide sequence of GTF0074.
• SEQ ID NO: 40 is the amino acid sequence encoded by SEQ ID NO: 39.
• SEQ ID NO: 41 is the native nucleotide sequence of GTF5320.
• SEQ ID NO: 42 is the amino acid sequence encode by SEQ ID NO: 41 .
• SEQ ID NO: 43 is the native nucleotide sequence of GTF0081 .
• SEQ ID NO: 44 is the amino acid sequence encoded by SEQ ID NO: 43.
• SEQ ID NO: 45 is the native nucleotide sequence of GTF5328.
• SEQ ID NO: 46 is the amino acid sequence encoded by SEQ ID NO: 46
• SEQ ID NO: 47 is the nucleotide sequence of a T1 C-terminal truncation of GTF0088.
• SEQ ID NO: 48 is the amino acid sequence encoded by SEQ ID NO: 47.
• SEQ ID NO: 49 is the nucleotide sequence of a T1 C-terminal truncation of GTF5318.
• SEQ ID NO: 50 is the amino acid sequence encoded by SEQ ID NO: 49.
• SEQ ID NO: 51 is the nucleotide sequence of a T1 C-terminal truncation of GTF5328.
• SEQ ID NO: 52 is the amino acid sequence encoded by SEQ ID NO: 52.
• SEQ ID NO: 53 is the nucleotide sequence of a T1 C-terminal truncation of GTF5330.
• SEQ ID NO: 54 is the amino acid sequence encoded by SEQ ID NO: 53.
• SEQ ID NO: 55 is the nucleotide sequence of a T3 C-terminal truncation of GTF0088.
• SEQ ID NO: 56 is the amino acid sequence encoded by SEQ ID NO: 55.
• SEQ ID NO: 57 is the nucleotide sequence of a T3 C-terminal truncation of GTF5318.
• SEQ ID NO: 58 is the amino acid sequence encoded by SEQ ID NO: 57.
• SEQ ID NO: 59 is the nucleotide sequence of a T3 C-terminal truncation of GTF5328.
• SEQ ID NO: 60 is the amino acid sequence encoded by SEQ ID NO: 59.
• SEQ ID NO: 61 is the nucleotide sequence of a T3 C-terminal truncation of GTF5330.
• SEQ ID NO: 62 is the amino acid sequence encoded by SEQ ID NO: 62
• the term “comprising” means the presence of the stated features, integers, steps, or components as referred to in the claims, but that it does not preclude the presence or addition of one or more other features, integers, steps, components or groups thereof.
• the term “comprising” is intended to include embodiments encompassed by the terms “consisting essentially of” and “consisting of. Similarly, the term “consisting essentially of” is intended to include embodiments
• the term "about" modifying the quantity of an ingredient or reactant employed refers to variation in the numerical quantity that can occur, for example, through typical measuring and liquid handling procedures used for making concentrates or use solutions in the real world; through inadvertent error in these procedures; through differences in the manufacture, source, or purity of the ingredients employed to make the compositions or carry out the methods; and the like.
• the term “about” also encompasses amounts that differ due to different equilibrium conditions for a composition resulting from a particular initial mixture. Whether or not modified by the term “about”, the claims include equivalents to the quantities.
• the term "obtainable from” shall mean that the source material (for example, sucrose) is capable of being obtained from a specified source, but is not necessarily limited to that specified source.
• the term "effective amount” will refer to the amount of the substance used or administered that is suitable to achieve the desired effect.
• the effective amount of material may vary depending upon the application. One of skill in the art will typically be able to determine an effective amount for a particular application or subject without undo experimentation.
• percent by volume percent by volume of a solute in a solution
• percent by volume of a solute in a solution can be determined using the formula: [(volume of
• Percent by weight refers to the percentage of a material on a mass basis as it is comprised in a composition, mixture, or solution.
• the terms “increased”, “enhanced” and “improved” are used interchangeably herein. These terms refer to a greater quantity or activity such as a quantity or activity slightly greater than the original quantity or activity, or a quantity or activity in large excess compared to the original quantity or activity, and including all quantities or activities in between. Alternatively, these terms may refer to, for example, a quantity or activity that is at least 1 %, 2%, 3%, 4%, 5%, 6%, 7%, 8%, 9%, 10%, 1 1 %, 12%, 13%, 14%, 15%, 16%, 17%, 18%, 19% or 20% more than the quantity or activity for which the increased quantity or activity is being compared.
• isolated means a substance in a form or environment that does not occur in nature.
• isolated substances include (1 ) any non- naturally occurring substance, (2) any substance including, but not limited to, any host cell, enzyme, variant, nucleic acid, protein, peptide or cofactor, that is at least partially removed from one or more or all of the naturally occurring constituents with which it is associated in nature; (3) any substance modified by the hand of man relative to that substance found in nature; or (4) any substance modified by increasing the amount of the substance relative to other components with which it is naturally associated.
• water soluble will refer to the present glucan oligomer/polymer compositions that are soluble at 20 wt% or higher in pH 7 water at 25°C.
• soluble glucan fiber refers to the present ⁇ -glucan polymer composition (non- derivatized; i.e., not an ⁇ -glucan ether) comprised of water soluble glucose oligomers having a glucose polymerization degree of 3 or more.
• the present soluble glucan polymer composition is enzymatically synthesized from sucrose (a-D-Glucopyranosyl ⁇ -D-fructofuranoside; CAS# 57-50-1 ) obtainable from, for example, sugarcane and/or sugar beets.
• sucrose a-D-Glucopyranosyl ⁇ -D-fructofuranoside
• CAS# 57-50-1 a-D-Glucopyranosyl ⁇ -D-fructofuranoside
• the present soluble ⁇ -glucan polymer composition is not alternan or maltoalternan oligosaccharide.
• weight average molecular weight or "M w " is calculated as
• Mw ⁇ 2 / ⁇ ; where Mi is the molecular weight of a chain and Ni is the number of chains of that molecular weight.
• the weight average molecular weight can be determined by technics such as static light scattering, small angle neutron scattering, X-ray scattering, and
• Ni is the number of chains of that molecular weight.
• the number average molecular weight of a polymer can be determined by technics such as gel permeation chromatography, viscometry via the (Mark-Houwink equation), and colligative methods such as vapor pressure osmometry, end-group determination or proton NMR.
• glycosidic linkages or “glycosidic bonds” will refer to the covalent the bonds connecting the sugar monomers within a saccharide oligomer (oligosaccharides and/or polysaccharides).
• Example of glycosidic linkage may include a-linked glucose oligomers with 1 ,6-a-D- glycosidic linkages (herein also referred to as a-D-(1 ,6) linkages or simply "a-(1 ,6)” linkages); 1 ,3-a-D-glycosidic linkages (herein also referred to as a-D-(1 ,3) linkages or simply "a-(1 ,3)” linkages; 1 ,4-a-D-glycosidic linkages (herein also referred to as a-D-(1 ,4) linkages or simply "a-(1 ,4)” linkages; 1 ,2-a-D-glycosidic linkages (herein also referred to as a-D-(1 ,2) linkages or simply "a-(1 ,2)” linkages; and combinations of such linkages typically associated with branched saccharide oligomers.
• glucansucrase As used herein, the terms “glucansucrase”, “glucosyltransferase”, “glucoside hydrolase type 70", “GTF”, and “GS” will refer to
• the GTF enzymes are able to polymerize the D-glucosyl units of sucrose to form homooligosaccharides or homopolysaccharides.
• Glucosyltransferases can be identified by characteristic structural features such as those described in Leemhuis et al. (J. Biotechnology (2013) 162:250-272) and Monchois et al. (FEMS Micro. Revs. (1999) 23: 131 - 151 ). Depending upon the specificity of the GTF enzyme, linear and/or branched glucans comprising various glycosidic linkages may be formed such as a-(1 ,2), a-(1 ,3), a-(1 ,4) and a-(1 ,6). Glucosyltransferases may also transfer the D-glucosyl units onto hydroxyl acceptor groups.
• acceptors include carbohydrates, alcohols, polyols and flavonoids. Specific acceptors may also include maltose, isomaltose, isomaltotriose, and methyl-a-D-glucan. The structure of the resultant glucosylated product is dependent upon the enzyme specificity.
• a non- limiting list of glucosyltransferase sequences is provided as amino acid SEQ ID NOs: 1 , 3, 13, 16, 17, 19, 28, 30, 32, 34, 36, 38, 40, 42, 44, 46, 48, 50, 52, 54, 56, 58, 60, and 62. In one aspect, the glucosyltransferase is expressed in a truncated and/or mature form.
• the polypeptide having glucosyltransferase activity comprises an amino acid sequence having at least 90% identity, preferably 91 , 92, 93, 94, 95, 96, 97, 98, 99 or 100% identity to SEQ ID NO: 1 , 3, 13, 16, 17, 19, 28, 30, 32, 34, 36, 38, 40, 42, 44, 46, 48, 50, 52, 54, 56, 58, 60, or 62.
• isomaltooligosaccharide or ⁇ refers to a glucose oligomers comprised essentially of a-D-(1 ,6) glycosidic linkage typically having an average size of DP 2 to 20.
• Isomaltooligosaccharides can be produced commercially from an enzymatic reaction of a-amylase, pullulanase, ⁇ -amylase, and a- glucosidase upon corn starch or starch derivative products.
• Commercially available products comprise a mixture of isomaltooligosaccharides (DP ranging from 3 to 8, e.g., isomaltotriose, isomaltotetraose,
• isomaltopentaose isomaltohexaose, isomaltoheptaose, isomaltooctaose
• panose may also include panose.
• the term “dextran” refers to water soluble a-glucans comprising at least 95% a-D-(1 ,6) glycosidic linkages (typically with up to 5% a-D-(1 ,3) glycosidic linkages at branching points).
• Dextrans often have an average molecular weight above 1000 kDa.
• enzymes capable of synthesizing dextran from sucrose may be described as “dextransucrases” (EC 2.4.1 .5).
• mutan refers to water insoluble a- glucans comprised primarily (50% or more of the glycosidic linkages present) of 1 ,3-a-D glycosidic linkages and typically have a degree of polymerization (DP) that is often greater than 9.
• DP degree of polymerization
• alternan refers to a-glucans having alternating 1 ,3-a-D glycosidic linkages and 1 ,6-a-D glycosidic linkages over at least 50% of the linear oligosaccharide backbone.
• Enzymes capable of synthesizing alternan from sucrose may be described as “alternansucrases” (EC 2.4.1.140).
• reuteran refers to soluble a-glucan comprised 1 ,4-a-D-glycosidic linkages (typically > 50%); 1 ,6-a-D- glycosidic linkages; and 4,6-disubstituted a-glucosyl units at the branching points.
• Enzymes capable of synthesizing reuteran from sucrose may be described as “reuteransucrases” (EC 2.4.1 .-).
• a-glucanohydrolase As used herein, the terms "a-glucanohydrolase" and
• glucanohydrolase will refer to an enzyme capable of hydrolyzing an a- glucan oligomer.
• the glucanohydrolase may be defined by the endohydrolysis activity towards certain a-D-glycosidic linkages. Examples may include, but are not limited to, dextranases (EC 3.2.1 .1 ; capable of endohydrolyzing a-(1 ,6)-linked glycosidic bonds), mutanases (EC 3.2.1 .59; capable of endohydrolyzing a-(1 ,3)-linked glycosidic bonds), and alternanases (EC 3.2.1 .-; capable of endohydrolytically cleaving alternan).
• extractase (a-1 ,6-glucan-6- glucanohydrolase; EC 3.2.1 .1 1 ) refers to an enzyme capable of
• Dextranases are known to be useful for a number of applications including the use as ingredient in dentifrice for prevention of dental caries, plaque and/or tartar and for hydrolysis of raw sugar juice or syrup of sugar canes and sugar beets.
• microorganisms are known to be capable of producing dextranases, among them fungi of the genera Penicillium, Paecilomyces, Aspergillus, Fusarium, Spicaria, Verticillium, Helminthosporium and Chaetomium; bacteria of the genera Lactobacillus, Streptococcus, Cellvibrio, Cytophaga, Brevibacterium, Pseudomonas, Cory nebacteri urn, Arthrobacter and Flavobacterium, and yeasts such as Lipomyces starkeyi.
• Food grade dextranases are commercially available.
• An example of a food grade dextrinase is DEXTRANASE ® Plus L, an enzyme from Chaetomium erraticum sold by Novozymes A/S, Bagsvaerd, Denmark.
• mutanase glucan endo-1 ,3-a- glucosidase; EC 3.2.1.59
• mutanases refers to an enzyme which hydrolytically cleaves 1 ,3-a-D-glycosidic linkages (the linkage predominantly found in mutan).
• Mutanases are available from a variety of bacterial and fungal sources. A non-limiting list of mutanases is provided as amino acid sequences 4, 6, 9, and 1 1.
• a polypeptide having mutanase activity comprises an amino acid sequence having at least 90% identity, preferably at least 91 , 92, 93, 94, 95, 96, 97, 98, 99 or 100 % identity to SEQ ID NO: 4, 6, 9 or 1 1 .
• alternanase (EC 3.2.1 .-) refers to an enzyme which endo-hydrolytically cleaves alternan (U.S. 5,786, 196 to Cote et a/.).
• wild type enzyme will refer to an enzyme (full length and active truncated forms thereof) comprising the amino acid sequence as found in the organism from which it was obtained and/or annotated.
• the enzyme (full length or catalytically active truncation thereof) may be recombinantly produced in a microbial host cell.
• the enzyme is typically purified prior to being used as a processing aid in the production of the present soluble a-glucan oligomer/polymer composition.
• a combination of at least two wild type enzymes are typically purified prior to being used as a processing aid in the production of the present soluble a-glucan oligomer/polymer composition.
• the combination of at least two enzymes concomitantly present comprises at least one polypeptide having glucosyltransferase activity having at least 90% amino acid identity to SEQ ID NO: 1 or 3 and at least one polypeptide having mutanase activity having at least 90% amino acid identity to SEQ ID NO: 4, 6, 9 or 1 1 .
• the combination of at least two enzymes concomitantly present comprises at least one polypeptide having glucosyltransferase activity having at least 90% amino acid identity to SEQ ID NO: 1 or 3 and at least one polypeptide having mutanase activity having at least 90% amino acid identity to SEQ ID NO: 4, 6, 9 or 1 1 .
• the combination of at least two enzymes concomitantly present comprises at least one polypeptide having glucosyltransferase activity having at least 90%, preferably at least 91 , 92, 93, 94, 95, 96, 97, 98, 99 or 100% amino acid identity to SEQ ID NO: 1 or 3 and at least one polypeptide having mutanase activity having at least 90%, preferably at least 91 , 92, 93, 94, 95, 96, 97, 98, 99 or 100% amino acid identity to SEQ ID NO: 4 or 6.
• the terms “substrate” and “suitable substrate” will refer to a composition comprising sucrose.
• the substrate composition may further comprise one or more suitable acceptors, such as maltose, isomaltose, isomaltotriose, and methyl-a-D- glucan, to name a few.
• suitable acceptors such as maltose, isomaltose, isomaltotriose, and methyl-a-D- glucan, to name a few.
• a combination of at least one glucosyltransferase capable of forming glucose oligomers is used in combination with at least one a-glucanohydrolase in the same reaction mixture (i.e., they are simultaneously present and active in the reaction mixture).
• the "substrate" for the a-glucanohydrolase is the glucose oligomers concomitantly being synthesized in the reaction system by the glucosyltransferase from sucrose.
• a two-enzyme method i.e., at least one glucosyltransferase (GTF) and at least one a- glucanohydrolase
• GTF glucosyltransferase
• a two-enzyme method where the enzymes are not used concomitantly in the reaction mixture is excluded, by proviso, from the present methods.
• suitable reaction components refer to the materials (suitable substrate(s)) and water in which the reactants come into contact with the enzyme(s).
• the suitable reaction components may be comprised of a plurality of enzymes.
• the suitable reaction components comprises at least one glucansucrase enzyme.
• the suitable reaction components comprise at least one glucansucrase and at least one a- glucanohydrolase.
• one unit of glucansucrase activity or “one unit of glucosyltransferase activity” is defined as the amount of enzyme required to convert 1 pmol of sucrose per minute when incubated with 200 g/L sucrose at pH 5.5 and 37 °C. The sucrose concentration was determined using HPLC.
• one unit of dextranase activity is defined as the amount of enzyme that forms 1 pmol reducing sugar per minute when incubated with 0.5 mg/ml_ dextran substrate at pH 5.5 and 37 °C.
• the reducing sugars were determined using the PAHBAH assay (Lever M., (1972), A New Reaction for Colorimetric Determination of Carbohydrates, Anal. Biochem. 47, 273-279).
• one unit of mutanase activity is defined as the amount of enzyme that forms 1 pmol reducing sugar per minute when incubated with 0.5 mg/ml_ mutan substrate at pH 5.5 and 37 °C.
• the reducing sugars were determined using the PAHBAH assay (Lever M., supra).
• the term "enzyme catalyst” refers to a catalyst comprising an enzyme or combination of enzymes having the necessary activity to obtain the desired soluble a-glucan polymer composition. In certain embodiments, a combination of enzyme catalysts may be required to obtain the desired soluble glucan polymer composition.
• the enzyme catalyst(s) may be in the form of a whole microbial cell, permeabilized microbial cell(s), one or more cell components of a microbial cell extract(s), partially purified enzyme(s) or purified enzyme(s). In certain embodiments the enzyme catalyst(s) may also be chemically modified (such as by pegylation or by reaction with cross-linking reagents).
• the enzyme catalyst(s) may also be immobilized on a soluble or insoluble support using methods well-known to those skilled in the art; see for example, Immobilization of Enzymes and Cells; Gordon F. Bickerstaff, Editor; Humana Press, Totowa, NJ, USA; 1997.
• the term "resistance to enzymatic hydrolysis” will refer to the relative stability of the present materials (a-glucan oligomers/polymers and/or the corresponding ⁇ -glucan ether compounds produced by the etherification of the present ⁇ -glucan oligomers/polymers) to enzymatic hydrolysis.
• the resistance to hydrolysis will be particular important for use of the present materials in applications wherein enzymes are often present, such as in fabric care and laundry care applications.
• the a-glucan oligomers/polymers and/or the corresponding a-glucan ether compounds produced by the etherification of the present a- glucan oligomers/polymers are resistant to cellulases (i.e., cellulase resistant).
• the ⁇ -glucan oligomers/polymers and/or the corresponding ⁇ -glucan ether compounds produced by the etherification of the present ⁇ -glucan oligomers/polymers are resistant to proteases (i.e., protease resistant).
• the a-glucan oligomers/polymers and/or the corresponding ⁇ -glucan ether compounds produced by the etherification of the present ⁇ -glucan oligomers/polymers are resistant to amylases (i.e., amylase resistant).
• ⁇ -glucan oligomers/polymers and/or the corresponding ⁇ -glucan ether compounds produced by the etherification of the present a-glucan oligomers/polymers are resistant to multiple classes of enzymes
• a sample of the soluble material e.g., 100 mg to is added to 10.0 mL water in a 20-mL scintillation vial and mixed using a PTFE magnetic stir bar to create a 1 wt% solution. The reaction is run at pH 7.0 at 20 °C. After the fiber is complete dissolved, 1.0 mL (1 wt% enzyme formulation) of cellulase (PURADEX ® EGL), amylase (PURASTAR® ST L) or protease
• Materials having a percent recovery of at least 50%, preferably at least 60, 70, 80, 90, 95 or 100% will be considered resistant to the respective enzyme treatment (e.g., "cellulase resistant”, “protease resistant” and/or "amylase resistant”).
• a-glucan ether compound a-glucan ether
• composition "a-glucan ether", and “a-glucan ether derivative” are used interchangeably herein.
• An ⁇ -glucan ether compound herein is the present ⁇ -glucan polymer that has been etherified with one or more organic groups such that the compound has a degree of substitution (DoS) with one or more organic groups of about 0.05 to about 3.0. Such etherification occurs at one or more hydroxyl groups of at least 30% of the glucose monomeric units of the ⁇ -glucan polymer.
• DoS degree of substitution
• An ⁇ -glucan ether compound is termed an "ether" herein by virtue of comprising the substructure -CG-O-C-, where "-CG-” represents a carbon atom of a glucose monomeric unit of an ⁇ -glucan ether compound (where such carbon atom was bonded to a hydroxyl group [-OH] in the a-glucan polymer precursor of the ether), and where "-C-" is a carbon atom of the organic group.
• CG atoms 2, 4 and/or 6 of the glucose (G) may independently be linked to an OH group or be in ether linkage to an organic group.
• CG atoms 2, 4 and/or 6 of the glucose (G) may independently be linked to an OH group or be in ether linkage to an organic group.
• CG atoms 2, 3 and/or 4 of the glucose (G) may independently be linked to an OH group or be in ether linkage to an organic group.
• CG atoms 2, 3 and/or 4 of the glucose (G) may independently be linked to an OH group or be in ether linkage to an organic group.
• a "glucose" monomeric unit of an a- glucan ether compound herein typically has one or more organic groups in ether linkage.
• a glucose monomeric unit can also be referred to as an etherized glucose monomeric unit.
• compositions comprising the present a- glucan polymer are synthetic, man-made compounds.
• an "organic group” group as used herein can refer to a chain of one or more carbons that (i) has the formula -CnH2n+i (i.e., an alkyl group, which is completely saturated) or (ii) is mostly saturated but has one or more hydrogens substituted with another atom or functional group (i.e., a "substituted alkyl group”). Such substitution may be with one or more hydroxyl groups, oxygen atoms (thereby forming an aldehyde or ketone group), carboxyl groups, or other alkyl groups.
• an organic group herein can be an alkyl group, carboxy alkyl group, or hydroxy alkyl group.
• An organic group herein may thus be uncharged or anionic (an example of an anionic organic group is a carboxy alkyl group).
• a “carboxy alkyl” group herein refers to a substituted alkyl group in which one or more hydrogen atoms of the alkyl group are substituted with a carboxyl group.
• a “hydroxy alkyl” group herein refers to a substituted alkyl group in which one or more hydrogen atoms of the alkyl group are substituted with a hydroxyl group.
• positively charged organic group refers to a chain of one or more carbons (“carbon chain”) that has one or more hydrogens substituted with another atom or functional group (i.e., a
• substituted alkyl group where one or more of the substitutions is with a positively charged group.
• a positively charged organic group has a substitution in addition to a substitution with a positively charged group, such additional substitution may be with one or more hydroxyl groups, oxygen atoms (thereby forming an aldehyde or ketone group), alkyl groups, and/or additional positively charged groups.
• a positively charged organic group has a net positive charge since it comprises one or more positively charged groups.
• the terms "positively charged group”, “positively charged ionic group” and “cationic group” are used interchangeably herein.
• a positively charged group comprises a cation (a positively charged ion). Examples of positively charged groups include substituted ammonium groups, carbocation groups and acyl cation groups.
• a composition that is "positively charged” herein typically is repelled from other positively charged substances, but attracted to negatively charged substances.
• substituted ammonium group comprises structure I:
• R2, R3 and R 4 in structure I each independently represent a hydrogen atom or an alkyl, aryl, cycloalkyi, aralkyl, or alkaryl group.
• the carbon atom (C) in structure I is part of the chain of one or more carbons ("carbon chain") of the positively charged organic group.
• the carbon atom is either directly ether-linked to a glucose monomer of the a-glucan polymer, or is part of a chain of two or more carbon atoms ether-linked to a glucose monomer of the a-glucan polymer/oligomer.
• the carbon atom in structure I can be -CH2-, -CH- (where a H is substituted with another group such as a hydroxy group), or -C- (where both H's are substituted).
• a substituted ammonium group can be a "primary ammonium group", “secondary ammonium group”, “tertiary ammonium group”, or “quaternary ammonium” group, depending on the composition of R2, R3 and R 4 in structure I.
• a primary ammonium group herein refers to structure I in which each of R2, R3 and R 4 is a hydrogen atom (i.e., -C-NH3 + ).
• a secondary ammonium group herein refers to structure I in which each of R2 and R3 is a hydrogen atom and R 4 is an alkyl, aryl, or cycloalkyi group.
• a tertiary ammonium group herein refers to structure I in which R2 is a hydrogen atom and each of R3 and R 4 is an alkyl, aryl, or cycloalkyi group.
• a quaternary ammonium group herein refers to structure I in which each of R2, R3 and R 4 is an alkyl, aryl, or cycloalkyi group (i.e., none of R2, R3 and R 4 is a hydrogen atom).
• a quaternary ammonium a-glucan ether herein can comprise a trialkyl ammonium group (where each of R2, R3 and R 4 is an alkyl group), for example.
• a trimethylammonium group is an example of a trialkyl ammonium group, where each of R2, R3 and R 4 is a methyl group. It would be understood that a fourth member (i.e., Ri ) implied by
• quaternary ammonium ⁇ -glucan ether compound is trimethylammonium hydroxypropyl a-glucan.
• the positively charged organic group of this ether compound can be represented as structure II:
• Structure II is an example of a quaternary ammonium hydroxypropyl group.
• a "halide” herein refers to a compound comprising one or more halogen atoms (e.g., fluorine, chlorine, bromine, iodine).
• a halide herein can refer to a compound comprising one or more halide groups such as fluoride, chloride, bromide, or iodide.
• a halide group may serve as a reactive group of an etherification agent.
• reaction When referring to the non-enzymatic etherification reaction, the terms "reaction”, “reaction composition”, and “etherification reaction” are used interchangeably herein and refer to a reaction comprising at least a- glucan polymer and an etherification agent. These components are typically mixed (e.g., resulting in a slurry) and/or dissolved in a solvent (organic and/or aqueous) comprising alkali hydroxide. A reaction is placed under suitable conditions (e.g., time, temperature) for the etherification agent to etherify one or more hydroxyl groups of the glucose units of a- glucan polymer/oligomer with an organic group, thereby yielding an a- glucan ether compound.
• suitable conditions e.g., time, temperature
• alkaline conditions refers to a solution or mixture pH of at least 10, 1 1 or 12. Alkaline conditions can be prepared by any means known in the art, such as by dissolving an alkali hydroxide in a solution or mixture.
• etherification agent and "alkylation agent” are used interchangeably herein.
• An etherification agent herein refers to an agent that can be used to etherify one or more hydroxyl groups of one or more glucose units of the present a-glucan polymer/oligomer with an organic group.
• An etherification agent thus comprises an organic group.
• degree of substitution refers to the average number of hydroxyl groups substituted in each monomeric unit (glucose) of the present a-glucan ether compound. Since there are at most three hydroxyl groups in a glucose monomeric unit in an a-glucan polymer/oligomer, the degree of substitution in an ⁇ -glucan ether compound herein can be no higher than 3.
• M.S. moles of an organic group per monomeric unit of the present a-glucan ether compound.
• M.S. can refer to the average moles of etherification agent used to react with each monomeric unit in the present ⁇ -glucan oligomer/polymer (M.S. can thus describe the degree of derivatization with an etherification agent). It is noted that the M.S. value for the present ⁇ -glucan may have no upper limit.
• hydroxyl group of the organic group may undergo further reaction, thereby coupling more of the organic group to the ⁇ -glucan oligomer/polymer.
• crosslink refers to a chemical bond, atom, or group of atoms that connects two adjacent atoms in one or more polymer molecules. It should be understood that, in a composition comprising crosslinked ⁇ -glucan ether, crosslinks can be between at least two a- glucan ether molecules (i.e., intermolecular crosslinks); there can also be intramolecular crosslinking.
• a "crosslinking agent” as used herein is an atom or compound that can create crosslinks.
• aqueous composition refers to a solution or mixture in which the solvent is at least about 20 wt% water, for example, and which comprises the present ⁇ -glucan oligomer/polymer and/or the present a- glucan ether compound derivable from etherification of the present a- glucan oligomer/polymer.
• aqueous compositions herein are aqueous solutions and hydrocolloids.
• hydrocolloid refers to a colloid system in which water is the dispersion medium.
• a hydrocolloid herein refers to a substance that is microscopically dispersed throughout another substance. Therefore, a hydrocolloid herein can also refer to a dispersion, emulsion, mixture, or solution of ⁇ -glucan oligomer/polymer and/or one or more ⁇ -glucan ether compounds in water or aqueous solution.
• aqueous solution refers to a solution in which the solvent is water.
• the present ⁇ -glucan oligomer/polymer and/or the present ⁇ -glucan ether compounds can be dispersed, mixed, and/or dissolved in an aqueous solution.
• An aqueous solution can serve as the dispersion medium of a hydrocolloid herein.
• 'dispersion herein refers to an aqueous composition comprising one or more particles (e.g., any ingredient of a personal care product, pharmaceutical product, food product, household product, or industrial product disclosed herein) that are scattered, or uniformly scattered, throughout the aqueous composition. It is believed that the present a- glucan oligomer/polymer and/or the present ⁇ -glucan ether compounds can act as dispersants in aqueous compositions disclosed herein.
• viscosity refers to the measure of the extent to which a fluid or an aqueous composition such as a hydrocolloid resists a force tending to cause it to flow.
• Various units of viscosity that can be used herein include centipoise (cPs) and Pascal-second (Pa s).
• a centipoise is one one-hundredth of a poise; one poise is equal to 0.100 kg m ⁇ 1 s ⁇ 1 .
• viscosity modifier and “viscosity-modifying agent” as used herein refer to anything that can alter/modify the viscosity of a fluid or aqueous composition.
• shear thinning behavior refers to a decrease in the viscosity of the hydrocolloid or aqueous solution as shear rate increases.
• shear thickening behavior refers to an increase in the viscosity of the hydrocolloid or aqueous solution as shear rate increases.
• Shear rate herein refers to the rate at which a progressive shearing deformation is applied to the hydrocolloid or aqueous solution. A shearing deformation can be applied rotationally.
• contacting refers to any action that results in bringing together an aqueous composition with the present a- glucan polymer composition and/or a-glucan ether compound.
• Contacting may also be used herein with respect to treating a fabric, textile, yarn or fiber with the present a-glucan polymer and/or a-glucan ether compound to provide a surface substantive effect. Contacting can be performed by any means known in the art, such as dissolving, mixing, shaking, homogenization, spraying, treating, immersing, flushing, pouring on or in, combining, painting, coating, applying, affixing to and otherwise communicating an effective amount of the ⁇ -glucan polymer composition and/or ⁇ -glucan ether compound to an aqueous composition and/or directly to a fabric, fiber, yarn or textile to achieve the desired effect.
• fabric refers to a woven or non-woven material having a network of natural and/or artificial fibers.
• Such fibers can be thread or yarn, for example.
• a “fabric care composition” herein is any composition suitable for treating fabric in some manner.
• examples of such a composition include non-laundering fiber treatments (for desizing, scouring, mercerizing, bleaching, coloration, dying, printing, bio-polishing, anti-microbial treatments, anti-wrinkle treatments, stain resistance treatments, etc.), laundry care compositions (e.g., laundry care detergents), and fabric softeners.
• heavy duty detergent and “all-purpose detergent” are used interchangeably herein to refer to a detergent useful for regular washing of white and colored textiles at any temperature.
• low duty detergent or “fine fabric detergent” are used interchangeably herein to refer to a detergent useful for the care of delicate fabrics such as viscose, wool, silk, microfiber or other fabric requiring special care.
• Standard care can include conditions of using excess water, low agitation, and/or no bleach, for example.
• adsorption refers to the adhesion of a compound (e.g., the present a-glucan polymer/oligomer and/or the present a-glucan ether compounds derived from the present ⁇ -glucan polymer/oligomers) to the surface of a material.
• a compound e.g., the present a-glucan polymer/oligomer and/or the present a-glucan ether compounds derived from the present ⁇ -glucan polymer/oligomers
• cellulase and “cellulase enzyme” are used interchangeably.
• Cellulase can alternatively be referred to as "P-1 ,4-glucanase", for example, and can have endocellulase activity (EC 3.2.1.4),
• cellulase in certain embodiments herein can also hydrolyze ⁇ -1 ,4- ⁇ - glucosidic linkages in cellulose ether derivatives such as carboxymethyl cellulose.
• Cellulose refers to an insoluble polysaccharide having a linear chain of ⁇ -1 ,4-linked D-glucose monomeric units.
• fabric hand or “handle” is meant people's tactile sensory response towards fabric which may be physical,
• the fabric hand may be measured using a PhabrOmeter ® System for measuring relative hand value (available from Nu Cybertek, Inc. Davis, CA) (American Association of Textile Chemists and Colorists (AATCC test method "202-2012, Relative Hand Value of Textiles:
• oligosaccharide refers to polymers typically containing between 3 and about 30 monosaccharide units linked by a-glycosidic bonds.
• polysaccharide refers to polymers typically containing greater than 30 monosaccharide units linked by a- glycosidic bonds.
• personal care products means products used in the cosmetic treatment hair, skin, scalp, and teeth, including, but not limited to shampoos, body lotions, shower gels, topical moisturizers, toothpaste, tooth gels, mouthwashes, mouthrinses, anti-plaque rinses, and/or other topical treatments. In some particularly preferred
• these products are utilized on humans, while in other embodiments, these products find cosmetic use with non-human animals (e.g., in certain veterinary applications).
• an "isolated nucleic acid molecule”, “isolated polynucleotide”, and “isolated nucleic acid fragment” will be used interchangeably and refer to a polymer of RNA or DNA that is single- or double-stranded, optionally containing synthetic, non-natural or altered nucleotide bases.
• An isolated nucleic acid molecule in the form of a polymer of DNA may be comprised of one or more segments of cDNA, genomic DNA or synthetic DNA.
• amino acid refers to the basic chemical structural unit of a protein or polypeptide.
• the following abbreviations are used herein to identify specific amino acids: Three-Letter One-Letter
• a codon for the amino acid alanine, a hydrophobic amino acid may be substituted by a codon encoding another less hydrophobic residue (such as glycine) or a more hydrophobic residue (such as valine, leucine, or isoleucine).
• a codon encoding another less hydrophobic residue such as glycine
• a more hydrophobic residue such as valine, leucine, or isoleucine
• changes which result in substitution of one negatively charged residue for another such as aspartic acid for glutamic acid
• one positively charged residue for another such as lysine for arginine
• nucleotide changes which result in alteration of the N-terminal and C-terminal portions of the protein molecule would also not be expected to alter the activity of the protein.
• codon optimized refers to genes or coding regions of nucleic acid molecules for transformation of various hosts, refers to the alteration of codons in the gene or coding regions of the nucleic acid molecules to reflect the typical codon usage of the host organism without altering the polypeptide for which the DNA codes.
• oligonucleotide building blocks that are chemically synthesized using procedures known to those skilled in the art. These building blocks are ligated and annealed to form gene segments that are then enzymatically assembled to construct the entire gene.
• "Chemically synthesized" as pertaining to a DNA sequence, means that the component nucleotides were assembled in vitro. Manual chemical synthesis of DNA may be accomplished using well-established procedures, or automated chemical synthesis can be performed using one of a number of commercially available machines. Accordingly, the genes can be tailored for optimal gene expression based on optimization of nucleotide sequences to reflect the codon bias of the host cell. The skilled artisan appreciates the likelihood of successful gene expression if codon usage is biased towards those codons favored by the host. Determination of preferred codons can be based on a survey of genes derived from the host cell where sequence information is available.
• gene refers to a nucleic acid molecule that expresses a specific protein, including regulatory sequences preceding (5' non-coding sequences) and following (3' non-coding sequences) the coding sequence.
• “Native gene” refers to a gene as found in nature with its own regulatory sequences.
• “Chimeric gene” refers to any gene that is not a native gene, comprising regulatory and coding sequences that are not found together in nature. Accordingly, a chimeric gene may comprise regulatory sequences and coding sequences that are derived from different sources, or regulatory sequences and coding sequences derived from the same source, but arranged in a manner different from that found in nature.
• Endogenous gene refers to a native gene in its natural location in the genome of an organism.
• a “foreign” gene refers to a gene not normally found in the host organism, but that is introduced into the host organism by gene transfer.
• Foreign genes can comprise native genes inserted into a non-native organism, or chimeric genes.
• transgene is a gene that has been introduced into the genome by a transformation procedure.
• coding sequence refers to a DNA sequence that codes for a specific amino acid sequence. "Suitable regulatory
• nucleotide sequences refer to nucleotide sequences located upstream (5' non- coding sequences), within, or downstream (3' non-coding sequences) of a coding sequence, and which influence the transcription, RNA processing or stability, or translation of the associated coding sequence. Regulatory sequences may include promoters, translation leader sequences, RNA processing site, effector binding sites, and stem-loop structures.
• operably linked refers to the association of nucleic acid sequences on a single nucleic acid molecule so that the function of one is affected by the other.
• a promoter is operably linked with a coding sequence when it is capable of affecting the expression of that coding sequence, i.e., the coding sequence is under the transcriptional control of the promoter.
• Coding sequences can be operably linked to regulatory sequences in sense or antisense orientation.
• expression refers to the transcription and stable accumulation of sense (mRNA) or antisense RNA derived from the nucleic acid molecule of the disclosure. Expression may also refer to translation of mRNA into a polypeptide.
• transformation refers to the transfer of a nucleic acid molecule into the genome of a host organism, resulting in genetically stable inheritance.
• the host cell's genome includes chromosomal and extrachromosomal (e.g., plasmid) genes.
• Host organisms containing the transformed nucleic acid molecules are referred to as “transgenic", “recombinant” or “transformed” organisms.
• sequence analysis software refers to any computer algorithm or software program that is useful for the analysis of nucleotide or amino acid sequences.
• Sequence analysis software may be commercially available or independently developed. Typical sequence analysis software will include, but is not limited to, the GCG suite of programs (Wisconsin Package Version 9.0, Accelrys Software Corp., San Diego, CA), BLASTP, BLASTN, BLASTX (Altschul et al., J. Mol. Biol.
• DNASTAR DNASTAR, Inc. 1228 S. Park St. Madison, Wl 53715 USA
• CLUSTALW for example, version 1 .83
• Sequencher v. 4.05. Within the context of this application it will be understood that where sequence analysis software is used for analysis, that the results of the analysis will be based on the "default values" of the program referenced, unless otherwise specified. As used herein "default values" will mean any set of values or parameters set by the software manufacturer that originally load with the software when first initialized.
• the present soluble a-glucan oligomer/polymer composition was prepared from sucrose (e.g., cane sugar) using one or more enzymatic processing aids that have essentially the same amino acid sequences as found in nature (or active truncations thereof) from microorganisms which having a long history of exposure to humans (microorganisms naturally found in the oral cavity or found in foods such a beer, fermented soybeans, etc.).
• the soluble oligomers/polymers have low viscosity (enabling use in a broad range of applications).
• the present soluble a-glucan oligomer/polymer composition is characterized by the following combination of parameters:
• PDI polydispersity index
• the present soluble ⁇ -glucan oligomer/polymer composition comprises 10-30%, preferably 10-25%, a-(1 ,3) glycosidic linkages.
• the present soluble a-glucan in addition to the a-(1 ,3) glycosidic linkage embodiments described above, the present soluble a-glucan
• the oligomer/polymer composition further comprises 65-87%, preferably 70- 85%, more preferably 75-82% a-(1 ,6) glycosidic linkages.
• the present soluble a-glucan oligomer/polymer composition further comprises less than 5%, preferably less than 4%, 3%, 2% or 1 % a-(1 ,3,6) glycosidic linkages.
• the present soluble a-glucan oligomer/polymer composition further comprises less than 5%, preferably less than 1 %, and most preferably less than 0.5 % a-(1 ,4) glycosidic linkages.
• the present ⁇ -glucan oligomer/polymer composition comprises a weight average molecular weight (M w ) of less than 5000 Daltons, preferably less than 2500 Daltons, more preferably between 500 and 2500 Daltons, and most preferably about 500 to about 2000 Daltons.
• M w weight average molecular weight
• the present ⁇ -glucan oligomer/polymer composition comprises a viscosity of less than 250 centipoise (cP) (0.25 Pascal second (Pa s), preferably less than 10 centipoise (cP) (0.01 Pascal second (Pa s)), preferably less than 7 cP (0.007 Pa s), more preferably less than 5 cP (0.005 Pa s), more preferably less than 4 cP (0.004 Pa s), and most preferably less than 3 cP (0.003 Pa s) at 12 wt% in water at 20 °C.
• cP centipoise
• the present soluble a- glucan oligomer/polymer composition has a solubility of at least 20 %( w/w), preferably at least 30%, 40%, 50%, 60%, or 70% in pH 7 water at 25 °C.
• the present soluble a-glucan in another embodiment, the present soluble a-glucan
• oligomer/polymer composition comprises a number average molecular weight (Mn) between 400 and 2000 g/mole; preferably 500 to 1500 g/mole.
• Mn number average molecular weight
• Compositions Comprising a-Glucan Oligomer/Polvmers and/or a-Glucan Ethers
• the present a-glucan oligomer/polymer composition and/or derivatives thereof may be formulated (e.g., blended, mixed, incorporated into, etc.) with one or more other materials and/or active ingredients suitable for use in laundry care, textile/fabric care, and/or personal care products.
• the present disclosure includes compositions comprising the present glucan oligomer/polymer
• compositions comprising the present glucan oligomer/polymer composition may include, for example, aqueous formulations comprising the present glucan oligomer/polymer, rheology modifying compositions, fabric treatment/care compositions, laundry care formulations/compositions, fabric softeners, personal care compositions (hair, skin and oral care), and the like.
• the present glucan oligomer/polymer composition may be directed as an ingredient in a desired product or may be blended with one or more additional suitable ingredients (ingredients suitable for fabric care applications, laundry care applications, and/or personal care applications).
• the present disclosure comprises a fabric care, laundry care, or personal care composition comprising the present soluble a-glucan oligomer/polymer composition, the present ⁇ -glucan ethers, or a
• the fabric care, laundry care or personal care composition comprises 0.01 to 99 wt % (dry solids basis), preferably 0.1 to 90 wt %, more preferably 1 to 90%, and most preferably 5 to 80 wt% of the glucan oligomer/polymer composition and/or the present ⁇ -glucan ether compounds.
• a fabric care composition comprising:
• an ⁇ -glucan oligomer/polymer composition comprising: i. 10% to 30% a-(1 ,3) glycosidic linkages;
• iii less than 5% a-(1 ,3,6) glycosidic linkages; iv. a weight average molecular weight (Mw) of less than 5000 Daltons;
• PDI polydispersity index
• a laundry care composition comprising:
• an ⁇ -glucan oligomer/polymer composition comprising: i. 10% to 30% a-(1 ,3) glycosidic linkages;
• PDI polydispersity index
• an ⁇ -glucan ether derived from the present ⁇ -glucan oligomer/polymer composition comprising:
• composition has a degree of substitution (DoS) with at least one organic group of about 0.05 to about 3.0.
• DoS degree of substitution
• the glucan ether composition has a degree of substitution (DoS) with at least one organic group of about 0.05 to about 3.0.
• DoS degree of substitution
• the glucan ether composition comprises at least one organic group wherein the organic group is a carboxy alkyl group, hydroxy alkyl group, or an alkyl group.
• the at least one organic group is a carboxymethyl, hydroxypropyl
• the at least one organic group is a positively charged organic group.
• the glucan ether is a quaternary ammonium glucan ether.
• the glucan ether composition is a trimethylammonium hydroxypropyl glucan.
• an organic group may be an alkyl group such as a methyl, ethyl, propyl, butyl, pentyl, hexyl, heptyl, octyl, nonyl, or decyl group, for example.
• the organic group may be a substituted alkyl group in which there is a substitution on one or more carbons of the alkyl group.
• the substitution(s) may be one or more hydroxyl, aldehyde, ketone, and/or carboxyl groups.
• a substituted alkyl group may be a hydroxy alkyl group, dihydroxy alkyl group, or carboxy alkyl group.
• Suitable hydroxy alkyl groups are hydroxymethyl
• hydroxyethyl e.g., -CH2CH2OH, -CH(OH)CH 3
• hydroxypropyl e.g., -CH2CH2CH2OH, -CH 2 CH(OH)CH 3 , -CH(OH)CH 2 CH 3
• hydroxybutyl and hydroxypentyl groups include dihydroxy alkyl groups (diols) such as dihydroxymethyl, dihydroxyethyl (e.g., -CH(OH)CH2OH), dihydroxypropyl (e.g., -CH 2 CH(OH)CH 2 OH, -CH(OH)CH(OH)CH 3 ), dihydroxybutyl and dihydroxypentyl groups.
• Examples of suitable carboxy alkyl groups are carboxymethyl
• one or more carbons of an alkyl group can have a substitution(s) with another alkyl group.
• substituent alkyl groups are methyl, ethyl and propyl groups.
• an organic group can be -CH(CH 3 )CH 2 CH3 or -CH 2 CH(CH 3 )CH3, for example, which are both propyl groups having a methyl substitution.
• a substitution (e.g., hydroxy or carboxy group) on an alkyl group in certain embodiments may be bonded to the terminal carbon atom of the alkyl group, where the terminal carbon group is opposite the terminus that is in ether linkage to a glucose monomeric unit in an a- glucan ether compound.
• An example of this terminal substitution is the hydroxypropyl group -CH2CH2CH2OH.
• a substitution may be on an internal carbon atom of an alkyl group.
• An example on an internal substitution is the hydroxypropyl group -CH2CH(OH)CH3.
• An alkyl group can have one or more substitutions, which may be the same (e.g., two hydroxyl groups [dihydroxy]) or different (e.g., a hydroxyl group and a carboxyl group).
• the a- glucan ether compounds disclosed herein may contain one type of organic group.
• examples of such compounds contain a carboxy alkyl group as the organic group (carboxyalkyl a-glucan, generically speaking).
• a specific non-limiting example of such a compound is carboxymethyl a-glucan.
• a- glucan ether compounds disclosed herein can contain two or more different types of organic groups.
• examples of such compounds contain (i) two different alkyl groups as organic groups, (ii) an alkyl group and a hydroxy alkyl group as organic groups (alkyl hydroxyalkyi a-glucan, generically speaking), (iii) an alkyl group and a carboxy alkyl group as organic groups (alkyl carboxyalkyl a-glucan, generically speaking), (iv) a hydroxy alkyl group and a carboxy alkyl group as organic groups
• hydroxyalkyi carboxyalkyl a-glucan (hydroxyalkyi carboxyalkyl a-glucan, generically speaking), (v) two different hydroxy alkyl groups as organic groups, or (vi) two different carboxy alkyl groups as organic groups.
• Specific non-limiting examples of such compounds include ethyl hydroxyethyl a-glucan, hydroxyalkyi methyl a-glucan, carboxymethyl hydroxyethyl a-glucan, and carboxymethyl hydroxypropyl a-glucan.
• the organic group herein can alternatively be a positively charged organic group.
• a positively charged organic group comprises a chain of one or more carbons having one or more hydrogens substituted with another atom or functional group, where one or more of the
• substitutions is with a positively charged group.
• a positively charged group may be a substituted ammonium group, for example.
• substituted ammonium groups are primary, secondary, tertiary and quaternary ammonium groups.
• Structure I depicts a primary, secondary, tertiary or quaternary ammonium group, depending on the composition of R2, R3 and R 4 in structure I.
• Each of R2, R3 and R 4 in structure I independently represent a hydrogen atom or an alkyl, aryl, cycloalkyl, aralkyl, or alkaryl group.
• each of R2, R3 and R 4 in can independently represent a hydrogen atom or an alkyl group.
• An alkyl group can be a methyl, ethyl, propyl, butyl, pentyl, hexyl, heptyl, octyl, nonyl, or decyl group, for example.
• R2, R3 and R 4 are an alkyl group, they can be the same or different alkyl groups.
• a "primary ammonium ⁇ -glucan ether compound” herein can comprise a positively charged organic group having an ammonium group.
• the positively charged organic group comprises structure I in which each of R2, R3 and R 4 is a hydrogen atom.
• a non-limiting example of such a positively charged organic group is represented by structure II when each of R2, R3 and R 4 is a hydrogen atom.
• An example of a primary ammonium a-glucan ether compound can be represented in shorthand as ammonium ⁇ -glucan ether.
• a first member i.e., Ri
• primary is the chain of one or more carbons of the positively charged organic group that is ether-linked to a glucose monomer of a-glucan.
• a "secondary ammonium ⁇ -glucan ether compound” herein can comprise a positively charged organic group having a
• the positively charged organic group comprises structure I in which each of R2 and R3 is a hydrogen atom and R 4 is an alkyl group.
• a non-limiting example of such a positively charged organic group is represented by structure II when each of R2 and R3 is a hydrogen atom and R 4 is an alkyl group.
• An example of a secondary ammonium ⁇ -glucan ether compound can be represented in shorthand herein as monoalkylammonium ⁇ -glucan ether (e.g., monomethyl- monoethyl-, monopropyl- monobutyl- monopentyl- monohexyl-, monoheptyl-, monooctyl- monononyl- or monodecyl- ammonium ⁇ -glucan ether).
• a second member i.e., Ri
• Ri is the chain of one or more carbons of the positively charged organic group that is ether-linked to a glucose monomer of a-glucan.
• a "tertiary ammonium ⁇ -glucan ether compound” herein can comprise a positively charged organic group having a dialkylammonium group, for example.
• the positively charged organic group comprises structure I in which R2 is a hydrogen atom and each of R3 and R 4 is an alkyl group.
• a non-limiting example of such a positively charged organic group is represented by structure II when R2 is a hydrogen atom and each of R3 and R 4 is an alkyl group.
• a tertiary ammonium ⁇ -glucan ether compound can be represented in shorthand as dialkylammonium ⁇ -glucan ether (e.g., dimethyl-, diethyl-, dipropyl- dibutyl-, dipentyl- dihexyl- diheptyl- dioctyl- dinonyl- or didecyl- ammonium ⁇ -glucan ether).
• a third member i.e., Ri
• Ri is the chain of one or more carbons of the positively charged organic group that is ether- linked to a glucose monomer of a-glucan.
• a "quaternary ammonium a-glucan ether compound” herein can comprise a positively charged organic group having a trialkylammonium group, for example.
• the positively charged organic group comprises structure I in which each of R2, R3 and R 4 is an alkyl group.
• a non-limiting example of such a positively charged organic group is represented by structure II when each of R2, R3 and R 4 is an alkyl group.
• quaternary ammonium ⁇ -glucan ether compound can be represented in shorthand as trialkylammonium ⁇ -glucan ether (e.g., trimethyl-, triethyl-, tripropyl-, tributyl-, tripentyl- trihexyl- triheptyl-, trioctyl- , trinonyl- or tridecyl- ammonium ⁇ -glucan ether).
• a fourth member i.e., Ri
• Ri is the chain of one or more carbons of the positively charged organic group that is ether-linked to a glucose monomer of a-glucan.
• R2, R3 and R 4 independently represent a hydrogen atom; an alkyl group such as a methyl, ethyl, or propyl group; an aryl group such as a phenyl or naphthyl group; an aralkyl group such as a benzyl group; an alkaryl group; or a cycloalkyl group.
• R2, R3 and R 4 may further comprise an amino group or a hydroxyl group, for example.
• the nitrogen atom in a substituted ammonium group represented by structure I is bonded to a chain of one or more carbons as comprised in a positively charged organic group.
• This chain of one or more carbons (“carbon chain”) is ether-linked to a glucose monomer of a-glucan, and may have one or more substitutions in addition to the substitution with the nitrogen atom of the substituted ammonium group.
• the carbon chain of structure II is 3 carbon atoms in length.
• Examples of a carbon chain of a positively charged organic group that do not have a substitution in addition to the substitution with a positively charged group include -CH2-, -CH2CH2-, -CH2CH2CH2- -CH2CH2CH2CH2- and -CH2CH2CH2CH2-.
• the first carbon atom of the chain is ether-linked to a glucose monomer of a-glucan, and the last carbon atom of the chain is linked to a positively charged group.
• the positively charged group is a substituted ammonium group
• the last carbon atom of the chain in each of these examples is represented by the C in structure I.
• a carbon chain of a positively charged organic group has a substitution in addition to a substitution with a positively charged group
• additional substitution may be with one or more hydroxyl groups, oxygen atoms (thereby forming an aldehyde or ketone group), alkyl groups (e.g., methyl, ethyl, propyl, butyl), and/or additional positively charged groups.
• a positively charged group is typically bonded to the terminal carbon atom of the carbon chain.
• Examples of a carbon chain of a positively charged organic group having one or more substitutions with a hydroxyl group include
• hydroxyalkyl e.g., hydroxyethyl, hydroxypropyl, hydroxybutyl
• hydroxypentyl groups and di hydroxyalkyl (e.g., dihydroxyethyl,
• hydroxyalkyl and dihydroxyalkyl (diol) carbon chains include -CH(OH)-, -CH(OH)CH 2 -, -C(OH) 2 CH 2 -, -CH 2 CH(OH)CH 2 -, -CH(OH)CH 2 CH2- -CH(OH)CH(OH)CH 2 - -CH2CH 2 CH(OH)CH2- -CH2CH(OH)CH 2 CH2- -CH(OH)CH2CH 2 CH2- -CH 2 CH(OH)CH(OH)CH 2 -,
• the first carbon atom of the chain is ether-linked to a glucose monomer of the present a-glucan, and the last carbon atom of the chain is linked to a positively charged group.
• the positively charged group is a substituted ammonium group
• the last carbon atom of the chain in each of these examples is represented by the C in structure I.
• Examples of a carbon chain of a positively charged organic group having one or more substitutions with an alkyl group include chains with one or more substituent methyl, ethyl and/or propyl groups.
• Examples of methylalkyl groups include -CH(CH 3 )CH 2 CH2- and -CH 2 CH(CH 3 )CH2-, which are both propyl groups having a methyl substitution.
• the first carbon atom of the chain is ether-linked to a glucose monomer of the present a-glucan, and the last carbon atom of the chain is linked to a positively charged group.
• the positively charged group is a substituted ammonium group
• the last carbon atom of the chain in each of these examples is represented by the C in structure I.
• the a- glucan ether compounds herein may contain one type of positively charged organic group.
• one or more positively charged organic groups ether-linked to the glucose monomer of a-glucan may be trimethylammonium hydroxypropyl groups (structure II).
• a- glucan ether compounds disclosed herein can contain two or more different types of positively charged organic groups.
• a- glucan ether compounds herein can comprise at least one nonionic organic group and at least one anionic group, for example.
• ⁇ -glucan ether compounds herein can comprise at least one nonionic organic group and at least one positively charged organic group.
• a- glucan ether compounds may be derived from any of the present a-glucan oligomers/polymers disclosed herein.
• the ⁇ -glucan ether compound can be produced by ether-derivatizing the present a-glucan oligomers/polymers using an etherification reaction as disclosed herein.
• a composition comprising an ⁇ -glucan ether compound can be a hydrocolloid or aqueous solution having a viscosity of at least about 10 cPs.
• a hydrocolloid or aqueous solution having a viscosity of at least about 10 cPs.
• hydrocolloid or aqueous solution has a viscosity of at least about 100, 250, 500, 750, 1000, 1250, 1500, 1750, 2000, 2250, 2500, 3000, 3500, or 4000 cPs (or any value between 100 and 4000 cPs), for example.
• Viscosity can be measured with the hydrocolloid or aqueous solution at any temperature between about 3 °C to about 1 10 °C (or any integer between 3 and 1 10 °C). Alternatively, viscosity can be measured at a temperature between about 4 °C to 30 °C, or about 20 °C to 25 °C. Viscosity can be measured at atmospheric pressure (about 760 torr) or any other higher or lower pressure.
• the viscosity of a hydrocolloid or aqueous solution disclosed herein can be measured using a viscometer or rheometer, or using any other means known in the art. It would be understood by those skilled in the art that a viscometer or rheometer can be used to measure the viscosity of those hydrocolloids and aqueous solutions that exhibit shear thinning behavior or shear thickening behavior (i.e., liquids with viscosities that vary with flow conditions). The viscosity of such embodiments can be measured at a rotational shear rate of about 10 to 1000 rpm (revolutions per minute) (or any integer between 10 and 1000 rpm), for example.
• viscosity can be measured at a rotational shear rate of about
• pH of a hydrocolloid or aqueous solution disclosed herein can be between about 2.0 to about 12.0. Alternatively, pH can be about 2.0,
• An aqueous composition herein such as a hydrocolloid or aqueous solution can comprise a solvent having at least about 20 wt% water.
• a solvent is at least about 30, 40, 50, 60, 70, 80, 90, or 100 wt% water (or any integer value between 20 and 100 wt%), for example.
• the a- glucan ether compound disclosed herein can be present in a hydrocolloid or aqueous solution at a weight percentage (wt%) of at least about 0.01 %, 0.05%, 0.1 %, 0.2%, 0.3%, 0.4%, 0.5%, 0.6%, 0.7%, 0.8%, 0.9%, 1 .0%, 1.2%, 1 .4%, 1 .6%, 1 .8%, 2.0%, 2.5%, 3.0%, 3.5%, 4.0%, 4.5%, 5%, 6%, 7%, 8%, 9%, 10%, 1 1 %, 12%, 13%, 14%, 15%, 16%, 17%, 18%, 19%, 20%, 21 %, 22%, 23%, 24%, 25%, 26%, 27%, 28%, 29%, or 30%, for example.
• wt% weight percentage
• the hydrocolloid or aqueous solution herein can comprise other components in addition to one or more a-glucan ether compounds.
• the hydrocolloid or aqueous solution can comprise one or more salts such as a sodium salt (e.g., NaCI, Na2S04).
• salts include those having (i) an aluminum, ammonium, barium, calcium, chromium (II or III), copper (I or II), iron (II or III), hydrogen, lead (II), lithium, magnesium, manganese (II or III), mercury (I or II), potassium, silver, sodium strontium, tin (II or IV), or zinc cation, and (ii) an acetate, borate, bromate, bromide, carbonate, chlorate, chloride, chlorite, chromate, cyanamide, cyanide, dichromate, dihydrogen phosphate, ferricyanide, ferrocyanide, fluoride, hydrogen carbonate, hydrogen phosphate, hydrogen sulfate, hydrogen sulfide, hydrogen sulfite, hydride, hydroxide, hypochlorite, iodate, iodide, nitrate, nitride, nitrite, oxalate, oxide, perchlorate, perman
• any salt having a cation from (i) above and an anion from (ii) above can be in a hydrocolloid or aqueous solution, for example.
• a salt can be present in a hydrocolloid or aqueous solution at a wt% of about .01 % to about 10.00% (or any hundredth increment between .01 % and 10.00%), for example.
• the a- glucan ether compound can be in an anionic form in a hydrocolloid or aqueous solution.
• examples may include those a-glucan ether
• Carboxyl (COOH) groups in a carboxyalkyi a- glucan ether compound can convert to carboxylate (COO " ) groups in aqueous conditions.
• Such anionic groups can interact with salt cations such as any of those listed above in (i) (e.g., potassium, sodium, or lithium cation).
• an ⁇ -glucan ether compound can be a sodium carboxyalkyi ⁇ -glucan ether (e.g., sodium carboxymethyl a-glucan), potassium carboxyalkyi ⁇ -glucan ether (e.g., potassium carboxymethyl a-glucan), or lithium carboxyalkyi ⁇ -glucan ether (e.g., lithium carboxymethyl a-glucan), for example.
• a composition comprising the a-glucan ether compound herein can be nonaqueous (e.g., a dry composition). Examples of such embodiments include powders, granules, microcapsules, flakes, or any other form of particulate matter.
• a non-aqueous or dry composition herein typically has less than 3, 2, 1 , 0.5, or 0.1 wt% water comprised therein.
• the a-glucan ether compound may be crosslinked using any means known in the art.
• Such crosslinks may be borate crosslinks, where the borate is from any boron-containing compound (e.g., boric acid, diborates, tetraborates, pentaborates, polymeric compounds such as POLYBOR ® , polymeric compounds of boric acid, alkali borates), for example.
• crosslinks can be provided with polyvalent metals such as titanium or zirconium. Titanium crosslinks may be provided, for example, using titanium IV-containing compounds such as titanium ammonium lactate, titanium triethanolamine, titanium acetylacetonate, and polyhydroxy complexes of titanium.
• Zirconium crosslinks can be provided using zirconium IV-containing compounds such as zirconium lactate, zirconium carbonate, zirconium acetylacetonate, zirconium triethanolamine, zirconium diisopropylamine lactate and polyhydroxy complexes of zirconium, for example.
• crosslinks can be provided with any crosslinking agent described in U.S. Patent Nos. 4462917, 4464270, 4477360 and 4799550, which are all incorporated herein by reference.
• a crosslinking agent e.g., borate
• a crosslinking agent may be present in an aqueous composition herein at a concentration of about 0.2% to 20 wt%, or about 0.1 , 0.2, 0.3, 0.4, 0.5, 1 , 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 15, or 20 wt%, for example.
• an ⁇ -glucan ether compound disclosed herein that is crosslinked typically has a higher viscosity in an aqueous solution compared to its non-crosslinked counterpart.
• a crosslinked ⁇ -glucan ether compound can have increased shear thickening behavior compared to its non-crosslinked counterpart.
• a composition herein fabric care, laundry care, personal care, etc. may optionally contain one or more active enzymes.
• Non-limiting examples of suitable enzymes include proteases, cellulases, hemicellulases, peroxidases, lipolytic enzymes (e.g., metallolipolytic enzymes), xylanases, lipases, phospholipases, esterases (e.g., arylesterase, polyesterase), perhydrolases, cutinases, pectinases, pectate lyases, mannanases, keratinases, reductases, oxidases (e.g., choline oxidase), phenoloxidases, lipoxygenases, ligninases, pullulanases, tannases, pentosanases, malanases, beta-glucanases, arabinosidases, hyaluronidases,
• lipolytic enzymes e.g., metallolipolytic enzymes
• xylanases e.g.,
• chondroitinases chondroitinases, laccases, metalloproteinases, amadoriases,
• an enzyme(s) may be comprised in a composition herein at about 0.0001 -0.1 wt% (e.g., 0.01 -0.03 wt%) active enzyme (e.g., calculated as pure enzyme protein), for example.
• a cellulase herein can have endocellulase activity (EC 3.2.1 .4), exocellulase activity (EC 3.2.1 .91 ), or cellobiase activity (EC 3.2.1 .21 ).
• a cellulase herein is an "active cellulase" having activity under suitable conditions for maintaining cellulase activity; it is within the skill of the art to determine such suitable conditions.
• a cellulase in certain embodiments can also degrade cellulose ether derivatives such as carboxymethyl cellulose. Examples of cellulose ether derivatives which are expected to not be stable to cellulase are disclosed in U.S. Patent Nos. 7012053, 7056880, 6579840, 7534759 and 7576048.
• a cellulase herein may be derived from any microbial source, such as a bacteria or fungus. Chemically-modified cellulases or protein- engineered mutant cellulases are included. Suitable cellulases include, but are not limited to, cellulases from the genera Bacillus, Pseudomonas, Streptomyces, Trichoderma, Humicola, Fusarium, Thielavia and
• a cellulase may be derived from
• Humicola insolens, Myceliophthora thermophila or Fusarium oxysporum; these and other cellulases are disclosed in U.S. Patent Nos. 4435307, 5648263, 5691 178, 5776757 and 7604974, which are all incorporated herein by reference.
• Exemplary Trichoderma reesei cellulases are disclosed in U.S. Patent Nos. 4689297, 5814501 , 5324649, and
• WO92/06221 and WO92/06165 are incorporated herein by reference.
• Exemplary Bacillus cellulases are disclosed in U.S. Patent No. 6562612, which is incorporated herein by reference.
• a cellulase, such as any of the foregoing, preferably is in a mature form lacking an N-terminal signal peptide.
• Commercially available cellulases useful herein include CELLUZYME ® and CAREZYME ® (Novozymes A/S); CLAZINASE ® and PURADAX ® HA (DuPont Industrial Biosciences), and KAC-500(B) ® (Kao Corporation).
• a cellulase herein may be produced by any means known in the art, such as described in U.S. Patent Nos. 4435307,
• a cellulase may be produced recombinantly in a heterologous expression system, such as a microbial or fungal heterologous expression system.
• heterologous expression systems include bacterial (e.g., E. coli, Bacillus sp.) and eukaryotic systems.
• Eukaryotic systems can employ yeast (e.g., Pichia sp., Saccharomyces sp.) or fungal (e.g., Trichoderma sp. such as T. reesei, Aspergillus species such as A. niger) expression systems, for example.
• One or more cellulases can be directly added as an ingredient when preparing a composition disclosed herein.
• one or more cellulases can be indirectly (inadvertently) provided in the disclosed composition.
• cellulase can be provided in a composition herein by virtue of being present in a non-cellulase enzyme preparation used for preparing a composition.
• Cellulase in compositions in which cellulase is indirectly provided thereto can be present at about 0.1 -10 ppb (e.g., less than 1 ppm), for example.
• a contemplated benefit of a composition herein by virtue of employing a poly alpha-1 ,3-1 ,6-glucan ether compound instead of a cellulose ether compound, is that non- cellulase enzyme preparations that might have background cellulase activity can be used without concern that the desired effects of the glucan ether will be negated by the background cellulase activity.
• a cellulase in certain embodiments can be thermostable.
• Cellulase thermostability refers to the ability of the enzyme to retain activity after exposure to an elevated temperature (e.g. about 60-70 °C) for a period of time (e.g., about 30-60 minutes).
• the thermostability of a cellulase can be measured by its half-life (t1/2) given in minutes, hours, or days, during which time period half the cellulase activity is lost under defined
• a cellulase in certain embodiments can be stable to a wide range of pH values (e.g. neutral or alkaline pH such as pH of ⁇ 7.0 to ⁇ 1 1 .0). Such enzymes can remain stable for a predetermined period of time (e.g., at least about 15 min., 30 min., or 1 hour) under such pH conditions.
• pH values e.g. neutral or alkaline pH such as pH of ⁇ 7.0 to ⁇ 1 1 .0.
• Such enzymes can remain stable for a predetermined period of time (e.g., at least about 15 min., 30 min., or 1 hour) under such pH conditions.
• At least one, two, or more cellulases may be included in the composition.
• the total amount of cellulase in a composition herein typically is an amount that is suitable for the purpose of using cellulase in the composition (an "effective amount").
• an effective amount of cellulase in a composition intended for improving the feel and/or appearance of a cellulose-containing fabric is an amount that produces measurable improvements in the feel of the fabric (e.g., improving fabric smoothness and/or appearance, removing pills and fibrils which tend to reduce fabric appearance sharpness).
• an effective amount of cellulase in a fabric stonewashing composition herein is that amount which will provide the desired effect (e.g., to produce a worn and faded look in seams and on fabric panels).
• the amount of cellulase in a composition herein can also depend on the process parameters in which the composition is employed (e.g., equipment, temperature, time, and the like) and cellulase activity, for example.
• the effective concentration of cellulase in an aqueous composition in which a fabric is treated can be readily determined by a skilled artisan.
• cellulase can be present in an aqueous composition (e.g., wash liquor) in which a fabric is treated in a concentration that is minimally about 0.01 -0.1 ppm total cellulase protein, or about 0.1 -10 ppb total cellulase protein (e.g., less than 1 ppm), to maximally about 100, 200, 500, 1000, 2000, 3000, 4000, or 5000 ppm total cellulase protein, for example.
• aqueous composition e.g., wash liquor
• a concentration that is minimally about 0.01 -0.1 ppm total cellulase protein, or about 0.1 -10 ppb total cellulase protein (e.g., less than 1 ppm), to maximally about 100, 200, 500, 1000, 2000, 3000, 4000, or 5000 ppm total cellulase protein, for example.
• the a- glucan oligomer/polymers and/or the present a-glucan ethers are mostly or completely stable (resistant) to being degraded by cellulase.
• the percent degradation of the present ⁇ -glucan oligomers/polymers and/or a- glucan ether compounds by one or more cellulases is less than 10%, 9%, 8%, 7%, 6%, 5%, 4%, 3%, 2%, or 1 %, or is 0%.
• Such percent degradation can be determined, for example, by comparing the molecular weight of polymer before and after treatment with a cellulase for a period of time (e.g., ⁇ 24 hours).
• hydrocolloids and aqueous solutions in certain embodiments are believed to have either shear thinning behavior or shear thickening behavior.
• Shear thinning behavior is observed as a decrease in viscosity of the hydrocolloid or aqueous solution as shear rate increases, whereas shear thickening behavior is observed as an increase in viscosity of the hydrocolloid or aqueous solution as shear rate increases.
• Modification of the shear thinning behavior or shear thickening behavior of an aqueous solution herein is due to the admixture of the ⁇ -glucan ether to the aqueous composition.
• one or more ⁇ -glucan ether compounds can be added to an aqueous composition to modify its rheological profile (i.e., the flow properties of the aqueous liquid, solution, or mixture are modified).
• one or more ⁇ -glucan ether compounds can be added to an aqueous composition to modify its viscosity.
• the rheological properties of hydrocolloids and aqueous solutions can be observed by measuring viscosity over an increasing rotational shear rate (e.g., from about 10 rpm to about 250 rpm).
• shear thinning behavior of a hydrocolloid or aqueous solution disclosed herein can be observed as a decrease in viscosity (cPs) by at least about 5%, 10%, 15%, 20%, 25%, 30%, 35%, 40%, 45%, 50%, 55%, 60%, 65%, 70%, 75%, 80%, 85%, 90%, or 95% (or any integer between 5% and 95%) as the rotational shear rate increases from about 10 rpm to 60 rpm, 10 rpm to 150 rpm, 10 rpm to 250 rpm, 60 rpm to 150 rpm, 60 rpm to 250 rpm, or 150 rpm to 250 rpm.
• shear thickening behavior of a hydrocolloid or aqueous solution disclosed herein can be observed as an increase in viscosity (cPs) by at least about 5%, 10%, 15%, 20%, 25%, 30%, 35%, 40%, 45%, 50%, 55%, 60%, 65%, 70%, 75%, 80%, 85%, 90%, 95%, 100%, 125%, 150%, 175%, or 200% (or any integer between 5% and 200%) as the rotational shear rate increases from about 10 rpm to 60 rpm, 10 rpm to 150 rpm, 10 rpm to 250 rpm, 60 rpm to 150 rpm, 60 rpm to 250 rpm , or 150 rpm to 250 rpm .
• cPs viscosity
• a hydrocolloid or aqueous solution disclosed herein can be in the form of, and/or comprised in, a textile care product, a laundry care product, a personal care product, a pharmaceutical product, or industrial product.
• the present a-glucan oligomers/polymers and/or the present a-glucan ether compounds can be used as thickening agents and/or dispersion agents in each of these products.
• Such a thickening agent may be used in conjunction with one or more other types of thickening agents if desired, such as those disclosed in U.S. Patent No. 8541041 , the disclosure of which is incorporated herein by reference in its entirety.
• a household and/or industrial product herein can be in the form of drywall tape-joint compounds; mortars; grouts; cement plasters; spray plasters; cement stucco; adhesives; pastes; wall/ceiling texturizers;
• binders and processing aids for tape casting, extrusion forming, injection molding and ceramics spray adherents and suspending/dispersing aids for pesticides, herbicides, and fertilizers
• fabric care products such as fabric softeners and laundry detergents; hard surface cleaners; air fresheners; polymer emulsions; gels such as water-based gels; surfactant solutions; paints such as water-based paints; protective coatings;
• adhesives sealants and caulks; inks such as water-based ink; metal- working fluids; emulsion-based metal cleaning fluids used in electroplating, phosphatizing, galvanizing and/or general metal cleaning operations;
• compositions disclosed herein can be in the form of a fabric care
• a fabric care composition herein can be used for hand wash, machine wash and/or other purposes such as soaking and/or pretreatment of fabrics, for example.
• a fabric care composition may take the form of, for example, a laundry detergent; fabric conditioner; any wash-, rinse-, or dryer-added product; unit dose or spray.
• Fabric care compositions in a liquid form may be in the form of an aqueous composition as disclosed herein.
• a fabric care composition can be in a dry form such as a granular detergent or dryer-added fabric softener sheet.
• fabric care compositions herein include: granular or powder-form all-purpose or heavy-duty washing agents; liquid, gel or paste-form all-purpose or heavy-duty washing agents; liquid or dry fine- fabric (e.g. delicates) detergents; cleaning auxiliaries such as bleach additives, "stain-stick", or pre-treatments; substrate-laden products such as dry and wetted wipes, pads, or sponges; sprays and mists.
• a detergent composition herein may be in any useful form, e.g., as powders, granules, pastes, bars, unit dose, or liquid.
• a liquid detergent may be aqueous, typically containing up to about 70 wt% of water and 0 wt% to about 30 wt% of organic solvent. It may also be in the form of a compact gel type containing only about 30 wt% water.
• a detergent composition herein typically comprises one or more surfactants, wherein the surfactant is selected from nonionic surfactants, anionic surfactants, cationic surfactants, ampholytic surfactants, zwitterionic surfactants, semi-polar nonionic surfactants and mixtures thereof.
• the surfactant is present at a level of from about 0.1 % to about 60%, while in alternative embodiments the level is from about 1 % to about 50%, while in still further embodiments the level is from about 5% to about 40%, by weight of the cleaning composition.
• a detergent will usually contain 0 wt% to about 50 wt% of an anionic surfactant such as linear alkylbenzenesulfonate (LAS), alpha- olefinsulfonate (AOS), alkyl sulfate (fatty alcohol sulfate) (AS), alcohol ethoxysulfate (AEOS or AES), secondary alkanesulfonates (SAS), alpha- sulfo fatty acid methyl esters, alkyl- or alkenylsuccinic acid, or soap.
• an anionic surfactant such as linear alkylbenzenesulfonate (LAS), alpha- olefinsulfonate (AOS), alkyl sulfate (fatty alcohol sulfate) (AS), alcohol ethoxysulfate (AEOS or AES), secondary alkanesulfonates (SAS), alpha- sulfo fatty acid methyl esters, alkyl- or alkenyl
• a detergent composition may optionally contain 0 wt% to about 40 wt% of a nonionic surfactant such as alcohol ethoxylate (AEO or AE), carboxylated alcohol ethoxylates, nonylphenol ethoxylate,
• a nonionic surfactant such as alcohol ethoxylate (AEO or AE), carboxylated alcohol ethoxylates, nonylphenol ethoxylate,
• alkylpolyglycoside alkylpolyglycoside, alkyldimethylamineoxide, ethoxylated fatty acid monoethanolamide, fatty acid monoethanolamide, or polyhydroxy alkyl fatty acid amide (as described for example in WO92/06154, which is incorporated herein by reference).
• a detergent composition herein typically comprise one or more detergent builders or builder systems.
• the cleaning compositions comprise at least about 1 %, from about 3% to about 60% or even from about 5% to about 40% builder by weight of the cleaning composition.
• Builders include, but are not limited to, the alkali metal, ammonium and alkanolammonium salts of polyphosphates, alkali metal silicates, alkaline earth and alkali metal carbonates, aluminosilicates, polycarboxylate compounds, ether hydroxypolycarboxylates, copolymers of maleic anhydride with ethylene or vinyl methyl ether, 1 , 3, 5-trihydroxy benzene-2, 4, 6-trisulphonic acid, and carboxymethyloxysuccinic acid, the various alkali metal, ammonium and substituted ammonium salts of polyacetic acids such as ethylenediamine tetraacetic acid and nitrilotriacetic acid, as well as polycarboxylates such as mellitic acid, succinic acid, citric acid, oxydisuccinic acid, polymaleic acid, benzene 1 ,3,5-tricarboxylic acid, carboxymethyloxysuccinic acid, and soluble
• a detergent builder or complexing agent examples include zeolite, diphosphate, triphosphate, phosphonate, citrate, nitrilotriacetic acid (NTA),
• EDTA ethylenediaminetetraacetic acid
• DTMPA diethylenetriaminepentaacetic acid
• alkyl- or alkenylsuccinic acid soluble silicates or layered silicates (e.g., SKS-6 from Hoechst).
• a detergent may also be unbuilt, i.e., essentially free of detergent builder.
• the builders form water-soluble hardness ion complexes (e.g., sequestering builders), such as citrates and polyphosphates (e.g., sodium tripolyphosphate and sodium
• tripolyphospate hexahydrate potassium tripolyphosphate, and mixed sodium and potassium tripolyphosphate, etc.
• any suitable builder will find use in the present disclosure, including those known in the art (See e.g., EP 2 100 949).
• builders for use herein include phosphate builders and non-phosphate builders.
• the builder is a phosphate builder.
• the builder is a non- phosphate builder. If present, builders are used in a level of from 0.1 % to 80%, or from 5 to 60%, or from 10 to 50% by weight of the composition.
• the product comprises a mixture of phosphate and non-phosphate builders. Suitable phosphate builders include monophosphates, di-phosphates, tri-polyphosphates or oligomeric- poylphosphates, including the alkali metal salts of these compounds, including the sodium salts.
• a builder can be sodium tripolyphosphate (STPP). Additionally, the composition can comprise carbonate and/or citrate, preferably citrate that helps to achieve a neutral pH composition.
• suitable non-phosphate builders include homopolymers and copolymers of polycarboxylic acids and their partially or completely neutralized salts, monomeric polycarboxylic acids and hydroxycarboxylic acids and their salts.
• salts of the above mentioned compounds include the ammonium and/or alkali metal salts, i.e. the lithium, sodium, and potassium salts, including sodium salts.
• Suitable polycarboxylic acids include acyclic, alicyclic, hetero-cyclic and aromatic carboxylic acids, wherein in some embodiments, they can contain at least two carboxyl groups which are in each case separated from one another by, in some instances, no more than two carbon atoms.
• a detergent composition herein can comprise at least one chelating agent.
• Suitable chelating agents include, but are not limited to copper, iron and/or manganese chelating agents and mixtures thereof.
• the cleaning compositions of the present disclosure comprise from about 0.1 % to about 15% or even from about 3.0% to about 10% chelating agent by weight of the subject cleaning composition.
• a detergent composition herein can comprise at least one deposition aid.
• Suitable deposition aids include, but are not limited to, polyethylene glycol, polypropylene glycol, polycarboxylate, soil release polymers such as polytelephthalic acid, clays such as kaolinite,
• montmorillonite montmorillonite, atapulgite, illite, bentonite, halloysite, and mixtures thereof.
• a detergent composition herein can comprise one or more dye transfer inhibiting agents.
• Suitable polymeric dye transfer inhibiting agents include, but are not limited to, polyvinylpyrrolidone polymers, polyamine N- oxide polymers, copolymers of N-vinylpyrrolidone and N-vinylimidazole, polyvinyloxazolidones and polyvinylimidazoles or mixtures thereof.
• Additional dye transfer inhibiting agents include manganese
• EDTA ethylene-diamine-tetraacetic acid
• DTPMP diethylene triamine penta methylene phosphonic acid
• HEDP hydroxy-ethane diphosphonic acid
• EDDS ethylenediamine ⁇ , ⁇ '-disuccinic acid
• MGDA methyl
• DTPA diethylene triamine penta acetic acid
• PDT A propylene diamine tetracetic acid
• HPNO 2-hydroxypyridine-N-oxide
• MGDA methyl glycine diacetic acid
• glutamic acid ⁇ , ⁇ -diacetic acid N,N- dicarboxymethyl glutamic acid tetrasodium salt (GLDA)
• nitrilotriacetic acid NTA
• 4,5-dihydroxy-m-benzenedisulfonic acid citric acid and any salts thereof; N-hydroxyethylethylenediaminetri-acetic acid (HEDTA), triethylenetetraaminehexaacetic acid (TTHA), N-hydroxyethyliminodiacetic acid (HEIDA), dihydroxyethylglycine (DHEG),
• EDTP ethylenediaminetetrapropionic acid
• the cleaning compositions of the present disclosure comprise from about 0.0001 % to about 10%, from about 0.01 % to about 5%, or even from about 0.1 % to about 3% by weight of the cleaning composition.
• a detergent composition herein can comprise silicates.
• silicates e.g., sodium disilicate, sodium metasilicate, and crystalline phyllosilicates
• find use e.g., sodium disilicate, sodium metasilicate, and crystalline phyllosilicates.
• silicates are present at a level of from about 1 % to about 20%. In some embodiments, silicates are present at a level of from about 5% to about 15% by weight of the composition.
• a detergent composition herein can comprise dispersants.
• Suitable water-soluble organic materials include, but are not limited to the homo- or co-polymeric acids or their salts, in which the polycarboxylic acid comprises at least two carboxyl radicals separated from each other by not more than two carbon atoms.
• Suitable cellulases include, but are not limited to Humicola insolens cellulases (See e.g., U.S. Pat. No.
• Exemplary cellulases contemplated for such use are those having color care benefit for a textile.
• Exemplary cellulases that provide a color care benefit are disclosed in EP0495257, EP0531372, EP531315, W096/1 1262, W096/29397, WO94/07998; WO98/12307; W095/24471 , WO98/08940, and U.S. Patent Nos. 5457046, 5686593 and 5763254, all of which are incorporated herein by reference.
• Examples of commercially available cellulases useful in a detergent include CELLUSOFT ® ,
• CELLUCLEAN ® CELLUZYME ®
• CAREZYME ® Novo Nordisk A/S and Novozymes A/S
• CLAZINASE ® PURADAX HA ®
• PURADAX HA ® PURADAX HA ®
• REVITALENZTM DuPont Industrial Biosciences
• BIOTOUCH ® BIOTOUCH ®
• Enzymes and KAC-500(B)TM (Kao Corporation). Additional cellulases are disclosed in, e.g., US7595182, US8569033, US7138263, US3844890, US4435307, US4435307, and GB2095275.
• a detergent composition herein may additionally comprise one or more other enzymes in addition to at least one cellulase.
• other enzymes include proteases, cellulases, hemicellulases, peroxidases, lipolytic enzymes (e.g., metallolipolytic enzymes), xylanases, lipases, phospholipases, esterases (e.g., arylesterase, polyesterase),
• perhydrolases cutinases, pectinases, pectate lyases, mannanases, keratinases, reductases, oxidases (e.g., choline oxidase, phenoloxidase), phenoloxidases, lipoxygenases, ligninases, pullulanases, tannases, pentosanases, malanases, beta-glucanases, arabinosidases,
• oxidases e.g., choline oxidase, phenoloxidase
• phenoloxidases phenoloxidases
• lipoxygenases ligninases
• pullulanases tannases
• pentosanases malanases
• beta-glucanases arabinosidases
• hyaluronidases chondroitinases, laccases, metalloproteinases,
• amadoriases glucoamylases, alpha-amylases, beta-amylases,
• galactosidases galactanases, catalases, carageenases, hyaluronidases, keratinases, lactases, ligninases, peroxidases, phosphatases,
• polygalacturonases polygalacturonases, pullulanases, rhamnogalactouronases, tannases, transglutaminases, xyloglucanases, xylosidases, metalloproteases, arabinofuranosidases, phytases, isomerases, transferases and/or amylasesin any combination.
• the detergent compositions can comprise one or more enzymes, each at a level from about 0.00001 % to about 10% by weight of the composition and the balance of cleaning adjunct materials by weight of composition. In some other embodiments, the detergent compositions also comprise each enzyme at a level of about 0.0001 % to about 10%, about 0.001 % to about 5%, about 0.001 % to about 2%, about 0.005% to about 0.5% enzyme by weight of the composition.
• Suitable proteases include those of animal, vegetable or microbial origin. In some embodiments, microbial proteases are used. In some embodiments, chemically or genetically modified mutants are included.
• the protease is a serine protease, preferably an alkaline microbial protease or a trypsin-like protease.
• alkaline proteases include subtilisins, especially those derived from Bacillus (e.g., subtilisin, lentus, amyloliquefaciens, subtilisin Carlsberg, subtilisin 309, subtilisin 147 and subtilisin 168). Additional examples include those mutant proteases described in U.S. Pat. Nos. RE 34,606, 5,955,340,
• protease examples include, but are not limited to trypsin (e.g., of porcine or bovine origin), and the Fusarium protease described in WO 89/06270.
• commercially available protease enzymes that find use include, but are not limited to MAXATASE®, MAXACALTM, MAXAPEMTM, OPTICLEAN®, OPTIMASE®, PROPERASE®, PURAFECT®, PURAFECT® OXP, PURAMAXTM, EXCELLASETM, PREFERENZTM proteases (e.g.
• EFFECTENZTM proteases e.g. P1000, P1050, P2000
• EXCELLENZTM proteases e.g. P1000
• ULTIMASE® e.g. P1000
• PURAFASTTM Genecor
• ALCALASE®, SAVINASE®, PRIMASE®, DURAZYMTM, POLARZYME®, OVOZYME®, KANNASE®, LIQUANASE®, NEUTRASE®, RELASE® and ESPERASE® Novozymes
• BLAPTM and BLAPTM variants Henkel
• neutral metalloproteases find use in the present disclosure, including but not limited to the neutral metalloproteases described in WO1999014341 , WO1999033960, WO1999014342, WO1999034003, WO2007044993, WO2009058303, WO2009058661 .
• Exemplary metalloproteases include nprE, the recombinant form of neutral metalloprotease expressed in Bacillus subtilis (See e.g., WO 07/044993), and PMN, the purified neutral metalloprotease from Bacillus amyloliquefaciens.
• Suitable mannanases include, but are not limited to those of bacterial or fungal origin. Chemically or genetically modified mutants are included in some embodiments. Various mannanases are known which find use in the present disclosure (See e.g., U.S. Pat. No. 6,566, 1 14, U.S. Pat. No.6,602,842, and US Patent No. 6,440,991 , all of which are incorporated herein by reference). Commercially available mannanases that find use in the present disclosure include, but are not limited to MANNASTAR®, PURABRITETM, and MANN AWAY®. Suitable lipases include those of bacterial or fungal origin.
• lipids Chemically modified, proteolytically modified, or protein engineered mutants are included.
• useful lipases include those from the genera Humicola (e.g., H. lanuginosa, EP258068 and EP305216; H.
• Pseudomonas e.g., P. alcaligenes or P.
• a number of cloned lipases find use in some embodiments, including but not limited to Penicillium camembertii lipase (See, Yamaguchi et al., Gene 103:61 -67 [1991 ]), Geotricum candidum lipase (See, Schimada et al., J. Biochem., 106:383-388 [1989]), and various Rhizopus lipases such as R. delemar lipase (See, Hass et al., Gene 109: 1 17-1 13 [1991 ]), a R. niveus lipase (Kugimiya et al., Biosci. Biotech. Biochem. 56:716-719 [1992]) and R. oryzae lipase. Additional lipases useful herein include, for example, those disclosed in
• lipase polypeptide enzymes such as cutinases also find use in some embodiments, including but not limited to the cutinase derived from Pseudomonas mendocina (See, WO 88/09367), and the cutinase derived from Fusarium solani pisi (See, WO 90/09446).
• cutinases include M1 LIPASETM, LUMA FASTTM, and LIPOMAXTM (Genencor); LIPEX®, LIPOLASE® and LIPOLASE® ULTRA
• Suitable polyesterases include, for example, those disclosed in
• a detergent composition herein can also comprise 2,6-beta-D- fructan hydrolase, which is effective for removal/cleaning of certain biofilms present on household and/or industrial textiles/laundry.
• Suitable amylases include , but are not limited to those of bacterial or fungal origin. Chemically or genetically modified mutants are included in some embodiments. Amylases that find use in the present disclosure, include, but are not limited to a-amylases obtained from B. licheniformis (See e.g., GB 1 ,296,839). Additional suitable amylases include those found in W09510603, W09526397, W09623874, W09623873,
• Suitable amylases include, for example, commercially available amylases such as STAINZYME ® , STAINZYME PLUS ® , NATALASE ® , DURAMYL ® , TERM AM YL ® , TERM AM YL ULTRA ® , FUNGAMYL ® and BANTM (Novo Nordisk A/S and Novozymes A/S); RAP I DAS E ® ,
• Suitable peroxidases/oxidases contemplated for use in the compositions include those of plant, bacterial or fungal origin. Chemically modified or protein engineered mutants are included. Examples of peroxidases useful herein include those from the genus Coprinus (e.g., C. cinereus, W093/24618, WO95/10602, and W098/15257), as well as those referenced in WO 2005056782, WO2007106293, WO2008063400, WO2008106214, and WO2008106215. Commercially available
• peroxidases useful herein include, for example, GUARDZYMETM (Novo Nordisk A/S and Novozymes A/S).
• peroxidases are used in combination with hydrogen peroxide or a source thereof (e.g., a percarbonate, perborate or persulfate) in the compositions of the present disclosure.
• oxidases are used in combination with oxygen. Both types of enzymes are used for "solution bleaching" (i.e., to prevent transfer of a textile dye from a dyed fabric to another fabric when the fabrics are washed together in a wash liquor), preferably together with an enhancing agent (See e.g., WO 94/12621 and WO 95/01426).
• Suitable peroxidases/oxidases include, but are not limited to those of plant, bacterial or fungal origin. Chemically or genetically modified mutants are included in some embodiments.
• Enzymes that may be comprised in a detergent composition herein may be stabilized using conventional stabilizing agents, e.g., a polyol such as propylene glycol or glycerol; a sugar or sugar alcohol; lactic acid; boric acid or a boric acid derivative (e.g., an aromatic borate ester).
• a polyol such as propylene glycol or glycerol
• a sugar or sugar alcohol lactic acid
• boric acid or a boric acid derivative e.g., an aromatic borate ester
• a detergent composition herein may contain about 1 wt% to about 65 wt% of a detergent builder or complexing agent such as zeolite, diphosphate, triphosphate, phosphonate, citrate, nitrilotriacetic acid (NTA), ethylenediaminetetraacetic acid (EDTA), diethylenetriaminepentaacetic acid (DTMPA), alkyl- or alkenylsuccinic acid, soluble silicates or layered silicates (e.g., SKS-6 from Hoechst).
• a detergent may also be unbuilt, i.e., essentially free of detergent builder.
• a detergent composition in certain embodiments may comprise one or more other types of polymers in addition to the present a-glucan oligomers/polymers and/or the present a-glucan ether compounds.
• CMC carboxymethyl cellulose
• PVP poly(vinylpyrrolidone)
• PEG polyethylene glycol
• PVA polyvinyl alcohol
• polycarboxylates such as polyacrylates, maleic/acrylic acid copolymers and lauryl methacry late/acrylic acid copolymers.
• a detergent composition herein may contain a bleaching system.
• a bleaching system can comprise an H2O2 source such as perborate or percarbonate, which may be combined with a peracid-forming bleach activator such as tetraacetylethylenediamine (TAED) or
• a bleaching system may comprise peroxyacids (e.g., amide, imide, or sulfone type
• a bleaching system can be an enzymatic bleaching system comprising perhydrolase, for example, such as the system described in WO2005/056783.
• a detergent composition herein may also contain conventional detergent ingredients such as fabric conditioners, clays, foam boosters, suds suppressors, anti-corrosion agents, soil-suspending agents, anti-soil redeposition agents, dyes, bactericides, tarnish inhibiters, optical brighteners, or perfumes.
• the pH of a detergent composition herein is usually neutral or alkaline (e.g., pH of about 7.0 to about 1 1 .0).
• Laundry detergent compositions herein can optionally be heavy duty (all purpose) laundry detergent compositions.
• Exemplary heavy duty laundry detergent compositions comprise a detersive surfactant (10%-40% wt/wt), including an anionic detersive surfactant (selected from a group of linear or branched or random chain, substituted or unsubstituted alkyl sulphates, alkyl sulphonates, alkyl alkoxylated sulphate, alkyl phosphates, alkyl phosphonates, alkyl carboxylates, and/or mixtures thereof), and optionally non-ionic surfactant (selected from a group of linear or branched or random chain, substituted or unsubstituted alkyl alkoxylated alcohol, e.g., C8-C18 alkyl ethoxylated alcohols and/or C6-C12 alkyl phenol alkoxylates), where the weight ratio of anionic detersive surfactant (with a hydrophilic index (Hlc) of from 6.0 to 9) to non-ionic detersive sur
• alkyl quaternary ammonium compounds alkyl quaternary phosphonium compounds, alkyl ternary sulphonium compounds, and/or mixtures thereof
• zwitterionic and/or amphoteric detersive surfactants selected from a group of alkanolamine sulpho-betaines
• ampholytic surfactants selected from a group of alkanolamine sulpho-betaines
• semi-polar non-ionic surfactants and mixtures thereof.
• a detergent herein such as a heavy duty laundry detergent composition may optionally include, a surfactancy boosting polymer consisting of amphiphilic alkoxylated grease cleaning polymers (selected from a group of alkoxylated polymers having branched hydrophilic and hydrophobic properties, such as alkoxylated polyalkylenimines in the range of 0.05 wt% - 10 wt%) and/or random graft polymers (typically comprising of hydrophilic backbone comprising monomers selected from the group consisting of: unsaturated C1 -C6 carboxylic acids, ethers, alcohols, aldehydes, ketones, esters, sugar units, alkoxy units, maleic anhydride, saturated polyalcohols such as glycerol, and mixtures thereof; and hydrophobic side chain(s) selected from the group consisting of: C4- C25 alkyl group, polypropylene, polybutylene, vinyl ester of a saturated C1 -C6 mono-carboxy
• a detergent herein such as a heavy duty laundry detergent composition may optionally include additional polymers such as soil release polymers (include anionically end-capped polyesters, for example SRP1 , polymers comprising at least one monomer unit selected from saccharide, dicarboxylic acid, polyol and combinations thereof, in random or block configuration, ethylene terephthalate-based polymers and copolymers thereof in random or block configuration, for example REPEL-O- TEX SF, SF-2 AND SRP6, TEXCARE SRA100, SRA300, SRN100, SRN170, SRN240, SRN300 AND SRN325, MARLOQUEST SL), anti- redeposition polymers (0.1 wt% to 10 wt%), include carboxylate polymers, such as polymers comprising at least one monomer selected from acrylic acid, maleic acid (or maleic anhydride), fumaric acid, itaconic acid, aconitic acid, mesaconic acid, citraconic acid, methylenemal
• a detergent herein such as a heavy duty laundry detergent composition may optionally further include saturated or unsaturated fatty acids, preferably saturated or unsaturated C12-C24 fatty acids (0 wt% to 10 wt%); deposition aids in addition to the a-glucan ether compound disclosed herein (examples for which include polysaccharides, cellulosic polymers, poly diallyl dimethyl ammonium halides (DADMAC), and copolymers of DAD MAC with vinyl pyrrolidone, acrylamides, imidazoles, imidazolinium halides, and mixtures thereof, in random or block
• saturated or unsaturated fatty acids preferably saturated or unsaturated C12-C24 fatty acids (0 wt% to 10 wt%)
• deposition aids in addition to the a-glucan ether compound disclosed herein examples for which include polysaccharides, cellulosic polymers, poly diallyl dimethyl ammonium halides (DADMAC), and copo
• a detergent herein such as a heavy duty laundry detergent composition may optionally further include dye transfer inhibiting agents, examples of which include manganese phthalocyanine, peroxidases, polyvinylpyrrolidone polymers, polyamine N-oxide polymers, copolymers of N-vinylpyrrolidone and N-vinylimidazole, polyvinyloxazolidones and polyvinylimidazoles and/or mixtures thereof; chelating agents, examples of which include ethylene-diamine-tetraacetic acid (EDTA), diethylene triamine penta methylene phosphonic acid (DTPMP), hydroxy-ethane diphosphonic acid (HEDP), ethylenediamine ⁇ , ⁇ '-disuccinic acid (EDDS), methyl glycine diacetic acid (MGDA), diethylene triamine penta acetic acid (DTPA), propylene diamine tetracetic acid (PDTA), 2-hydroxypyridine-N- oxide (HPNO), or methyl g
• a detergent herein such as a heavy duty laundry detergent composition may optionally include silicone or fatty-acid based suds suppressors; hueing dyes, calcium and magnesium cations, visual signaling ingredients, anti-foam (0.001 wt% to about 4.0 wt%), and/or a structurant/thickener (0.01 wt% to 5 wt%) selected from the group consisting of diglycerides and triglycerides, ethylene glycol distearate, microcrystalline cellulose, microfiber cellulose, biopolymers, xanthan gum, gellan gum, and mixtures thereof).
• Such structurant/thickener would be in addition to the one or more of the present a-glucan oligomers/polymers and/or a-glucan ether compounds comprised in the detergent.
• a detergent herein can be in the form of a heavy duty dry/solid laundry detergent composition, for example.
• a detergent may include: (i) a detersive surfactant, such as any anionic detersive surfactant disclosed herein, any non-ionic detersive surfactant disclosed herein, any cationic detersive surfactant disclosed herein, any zwitterionic and/or amphoteric detersive surfactant disclosed herein, any ampholytic surfactant, any semi-polar non-ionic surfactant, and mixtures thereof; (ii) a builder, such as any phosphate-free builder (e.g., zeolite builders in the range of 0 wt% to less than 10 wt%), any phosphate builder (e.g., sodium tri-polyphosphate in the range of 0 wt% to less than 10 wt%), citric acid, citrate salts and nitrilotriacetic acid, any silicate salt (e.g., sodium
• bleach catalyst e.g., imine bleach boosters examples of which include iminium cations and polyions, iminium zwitterions, modified amines, modified amine oxides, N-sulphonyl imines, N-phosphonyl imines, N-acyl imines, thiadiazole dioxides, perfluoroimines, cyclic sugar ketones, and mixtures thereof
• a metal-containing bleach catalyst e.g., copper, iron, titanium, ruthenium, tungsten, molybdenum, or manganese cations along with an auxiliary metal cations such as zinc or aluminum and a sequestrate such as EDTA,
• compositions disclosed herein can be in the form of a dishwashing detergent composition.
• dishwashing detergents include automatic dishwashing detergents (typically used in dishwasher machines) and hand-washing dish detergents.
• a dishwashing detergent composition can be in any dry or liquid/aqueous form as disclosed herein, for example.
• Components that may be included in certain embodiments of a dishwashing detergent composition can be in any dry or liquid/aqueous form as disclosed herein, for example.
• dishwashing detergent composition include, for example, one or more of a phosphate; oxygen- or chlorine-based bleaching agent; non-ionic surfactant; alkaline salt (e.g., metasilicates, alkali metal hydroxides, sodium carbonate); any active enzyme disclosed herein; anti-corrosion agent (e.g., sodium silicate); anti-foaming agent; additives to slow down the removal of glaze and patterns from ceramics; perfume; anti-caking agent (in granular detergent); starch (in tablet-based detergents); gelling agent (in liquid/gel based detergents); and/or sand (powdered detergents).
• alkaline salt e.g., metasilicates, alkali metal hydroxides, sodium carbonate
• anti-corrosion agent e.g., sodium silicate
• anti-foaming agent additives to slow down the removal of glaze and patterns from ceramics
• perfume anti-caking agent (in granular detergent); starch (in tablet-based detergents
• Dishwashing detergents such as an automatic dishwasher detergent or liquid dishwashing detergent can comprise (i) a non-ionic surfactant, including any ethoxylated non-ionic surfactant, alcohol alkoxylated surfactant, epoxy-capped poly(oxyalkylated) alcohol, or amine oxide surfactant present in an amount from 0 to 10 wt%; (ii) a builder, in the range of about 5-60 wt%, including any phosphate builder (e.g., monophosphates, di-phosphates, tri-polyphosphates, other oligomeric- polyphosphates, sodium tripolyphosphate-STPP), any phosphate-free builder (e.g., amino acid-based compounds including methyl-glycine- diacetic acid [MGDA] and salts or derivatives thereof, glutamic-N,N- diacetic acid [GLDA] and salts or derivatives thereof, iminodisuccinic acid (IDS) and salts or derivatives thereof
• a silicate in the range from about 1 wt% to about 20 wt% e.g., sodium or potassium silicates such as sodium disilicate, sodium meta-silicate and crystalline phyllosilicates
• an inorganic bleach e.g., perhydrate salts such as perborate, percarbonate, perphosphate, persulfate and persilicate salts
• an organic bleach e.g., organic peroxyacids such as diacyl- and tetraacylperoxides, especially diperoxydodecanedioic acid, diperoxytetradecanedioic acid, and diperoxyhexadecanedioic acid
• a bleach activator e.g., organic peracid precursors in
• a-glucan ether compound e.g., a carboxyalkyl a-glucan ether such as carboxymethyl a-glucan
• a detergent composition formulated as a granulate having a bulk density of at least 600 g/L comprising: linear alkylbenzenesulfonate
• alcohol ethoxysulfate e.g., C12-18 alcohol, 1 -2 ethylene oxide [EO]
• alkyl sulfate e.g., C16-18
• alcohol ethoxylate e.g., C14-15 alcohol
• sodium carbonate at about 14-20 wt%
• soluble silicate e.g., Na20 2S1O2
• zeolite e.g., NaAISi04
• sodium citrate/citric acid at about 0-15 wt%
• sodium perborate at about 1 1 -18 wt%
• TAED at about 2-6 wt%
• ⁇ -glucan ether up to about 2 wt%
• other polymers e.g., maleic/acrylic
• a detergent composition formulated as a granulate having a bulk density of at least 600 g/L comprising: linear alkylbenzenesulfonate (calculated as acid) at about 6-1 1 wt%; alcohol ethoxysulfate (e.g. , C12-18 alcohol, 1 -2 EO) or alkyl sulfate (e.g. , C16-18) at about 1 -3 wt%; alcohol ethoxylate (e.g., C14-15 alcohol) at about 5-9 wt%; sodium carbonate at about 15-21 wt%; soluble silicate (e.g. , Na20 2S1O2) at about 1 -4 wt%; zeolite (e.g.
• NaAISiO- at about 24-34 wt%; sodium sulfate at about 4-10 wt%; sodium citrate/citric acid at about 0-15 wt%; sodium perborate at about 1 1 -18 wt%; TAED at about 2-6 wt%; a-glucan ether up to about 2 wt%; other polymers (e.g. , maleic/acrylic acid copolymer, PVP, PEG) at about 1 -6 wt%; optionally an enzyme(s) (calculated as pure enzyme protein) at about 0.0001 -0.1 wt%; and minor ingredients (e.g. , suds suppressors, perfumes, optical brightener, photobleach) at about 0-5 wt%.
• other polymers e.g. , maleic/acrylic acid copolymer, PVP, PEG
• enzyme(s) calculated as pure enzyme protein
• minor ingredients e.g. , suds suppressors, perfumes, optical
• a detergent composition formulated as a granulate having a bulk density of at least 600 g/L comprising: linear alkylbenzenesulfonate
• alcohol ethoxysulfate e.g. , C12-18 alcohol, 7 EO
• soap as fatty acid e.g. , C16-22 fatty acid
• sodium carbonate at about 10-17 wt%
• soluble silicate e.g. , Na20 2S1O2
• zeolite e.g.
• NaAISi04 NaAISi04
• sodium sulfate at about 0-4 wt%
• sodium perborate at about 8-16 wt%
• TAED at about 2-8 wt%
• phosphonate e.g. , EDTMPA
• other polymers e.g. , maleic/acrylic acid copolymer, PVP, PEG
• an enzyme(s) (calculated as pure enzyme protein) at about 0.0001 -0.1 wt%
• minor ingredients e.g. , suds suppressors, perfumes, optical brightener
• a detergent composition formulated as a granulate having a bulk density of at least 600 g/L comprising: linear alkylbenzenesulfonate (calculated as acid) at about 8-12 wt%; alcohol ethoxylate (e.g., C12-18 alcohol, 7 EO) at about 10-25 wt%; sodium carbonate at about 14-22 wt%; soluble silicate (e.g. , Na20 2S1O2) at about 1 -5 wt%; zeolite (e.g. ,
• NaAISiO-0 at about 25-35 wt%; sodium sulfate at about 0-10 wt%; sodium perborate at about 8-16 wt%; TAED at about 2-8 wt%; phosphonate (e.g. , EDTMPA) at about 0-1 wt%; a-glucan ether up to about 2 wt%; other polymers (e.g., maleic/acrylic acid copolymer, PVP, PEG) at about 1 -3 wt%; optionally an enzyme(s) (calculated as pure enzyme protein) at about 0.0001 -0.1 wt%; and minor ingredients (e.g., suds suppressors, perfumes) at about 0-5 wt%.
• other polymers e.g., maleic/acrylic acid copolymer, PVP, PEG
• enzyme(s) calculated as pure enzyme protein
• minor ingredients e.g., suds suppressors, perfumes
• An aqueous liquid detergent composition comprising: linear alkylbenzenesulfonate (calculated as acid) at about 15-21 wt%; alcohol ethoxylate (e.g., C12-18 alcohol, 7 EO; or C12-15 alcohol, 5 EO) at about 12-18 wt%; soap as fatty acid (e.g., oleic acid) at about 3-13 wt%;
• alkenylsuccinic acid (C12-14) at about 0-13 wt%; aminoethanol at about 8- 18 wt%; citric acid at about 2-8 wt%; phosphonate at about 0-3 wt%; a- glucan ether up to about 2 wt%; other polymers (e.g., PVP, PEG) at about 0-3 wt%; borate at about 0-2 wt%; ethanol at about 0-3 wt%; propylene glycol at about 8-14 wt%; optionally an enzyme(s) (calculated as pure enzyme protein) at about 0.0001 -0.1 wt%; and minor ingredients (e.g., dispersants, suds suppressors, perfume, optical brightener) at about 0-5 wt%.
• minor ingredients e.g., dispersants, suds suppressors, perfume, optical brightener
• An aqueous structured liquid detergent composition comprising: linear alkylbenzenesulfonate (calculated as acid) at about 15-21 wt%; alcohol ethoxylate (e.g., C12-18 alcohol, 7 EO; or C12-15 alcohol, 5 EO) at about 3-9 wt%; soap as fatty acid (e.g., oleic acid) at about 3-10 wt%; zeolite (e.g., NaAISiO- at about 14-22 wt%; potassium citrate about 9-18 wt%; borate at about 0-2 wt%; a-glucan ether up to about 2 wt%; other polymers (e.g., PVP, PEG) at about 0-3 wt%; ethanol at about 0-3 wt%; anchoring polymers (e.g., lauryl methacrylate/acrylic acid copolymer, molar ratio 25: 1 , MW 3800) at about 0-3 wt
• a detergent composition formulated as a granulate having a bulk density of at least 600 g/L comprising: fatty alcohol sulfate at about 5-10 wt%, ethoxylated fatty acid monoethanolamide at about 3-9 wt%; soap as fatty acid at about 0-3 wt%; sodium carbonate at about 5-10 wt%; soluble silicate (e.g., Na 2 0 2S1O2) at about 1 -4 wt%; zeolite (e.g., NaAISi04) at about 20-40 wt%; sodium sulfate at about 2-8 wt%; sodium perborate at about 12-18 wt%; TAED at about 2-7 wt%; a-glucan ether up to about 2 wt%; other polymers (e.g., maleic/acrylic acid copolymer, PEG) at about 1 - 5 wt%; optionally an enzyme(s) (calculated as pure enzyme protein) at about
• a detergent composition formulated as a granulate comprising: linear alkylbenzenesulfonate (calculated as acid) at about 8-14 wt%;
• ethoxylated fatty acid monoethanolamide at about 5-1 1 wt%; soap as fatty acid at about 0-3 wt%; sodium carbonate at about 4-10 wt%; soluble silicate (e.g., Na 2 0 2S1O2) at about 1 -4 wt%; zeolite (e.g., NaAISi04) at about 30-50 wt%; sodium sulfate at about 3-1 1 wt%; sodium citrate at about 5-12 wt%; a-glucan ether up to about 2 wt%; other polymers (e.g., PVP, maleic/acrylic acid copolymer, PEG) at about 1 -5 wt%; optionally an enzyme(s) (calculated as pure enzyme protein) at about 0.0001 -0.1 wt%; and minor ingredients (e.g., suds suppressors, perfumes) at about 0-5 wt%.
• soluble silicate e.g., Na 2
• a detergent composition formulated as a granulate comprising: linear alkylbenzenesulfonate (calculated as acid) at about 6-12 wt%;
• nonionic surfactant at about 1 -4 wt%; soap as fatty acid at about 2-6 wt%; sodium carbonate at about 14-22 wt%; zeolite (e.g., NaAISiO- at about 18-32 wt%; sodium sulfate at about 5-20 wt%; sodium citrate at about 3-8 wt%; sodium perborate at about 4-9 wt%; bleach activator (e.g., NOBS or TAED) at about 1 -5 wt%; ⁇ -glucan ether up to about 2 wt%; other polymers (e.g., polycarboxylate or PEG) at about 1 -5 wt%; optionally an enzyme(s) (calculated as pure enzyme protein) at about 0.0001 -0.1 wt%; and minor ingredients (e.g., optical brightener, perfume) at about 0-5 wt%.
• zeolite e.g., NaAISiO- at about 18-32
• An aqueous liquid detergent composition comprising: linear alkylbenzenesulfonate (calculated as acid) at about 15-23 wt%; alcohol ethoxysulfate (e.g., 012-15 alcohol, 2-3 EO) at about 8-15 wt%; alcohol ethoxylate (e.g., 012-15 alcohol, 7 EO; or 012-15 alcohol, 5 EO) at about 3-9 wt%; soap as fatty acid (e.g., lauric acid) at about 0-3 wt%; aminoethanol at about 1 -5 wt%; sodium citrate at about 5-10 wt%;
• hydrotrope e.g., sodium toluenesulfonate
• borate at about 0-2 wt%
• a-glucan ether up to about 1 wt%
• ethanol at about 1 -3 wt%
• propylene glycol at about 2-5 wt%
• an enzyme(s) e.g., sodium toluenesulfonate
• An aqueous liquid detergent composition comprising: linear alkylbenzenesulfonate (calculated as acid) at about 20-32 wt%; alcohol ethoxylate (e.g., C12-15 alcohol, 7 EO; or C12-15 alcohol, 5 EO) at about 6-12 wt%; aminoethanol at about 2-6 wt%; citric acid at about 8-14 wt%; borate at about 1 -3 wt%; a-glucan ether up to about 2 wt%; ethanol at about 1 -3 wt%; propylene glycol at about 2-5 wt%; other polymers (e.g., maleic/acrylic acid copolymer, anchoring polymer such as lauryl methacrylate/acrylic acid copolymer) at about 0-3 wt%; glycerol at about 3- 8 wt%; optionally an enzyme(s) (calculated as pure enzyme protein) at about 0.0001 -0.1 wt%
• a detergent composition formulated as a granulate having a bulk density of at least 600 g/L comprising: anionic surfactant (e.g., linear alkylbenzenesulfonate, alkyl sulfate, alpha-olefinsulfonate, alpha-sulfo fatty acid methyl esters, alkanesulfonates, soap) at about 25-40 wt%; nonionic surfactant (e.g., alcohol ethoxylate) at about 1 -10 wt%; sodium carbonate at about 8-25 wt%; soluble silicate (e.g., Na20 2S1O2) at about 5-15 wt%; sodium sulfate at about 0-5 wt%; zeolite (NaAISiO- at about 15-28 wt%; sodium perborate at about 0-20 wt%; bleach activator (e.g., TAED or NOBS) at about 0-5 wt%; ⁇ - ani
• a detergent composition formulated as a granulate having a bulk density of at least 600 g/L comprising: C12-C18 alkyl sulfate at about 9-15 wt%; alcohol ethoxylate at about 3-6 wt%; polyhydroxy alkyl fatty acid amide at about 1 -5 wt%; zeolite (e.g. , NaAISi04) at about 10-20 wt%;
• layered disilicate e.g. , SK56 from Hoechst
• sodium carbonate at about 3-12 wt%
• soluble silicate e.g. , Na20 2S1O2
• sodium citrate at about 4-8 wt%
• sodium percarbonate at about 13- 22 wt%
• TAED at about 3-8 wt%
• a-glucan ether up to about 2 wt%
• other polymers e.g. , polycarboxylates and PVP
• an enzyme(s) calculated as pure enzyme protein
• minor ingredients e.g. , optical brightener, photobleach, perfume, suds suppressors
• a detergent composition formulated as a granulate having a bulk density of at least 600 g/L comprising: C12-C18 alkyl sulfate at about 4-8 wt%; alcohol ethoxylate at about 1 1 -15 wt%; soap at about 1 -4 wt%; zeolite MAP or zeolite A at about 35-45 wt%; sodium carbonate at about 2- 8 wt%; soluble silicate (e.g. , Na20 2S1O2) at 0-4 wt%; sodium
• other polymers e.g. , polycarboxylates and PVP
• enzyme(s) calculated as pure enzyme protein
• minor ingredients e.g. , optical brightener, phosphonate, perfume
• a manganese catalyst for example, is one of the compounds described by Hage et al. (1994, Nature 369:637-639), which is incorporated herein by reference.
• Detergent compositions formulated as a non-aqueous detergent liquid comprising a liquid non-ionic surfactant (e.g., a linear alkoxylated primary alcohol), a builder system (e.g., phosphate), a-glucan ether, optionally an enzyme(s), and alkali.
• the detergent may also comprise an anionic surfactant and/or bleach system.
• the present a-glucan oligomers/polymers may be partially or completely substituted for the a- glucan ether component in any of the above exemplary formulations.
• detergent formulations can be adapted to include a poly alpha-1 ,3-1 ,6-glucan ether compound.
• examples include PUREX ® ULTRAPACKS (Henkel), FINISH ® QUANTUM (Reckitt Benckiser), CLOROXTM 2 PACKS (Clorox),
• a personal care composition, a fabric care composition or a laundry care composition comprising the glucan ether composition described in any of the preceeding embodiments.
• the present ⁇ -glucan oligomer/polymer composition and/or the present ⁇ -glucan ether composition may be applied as a surface substantive treatment to a fabric, yarn or fiber.
• a fabric, yarn or fiber comprising the present a- glucan oligomer/polymer composition, the present ⁇ -glucan ether composition, or a combination thereof.
• the ⁇ -glucan ether compound disclosed herein may be used to alter viscosity of an aqueous composition.
• the ⁇ -glucan ether compound herein can have a relatively low DoS and still be an effective viscosity modifier. It is believed that the viscosity modification effect of the disclosed ⁇ -glucan ether compounds may be coupled with a rheology modification effect. It is further believed that, by contacting a hydrocolloid or aqueous solution herein with a surface (e.g., fabric surface), one or more ⁇ -glucan ether compounds and/or the present a-glucan
• the compounds will adsorb to the surface.
• a method for preparing an aqueous composition comprising: contacting an aqueous composition with the present a-glucan ether compound wherein the aqueous composition comprises a cellulase, a protease or a combination thereof.
• a method to produce a glucan ether composition comprising: a. Providing an ⁇ -glucan oligomer/polymer composition comprising:
• DoS degree of substitution
• a method of treating an article of clothing, textile or fabric comprising: a. providing a composition selected from
• PDI polydispersity index
• composition of (a) with a fabric, textile or article of clothing whereby the fabric, textile or article of clothing is treated and receives a benefit; c. optionally rinsing the treated fabric or article of clothing of (b).
• the composition of (a) is cellulase resistant, protease resistant or a combination thereof.
• oligomer/polymer composition and/or the ⁇ -glucan ether composition is a surface substantive.
• the benefit is selected from the group consisting of improved fabric hand, improved resistance to soil deposition, improved colorfastness, improved wear resistance, improved wrinkle resistance, improved antifungal activity, improved stain resistance, improved cleaning performance when laundered, improved drying rates, improved dye, pigment or lake update, and any combination thereof.
• a fabric herein can comprise natural fibers, synthetic fibers, semisynthetic fibers, or any combination thereof.
• a semi-synthetic fiber herein is produced using naturally occurring material that has been chemically derivatized, an example of which is rayon.
• Non-limiting examples of fabric types herein include fabrics made of (i) cellulosic fibers such as cotton (e.g., broadcloth, canvas, chambray, chenille, chintz, corduroy, cretonne, damask, denim, flannel, gingham, jacquard, knit, matelasse, oxford, percale, poplin, plisse, sateen, seersucker, sheers, terry cloth, twill, velvet), rayon (e.g., viscose, modal, lyocell), linen, and Tencel ® ; (ii) proteinaceous fibers such as silk, wool and related mammalian fibers; (iii) synthetic fibers such as polyester,
• Materials/articles containing one or more fabrics herein include, for example, clothing, curtains, drapes, upholstery, carpeting, bed linens, bath linens, tablecloths, sleeping bags, tents, car interiors, etc.
• Other materials comprising natural and/or synthetic fibers include, for example, non-woven fabrics, paddings, paper, and foams.
• An aqueous composition that is contacted with a fabric can be, for example, a fabric care composition (e.g., laundry detergent, fabric softener or other fabric treatment composition).
• a treatment method in certain embodiments can be considered a fabric care method or laundry method if employing a fabric care composition therein.
• a fabric care composition herein can effect one or more of the following fabric care benefits: improved fabric hand, improved resistance to soil deposition, improved soil release, improved colorfastness, improved fabric wear resistance, improved wrinkle resistance, improved wrinkle removal, improved shape retention, reduction in fabric shrinkage, pilling reduction, improved antifungal activity, improved stain resistance, improved cleaning performance when laundered, improved drying rates, improved dye, pigment or lake update, and any combination thereof.
• a material comprising fabric can be contacted with an aqueous composition herein: (i) for at least about 5, 10, 20, 30, 40, 50, 60, 70, 80, 90, 100, 1 10, or 120 minutes; (ii) at a temperature of at least about 10, 15, 20, 25, 30, 35, 40, 45, 50, 55, 60, 65, 70, 75, 80, 85, 90, or 95 °C (e.g., for laundry wash or rinse: a "cold" temperature of about 15-30 °C, a "warm” temperature of about 30-50 °C, a "hot” temperature of about 50-95 °C); (iii) at a pH of about 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 1 1 , or 12 (e.g., pH range of about 2-12, or about 3-1 1 ); (iv) at a salt (e.g., NaCI) concentration of at least about 0.5, 1.0, 1 .5, 2.0, 2.5, 3.0, 3.5, or 4.0 wt%; or any combination of at
• the present a-glucan oligomers/polymers and/or the present a-glucan ether compound component(s) of the aqueous composition adsorbs to the fabric.
• This feature is believed to render the compounds useful as anti- redeposition agents and/or anti-greying agents in fabric care compositions disclosed herein (in addition to their viscosity-modifying effect).
• An anti- redeposition agent or anti-greying agent herein helps keep soil from redepositing onto clothing in wash water after the soil has been removed. It is further contemplated that adsorption of one or more of the present compounds herein to a fabric enhances mechanical properties of the fabric.
• Adsorption of the present ⁇ -glucan oligomers/polymer and/or the present ⁇ -glucan ethers to a fabric herein can be measured following the methodology disclosed in the below Examples, for example.
• adsorption can be measured using a colorimetric technique (e.g., Dubois et al., 1956, Anal. Chem. 28:350-356; Zemljic et al., 2006, Lenzinger Berichte 85:68-76; both incorporated herein by reference) or any other method known in the art.
• dish detergent e.g., automatic dishwashing detergent or hand dish detergent
• examples of such materials include surfaces of dishes, glasses, pots, pans, baking dishes, utensils and flatware made from ceramic material, china, metal, glass, plastic (e.g., polyethylene, polypropylene, polystyrene, etc.) and wood (collectively referred to herein as "tableware").
• the treatment method in certain embodiments can be considered a dishwashing method or tableware washing method, for example. Examples of conditions (e.g., time, temperature, wash volume) for conducting a dishwashing or tableware washing method herein are disclosed in U.S. Patent No.
• a tableware article can be contacted with an aqueous composition herein under a suitable set of conditions such as any of those disclosed above with regard to contacting a fabric-comprising material.
• Certain embodiments of a method of treating a material herein further comprise a drying step, in which a material is dried after being contacted with the aqueous composition.
• a drying step can be performed directly after the contacting step, or following one or more additional steps that might follow the contacting step (e.g., drying of a fabric after being rinsed, in water for example, following a wash in an aqueous composition herein). Drying can be performed by any of several means known in the art, such as air drying (e.g., ⁇ 20-25 °C), or at a temperature of at least about 30, 40, 50, 60, 70, 80, 90, 100, 120, 140, 160, 170, 175, 180, or 200 °C, for example.
• a material that has been dried herein typically has less than 3, 2, 1 , 0.5, or 0.1 wt% water comprised therein. Fabric is a preferred material for conducting an optional drying step.
• An aqueous composition used in a treatment method herein can be any aqueous composition disclosed herein, such as in the above embodiments or in the below Examples.
• compositions include detergents (e.g., laundry detergent or dish detergent) and water-containing dentifrices such as toothpaste.
• detergents e.g., laundry detergent or dish detergent
• water-containing dentifrices such as toothpaste
• a method to alter the viscosity of an aqueous composition comprising contacting one or more of the present a-glucan ether compounds with the aqueous composition, wherein the presence of the one or more a-glucan ether compounds alters
• the alteration in viscosity can be an increase and/or decrease of at least about 1 %, 10%, 100%, 1000%, 100000%, or 1000000% (or any integer between 1 % and 1000000%), for example, compared to the viscosity of the aqueous composition before the contacting step.
• the present a-glucan oligomers/polymers are contacted under alkaline conditions with at least one etherification agent comprising an organic group.
• This step can be performed, for example, by first preparing alkaline conditions by contacting the present a-glucan oligomers/polymers with a solvent and one or more alkali hydroxides to provide a mixture (e.g., slurry) or solution.
• the alkaline conditions of the etherification reaction can thus comprise an alkali hydroxide solution.
• the pH of the alkaline conditions can be at least about 1 1 .0, 1 1 .2, 1 1 .4, 1 1 .6, 1 1 .8, 12.0, 12.2, 12.4, 12.6, 12.8, or 13.0.
• alkali hydroxides can be used, such as sodium hydroxide, potassium hydroxide, calcium hydroxide, lithium hydroxide, and/or tetraethylammonium hydroxide.
• concentration of alkali hydroxide in a preparation with the present ⁇ -glucan oligomers/polymers and a solvent can be from about 1 -70 wt%, 5-50 wt%, 5-10 wt%, 10-50 wt%, 10-40 wt%, or 10-30 wt% (or any integer between 1 and 70 wt%).
• the concentration of alkali hydroxide such as sodium hydroxide can be at least about 1 , 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 1 1 , 12, 13, 14, 15, 16, 17, 18, 19, 20, 21 , 22, 23, 24, 25, 26, 27, 28, 29, or 30 wt%.
• An alkali hydroxide used to prepare alkaline conditions may be in a completely aqueous solution or an aqueous solution comprising one or more water-soluble organic solvents such as ethanol or isopropanol.
• an alkali hydroxide can be added as a solid to provide alkaline conditions.
• organic solvents that can optionally be included or used as the main solvent when preparing the etherification reaction include alcohols, acetone, dioxane, isopropanol and toluene, for example.
• Toluene or isopropanol can be used in certain embodiments.
• An organic solvent can be added before or after addition of alkali hydroxide.
• concentration of an organic solvent (e.g., isopropanol or toluene) in a preparation comprising the present a-glucan oligomers/polymers and an alkali hydroxide can be at least about 10, 15, 20, 25, 30, 35, 40, 45, 50, 55, 60, 65, 70, 75, 80, 85, or 90 wt% (or any integer between 10 and 90 wt%).
• solvents that can dissolve the present a-glucan oligomers/polymers can be used when preparing the etherification reaction.
• solvents include, but are not limited to, lithium
• DEA dimethyl sulfoxide
• DMSO dimethyl sulfoxide
• DMI LiCI/1 ,3-dimethy-2-imidazolidinone
• DMF ⁇ , ⁇ -dimethylformamide
• TBAF tetrabutyl-ammonium fluoride trihydrate
• NMMO N-methylmorpholine-N-oxide
• Ni(tren)(OH)2 [tren1 ⁇ 4tris(2-aminoethyl)amine] aqueous solutions and melts of UCI04-3H20, NaOH/urea aqueous solutions, aqueous sodium hydroxide, aqueous potassium hydroxide, formic acid, and ionic liquids.
• the present ⁇ -glucan oligomers/polymers can be contacted with a solvent and one or more alkali hydroxides by mixing. Such mixing can be performed during or after adding these components with each other. Mixing can be performed by manual mixing, mixing using an overhead mixer, using a magnetic stir bar, or shaking, for example. In certain embodiments, the present ⁇ -glucan oligomers/polymers can first be mixed in water or an aqueous solution before it is mixed with a solvent and/or alkali hydroxide.
• the resulting composition can optionally be maintained at ambient temperature for up to 14 days.
• ambient temperature refers to a temperature between about 15-30 °C or 20-25 °C (or any integer between 15 and 30 °C).
• the composition can be heated with or without reflux at a temperature from about 30 °C to about 150 °C (or any integer between 30 and 150 °C) for up to about 48 hours.
• composition in certain embodiments can be heated at about 55 °C for about 30 minutes or about 60 minutes.
• a composition obtained from mixing the present a-glucan oligomers/polymers, solvent, and one or more alkali hydroxides with each other can be heated at about 50, 51 , 52, 53, 54, 55, 56, 57, 58, 59, or 60 °C for about 30-90 minutes.
• composition can optionally be filtered (with or without applying a
• filtration can be performed using a funnel, centrifuge, press filter, or any other method and/or equipment known in the art that allows removal of liquids from solids. Though filtration would remove much of the alkali hydroxide, the filtered a-glucan oligomers/polymers would remain alkaline (i.e., mercerized a-glucan), thereby providing alkaline conditions.
• An etherification agent comprising an organic group can be contacted with the present ⁇ -glucan oligomers/polymers in a reaction under alkaline conditions in a method herein of producing the respective a- glucan ether compounds.
• an etherification agent can be added to a composition prepared by contacting the present a-glucan oligomers/polymers composition, solvent, and one or more alkali hydroxides with each other as described above.
• an etherification agent can be included when preparing the alkaline conditions (e.g., an etherification agent can be mixed with the present a-glucan oligomers/polymers and solvent before mixing with alkali hydroxide).
• An etherification agent herein can refer to an agent that can be used to etherify one or more hydroxyl groups of glucose monomeric units of the present ⁇ -glucan oligomers/polymers with an organic group as disclosed herein.
• organic groups include alkyl groups, hydroxy alkyl groups, and carboxy alkyl groups.
• Etherification agents suitable for preparing an alkyl a-glucan ether compound include, for example, dialkyl sulfates, dialkyl carbonates, alkyl halides (e.g., alkyl chloride), iodoalkanes, alkyl inflates (alkyl
• examples of etherification agents for producing methyl ⁇ -glucan ethers include dimethyl sulfate, dimethyl carbonate, methyl chloride, iodomethane, methyl triflate and methyl fluorosulfonate.
• examples of etherification agents for producing ethyl ⁇ -glucan ethers include diethyl sulfate, diethyl carbonate, ethyl chloride, iodoethane, ethyl triflate and ethyl fluorosulfonate.
• Examples of etherification agents for producing propyl ⁇ -glucan ethers include dipropyl sulfate, dipropyl carbonate, propyl chloride, iodopropane, propyl triflate and propyl fluorosulfonate.
• Examples of etherification agents for producing butyl ⁇ -glucan ethers include dibutyl sulfate, dibutyl carbonate, butyl chloride, iodobutane and butyl triflate.
• Etherification agents suitable for preparing a hydroxyalkyl a-glucan ether compound include, for example, alkylene oxides such as ethylene oxide, propylene oxide (e.g., 1 ,2-propylene oxide), butylene oxide (e.g., 1 ,2-butylene oxide; 2,3-butylene oxide; 1 ,4-butylene oxide), or
• propylene oxide can be used as an etherification agent for preparing hydroxypropyl a-glucan
• ethylene oxide can be used as an etherification agent for preparing hydroxyethyl a- glucan.
• hydroxyalkyl halides e.g., hydroxyalkyl chloride
• etherification agents for preparing hydroxyalkyl a-glucan.
• hydroxyalkyl halides examples include hydroxyethyl halide,
• alkylene chlorohydrins can be used as etherification agents for preparing hydroxyalkyl a-glucan ethers.
• Alkylene chlorohydrins that can be used include, but are not limited to, ethylene chlorohydrin, propylene chlorohydrin, butylene chlorohydrin, or combinations of these.
• Etherification agents suitable for preparing a dihydroxyalkyl a- glucan ether compound include dihydroxyalkyl halides (e.g., dihydroxyalkyl chloride) such as dihydroxyethyl halide, dihydroxypropyl halide (e.g., 2,3- dihydroxypropyl chloride [i.e., 3-chloro-1 ,2-propanediol]), or dihydroxybutyl halide, for example. 2,3-dihydroxypropyl chloride can be used to prepare dihydroxypropyl a-glucan ethers, for example.
• dihydroxyalkyl halides e.g., dihydroxyalkyl chloride
• dihydroxypropyl halide e.g., 2,3- dihydroxypropyl chloride [i.e., 3-chloro-1 ,2-propanediol]
• dihydroxybutyl halide e.g., 2,3-dihydroxypropyl chloride
• Etherification agents suitable for preparing a carboxyalkyl a-glucan ether compounds may include haloalkylates (e.g., chloroalkylate).
• haloalkylates examples include haloacetate (e.g., chloroacetate), 3- halopropionate (e.g., 3-chloropropionate) and 4-halobutyrate (e.g., 4- chlorobutyrate).
• chloroacetate e.g., chloroacetate
• 3- halopropionate e.g., 3-chloropropionate
• 4-halobutyrate e.g., 4- chlorobutyrate
• chloroacetate dichloroacetate
• An etherification agent herein can alternatively comprise a positively charged organic group.
• An etherification agent in certain embodiments can etherify a- glucan oligomers/polymers with a positively charged organic group, where the carbon chain of the positively charged organic group only has a substitution with a positively charged group (e.g., substituted ammonium group such as trimethylammonium).
• a positively charged group e.g., substituted ammonium group such as trimethylammonium
• etherification agents include dialkyl sulfates, dialkyl carbonates, alkyl halides (e.g., alkyl chloride), iodoalkanes, alkyl triflates (alkyl trifluoromethanesulfonates) and alkyl fluorosulfonates, where the alkyl group(s) of each of these agents has one or more substitutions with a positively charged group (e.g., substituted ammonium group such as trimethylammonium).
• alkyl group(s) of each of these agents has one or more substitutions with a positively charged group (e.g., substituted ammonium group such as trimethylammonium).
• etherification agents include dimethyl sulfate, dimethyl carbonate, methyl chloride, iodomethane, methyl triflate and methyl fluorosulfonate, where the methyl group(s) of each of these agents has a substitution with a positively charged group (e.g., substituted ammonium group such as trimethylammonium).
• etherification agents include diethyl sulfate, diethyl carbonate, ethyl chloride,
• ethyl group(s) of each of these agents has a substitution with a positively charged group (e.g., substituted ammonium group such as
• etherification agents include dipropyl sulfate, dipropyl carbonate, propyl chloride, iodopropane, propyl triflate and propyl fluorosulfonate, where the propyl group(s) of each of these agents has one or more substitutions with a positively charged group (e.g., substituted ammonium group such as trimethylammonium).
• etherification agents include dibutyl sulfate, dibutyl carbonate, butyl chloride, iodobutane and butyl triflate, where the butyl group(s) of each of these agents has one or more substitutions with a positively charged group (e.g., substituted ammonium group such as trimethylammonium).
• a positively charged group e.g., substituted ammonium group such as trimethylammonium
• An etherification agent alternatively may be one that can etherify the present a-glucan oligomers/polymers with a positively charged organic group, where the carbon chain of the positively charged organic group has a substitution (e.g., hydroxyl group) in addition to a substitution with a positively charged group (e.g., substituted ammonium group such as trimethylammonium).
• a substitution e.g., hydroxyl group
• a positively charged group e.g., substituted ammonium group such as trimethylammonium
• etherification agents include hydroxyalkyl halides (e.g., hydroxyalkyl chloride) such as hydroxypropyl halide and hydroxybutyl halide, where a terminal carbon of each of these agents has a substitution with a positively charged group (e.g., substituted ammonium group such as trimethylammonium); an example is 3-chloro-2- hydroxypropyl-trimethylammonium.
• hydroxyalkyl halides e.g., hydroxyalkyl chloride
• hydroxypropyl halide and hydroxybutyl halide where a terminal carbon of each of these agents has a substitution with a positively charged group (e.g., substituted ammonium group such as trimethylammonium); an example is 3-chloro-2- hydroxypropyl-trimethylammonium.
• etherification agents include alkylene oxides such as propylene oxide (e.g., 1 ,2- propylene oxide) and butylene oxide (e.g., 1 ,2-butylene oxide; 2,3- butylene oxide), where a terminal carbon of each of these agents has a substitution with a positively charged group (e.g., substituted ammonium group such as trimethylammonium).
• alkylene oxides such as propylene oxide (e.g., 1 ,2- propylene oxide) and butylene oxide (e.g., 1 ,2-butylene oxide; 2,3- butylene oxide), where a terminal carbon of each of these agents has a substitution with a positively charged group (e.g., substituted ammonium group such as trimethylammonium).
• a substituted ammonium group comprised in any of the foregoing etherification agent examples can be a primary, secondary, tertiary, or quaternary ammonium group.
• Examples of secondary, tertiary and quaternary ammonium groups are represented in structure I, where R2, R3 and R 4 each independently represent a hydrogen atom or an alkyl group such as a methyl, ethyl, propyl, or butyl group.
• Etherification agents herein typically can be provided as a fluoride, chloride, bromide, or iodide salt (where each of the foregoing halides serve as an anion).
• two or more different etherification agents When producing the present ⁇ -glucan ether compounds with two or more different organic groups, two or more different etherification agents would be used, accordingly.
• both an alkylene oxide and an alkyl chloride could be used as etherification agents to produce an alkyl hydroxyalkyl a-glucan ether.
• Any of the etherification agents disclosed herein may therefore be combined to produce ⁇ -glucan ether compounds with two or more different organic groups.
• Such two or more etherification agents may be used in the reaction at the same time, or may be used sequentially in the reaction. When used sequentially, any of the
• temperature-treatment (e.g., heating) steps disclosed below may optionally be used between each addition.
• One may choose sequential introduction of etherification agents in order to control the desired DoS of each organic group.
• a particular etherification agent would be used first if the organic group it forms in the ether product is desired at a higher DoS compared to the DoS of another organic group to be added.
• the amount of etherification agent to be contacted with the present ⁇ -glucan oligomers/polymers in a reaction under alkaline conditions can be determined based on the DoS required in the ⁇ -glucan ether compound being produced.
• the amount of ether substitution groups on each glucose monomeric unit in ⁇ -glucan ether compounds produced herein can be determined using nuclear magnetic resonance (NMR) spectroscopy.
• the molar substitution (MS) value for ⁇ -glucan has no upper limit.
• an etherification agent can be used in a quantity of at least about 0.05 mole per mole of a-glucan. There is no upper limit to the quantity of etherification agent that can be used.
• Reactions for producing ⁇ -glucan ether compounds herein can optionally be carried out in a pressure vessel such as a Parr reactor, an autoclave, a shaker tube or any other pressure vessel well known in the art.
• a reaction herein can optionally be heated following the step of contacting the present ⁇ -glucan oligomers/polymers with an etherification agent under alkaline conditions.
• the reaction temperatures and time of applying such temperatures can be varied within wide limits.
• a reaction can optionally be maintained at ambient temperature for up to 14 days.
• a reaction can be heated, with or without reflux, between about 25 °C to about 200 °C (or any integer between 25 and 200 °C).
• Reaction time can be varied correspondingly: more time at a low temperature and less time at a high temperature.
• a reaction can be heated to about 55 °C for about 3 hours.
• a reaction for preparing a carboxyalkyl ⁇ -glucan ether herein can be heated to about 50 °C to about 60 °C (or any integer between 50 and 60 °C) for about 2 hours to about 5 hours, for example.
• Etherification agents such as a haloacetate (e.g., monochloroacetate) may be used in these
• an etherification reaction herein can be maintained under an inert gas, with or without heating.
• inert gas refers to a gas which does not undergo chemical reactions under a set of given conditions, such as those disclosed for preparing a reaction herein.
• All of the components of the reactions disclosed herein can be mixed together at the same time and brought to the desired reaction temperature, whereupon the temperature is maintained with or without stirring until the desired ⁇ -glucan ether compound is formed.
• the mixed components can be left at ambient temperature as described above.
• neutral pH refers to a pH that is neither substantially acidic or basic (e.g., a pH of about 6-8, or about 6.0, 6.2, 6.4, 6.6, 6.8, 7.0, 7.2, 7.4, 7.6, 7.8, or 8.0).
• acids that can be used for this purpose include, but are not limited to, sulfuric, acetic (e.g., glacial acetic), hydrochloric, nitric, any mineral (inorganic) acid, any organic acid, or any combination of these acids.
• the present ⁇ -glucan ether compounds produced in a reaction herein can optionally be washed one or more times with a liquid that does not readily dissolve the compound.
• ⁇ -glucan ether can typically be washed with alcohol, acetone, aromatics, or any combination of these, depending on the solubility of the ether compound therein (where lack of solubility is desirable for washing).
• a solvent comprising an organic solvent such as alcohol is preferred for washing an a-glucan ether.
• the present ⁇ -glucan ether product(s) can be washed one or more times with an aqueous solution containing methanol or ethanol, for example.
• 70-95 wt% ethanol can be used to wash the product.
• the present ⁇ -glucan ether product can be washed with a methanol:acetone (e.g., 60:40) solution in another embodiment.
• An ⁇ -glucan ether produced in the disclosed reaction can be isolated. This step can be performed before or after neutralization and/or washing steps using a funnel, centrifuge, press filter, or any other method or equipment known in the art that allows removal of liquids from solids.
• An isolated ⁇ -glucan ether product can be dried using any method known in the art, such as vacuum drying, air drying, or freeze drying.
• This approach may be suitable for increasing the DoS of an organic group, and/or adding one or more different organic groups to the ether product.
• the structure, molecular weight and DoS of the ⁇ -glucan ether product can be confirmed using various physiochemical analyses known in the art such as NMR spectroscopy and size exclusion chromatography (SEC).
• SEC size exclusion chromatography
• the present glucan oligomer/polymers and/or the present a-glucan ethers may be used in personal care products.
• personal care products include, for example, skin care compositions, cosmetic compositions, antifungal compositions, and antibacterial compositions.
• Personal care products herein may be in the form of, for example, lotions, creams, pastes, balms, ointments, pomades, gels, liquids, combinations of these and the like.
• the personal care products disclosed herein can include at least one active ingredient.
• An active ingredient is generally recognized as an ingredient that causes the intended pharmacological or cosmetic effect.
• a skin care product can be applied to skin for addressing skin damage related to a lack of moisture.
• a skin care product may also be used to address the visual appearance of skin (e.g., reduce the appearance of flaky, cracked, and/or red skin) and/or the tactile feel of the skin (e.g., reduce roughness and/or dryness of the skin while improved the softness and subtleness of the skin).
• a skin care product typically may include at least one active ingredient for the treatment or prevention of skin ailments, providing a cosmetic effect, or for providing a moisturizing benefit to skin, such as zinc oxide, petrolatum, white petrolatum, mineral oil, cod liver oil, lanolin, dimethicone, hard fat, vitamin A, allantoin, calamine, kaolin, glycerin, or colloidal oatmeal, and
• a skin care product may include one or more natural moisturizing factors such as ceramides, hyaluronic acid, glycerin, squalane, amino acids, cholesterol, fatty acids, triglycerides,
• phospholipids glycosphingolipids, urea, linoleic acid, glycosaminoglycans, mucopolysaccharide, sodium lactate, or sodium pyrrolidone carboxylate, for example.
• Other ingredients that may be included in a skin care product include, without limitation, glycerides, apricot kernel oil, canola oil, squalane, squalene, coconut oil, corn oil, jojoba oil, jojoba wax, lecithin, olive oil, safflower oil, sesame oil, shea butter, soybean oil, sweet almond oil, sunflower oil, tea tree oil, shea butter, palm oil, cholesterol, cholesterol esters, wax esters, fatty acids, and orange oil.
• a personal care product herein can also be in the form of makeup or other product including, but not limited to, a lipstick, mascara, rouge, foundation, blush, eyeliner, lip liner, lip gloss, other cosmetics, sunscreen, sun block, nail polish, mousse, hair spray, styling gel, nail conditioner, bath gel, shower gel, body wash, face wash, shampoo, hair conditioner (leave- in or rinse-out), cream rinse, hair dye, hair coloring product, hair shine product, hair serum, hair anti-frizz product, hair split-end repair product, lip balm, skin conditioner, cold cream, moisturizer, body spray, soap, body scrub, exfoliant, astringent, scruffing lotion, depilatory, permanent waving solution, antidandruff formulation, antiperspirant composition, deodorant, shaving product, pre-shaving product, after-shaving product, cleanser, skin gel, rinse, toothpaste, or mouthwash, for example.
• a lipstick mascara, rouge, foundation, blush, eyeliner, lip liner, lip gloss
• other cosmetics sunscreen
• a pharmaceutical product herein can be in the form of an emulsion, liquid, elixir, gel, suspension, solution, cream, capsule, tablet, sachet or ointment, for example. Also, a pharmaceutical product herein can be in the form of any of the personal care products disclosed herein.
• a pharmaceutical product can further comprise one or more
• present a-glucan oligomers/polymers and/or compositions comprising the present a-glucan oligomers/polymers can also be used in capsules, encapsulants, tablet coatings, and as an excipients for medicaments and drugs.
• the "single enzyme" method comprises the use of at least one glucosyltransferase (in the absence of an a- glucanohydrolase) belong to glucoside hydrolase type 70 (E.C. 2.4.1 .-) capable of catalyzing the synthesis of a digestion resistant soluble a- glucan oligomer/polymer composition using sucrose as a substrate.
• a "two enzyme” method comprises a combination of at least one glucosyltransferase (GH70) in combination with at least one a-glucanohydrolase (such as an endomutanase).
• Glycoside hydrolase family 70 enzymes are transglucosidases produced by lactic acid bacteria such as Streptococcus, Leuconostoc, Shoeslla or Lactobacillus genera (see Carbohydrate Active Enzymes database; "CAZy”; Cantarel et al., (2009) Nucleic Acids Res 37 233-238).
• the recombinantly expressed glucosyltransferases preferably have an amino acid sequence identical to that found in nature (i.e., the same as the full length sequence as found in the source organism or a catalytically active truncation thereof).
• GTF enzymes are able to polymerize the D-glucosyl units of sucrose to form homooligosaccharides or homopolysaccharides.
• linear and/or branched glucans comprising various glycosidic linkages may be formed such as a- (1 ,2), a-(1 ,3), a-(1 ,4) and a-(1 ,6).
• Glucosyltransferases may also transfer the D-glucosyl units onto hydroxyl acceptor groups.
• acceptors may include carbohydrates, alcohols, polyols or flavonoids. The structure of the resultant glucosylated product is dependent upon the enzyme specificity.
• D-glucopyranosyl donor is sucrose.
• reaction is:
• glycosidic linkage predominantly formed is used to name/classify the glucosyltransferase enzyme.
• Examples include dextransucrases (a-(1 ,6) linkages; EC 2.4.1 .5), mutansucrases (a-(1 ,3) linkages; EC 2.4.1.-), alternansucrases (alternating a(1 ,3)-a(1 ,6) backbone; EC 2.4.1 .140), and reuteransucrases (mix of a-(1 ,4) and a-(1 ,6) linkages; EC 2.4.1.-).
• the glucosyltransferase is capable of forming glucans having a-(1 ,3) glycosidic linkages with the proviso that that glucan product is not alternan (i.e., the enzyme is not an alternansucrase).
• the glucosyltransferase comprises an amino acid sequence having at least 90% identity, preferably at least 91 , 92, 93, 94, 95, 96, 97, 98, 99 or 100% identity to SEQ ID NO: 1 , 3, 13, 16, 17, 19, 28, 30, 32, 34, 36, 38, 40, 42, 44, 46, 48, 50, 52, 54, 56, 58, 60, or 62.
• the glucosyltransferase comprises an amino acid sequence selected from the group consisting of SEQ ID NOs: 1 , 3, 13, 16, 17, 19, 28, 30, 32, 34, 36, 38, 40, 42, 44, 46, 48, 50, 52, 54, 56, 58, 60, and 62.
• the glucosyltransferase suitable for use may be a truncated form of the wild type sequence.
• the truncated glucosyltransferase comprises a sequence derived from the full length wild type amino acid sequence selected from the group consisting of SEQ ID NOs: 1 , 13, 17, 28, 30, 32, 34, 36, 38, 40, 42, 44, and 46.
• the glucosyltransferase may be truncated and will have an amino acid sequence selected from the group consisting of SEQ ID NOs: 3, 16, 19, 48, 50, 52, 54, 56, 58, 60, and 62.
• the weight of each catalyst (either a single glucosyltransferase or individually a glucosyltransferase and a-glucanohydrolase) reactions typically ranges from 0.0001 mg to 20 mg per mL of total reaction volume, preferably from 0.001 mg to 10 mg per mL.
• the catalyst may also be immobilized on a soluble or insoluble support using methods well-known to those skilled in the art; see for example, Immobilization of Enzymes and Cells: Gordon F. Bickerstaff, Editor; Humana Press, Totowa, NJ, USA; 1997. The use of immobilized catalysts permits the recovery and reuse of the catalyst in subsequent reactions.
• the enzyme catalyst may be in the form of whole microbial cells, permeabilized microbial cells, microbial cell extracts, partially-purified or purified enzymes, and mixtures thereof.
• the pH of the final reaction formulation is from about 3 to about 8, preferably from about 4 to about 8, more preferably from about 5 to about 8, even more preferably about 5.5 to about 7.5, and yet even more preferably about 5.5 to about 6.5.
• the pH of the reaction may optionally be controlled by the addition of a suitable buffer including, but not limited to, phosphate, pyrophosphate, bicarbonate, acetate, or citrate.
• the concentration of buffer, when employed, is typically from 0.1 mM to 1 .0 M, preferably from 1 mM to 300 mM, most preferably from 10 mM to 100 mM.
• the sucrose concentration initially present when the reaction components are combined is at least 50 g/L, preferably 50 g/L to 600 g/L, more preferably 100 g/L to 500 g/L, more preferably 150 g/L to 450 g/L, and most preferably 250 g/L to 450 g/L.
• the substrate for the a- glucanohydrolase (when present) will be the members of the glucose oligomer population formed by the glucosyltransferase. As the glucose oligomers present in the reaction system may act as acceptors, the exact concentration of each species present in the reaction system will vary.
• acceptors may be added (i.e., external acceptors) to the initial reaction mixture such as maltose, isomaltose, isomaltotriose, and methyl-a-D-glucan, to name a few.
• the length of the reaction may vary and may often be determined by the amount of time it takes to use all of the available sucrose substrate. In one embodiment, the reaction is conducted until at least 90%, preferably at least 95% and most preferably at least 99% of the sucrose initially present in the reaction mixture is consumed. In another
• the reaction time is 1 hour to 168 hours, preferably 1 hour to 72 hours, and most preferably 1 hour to 24 hours.
• glucosyltransferases/glucansucrases Two glucosyltransferases/glucansucrases have been identified capable of producing the present a-glucan oligomer/polymer composition in the absence of an a-glucanohydrolase.
• a glucosyltransferase from Streptococcus mutans (GENBANK ® gi: 3130088 (or a catalytically active truncation thereof suitable for expression in the recombinant microbial host cell); also referred to herein as the "0088"
• GTF0088 glucosyltransferase
• Streptococcus mutans GTF0088 may be produced as a catalytically active fragment of the full length sequence reported in GENBANK® gi: 3130088.
• the present ⁇ -glucan oligomer/polymer composition is produced using the Streptococcus mutans GTF0088 glucosyltransferase or a catalytically active fragment thereof.
• oligomer/polymer composition comprising:
• At least one polypeptide having glucosyltransferase activity having at least 90% identity to SEQ ID NOs: 13, 16, 17, 19, 28, 30, 32, 34, 36, 38, 40, 42, 44, 46, 48, 50, 52, 54, 56, 58, 60, and 62; and
• c. optionally isolating the soluble ⁇ -glucan oligomer/polymer composition from the product mixture comprising glucose oligomers; and d. optionally concentrating the soluble a-glucan
• the present ⁇ -glucan oligomer/polymer composition is produced using a glucosyltransferase enzyme having an amino acid sequence having at least 90%, preferably 91 , 92, 93, 94, 95, 96, 97, 98, 99, or 100% to SEQ ID NO: 13 (the full length form) or SEQ ID NO: 16, 48, or 56 (a catalytically active truncated form) with the
• a glucosyltransferase from Streptococcus mutans LJ23 GENBANK ® gi:387786207 (or a catalytically active truncation thereof suitable for expression in the recombinant microbial host cell; herein also referred to as the "6207" glucosyltransferase or simply "GTF6207") has also been identified as being capable of producing the present a-glucan oligomer/polymer composition in the absence of an a- glucanohydrolase ⁇ e.g., dextranase, mutanase, etc.).
• the Streptococcus mutan GTF6207 may be produced as a catalytically active fragment of the full length sequence reported in GENBANK ® gi:
• the present ⁇ -glucan oligomer/polymer composition is produced using the Streptococcus mutans GTF6207 glucosyltransferase or a catalytically active fragment thereof. In a preferred embodiment, the present ⁇ -glucan oligomer/polymer
• composition is produced using a glucosyltransferase enzyme having an amino acid sequence having at least 90%, preferably 91 , 92, 93, 94, 95, 96, 97, 98, 99, or 100% to SEQ ID NO: 17 (the full length form) or SEQ ID NO: 19 (a catalytically active truncated form) with the understanding the such enzymes will retain a similar activity and produce a product profile consistent with the present ⁇ -glucan oligomer/polymer composition.
• a glucosyltransferase enzyme having an amino acid sequence having at least 90%, preferably 91 , 92, 93, 94, 95, 96, 97, 98, 99, or 100% to SEQ ID NO: 17 (the full length form) or SEQ ID NO: 19 (a catalytically active truncated form) with the understanding the such enzymes will retain a similar activity and produce a product profile consistent with the present ⁇ -glucan oligomer/polymer composition.
• the present ⁇ -glucan fiber composition is produced using a glucosyltransferase enzyme having an amino acid sequence having at least 90%, preferably 91 , 92, 93, 94, 95, 96, 97, 98, 99, or 100% to a homolog or a truncation of a homolog of SEQ ID NO: 13 with the understanding that such enzymes will retain a similar activity and produce a product profile consistent with the present ⁇ -glucan fiber composition.
• the homolog is selected from SEQ ID NOs: 28, 30, 32, 34, 36, 40, 42, 44, and 46.
• the truncation of a homolog is selected from SEQ ID NOs: 50, 52, 54, 58, 60, and 62.
• a method is provided to enzymatically produce the present soluble a-glucan oligomer/polymer using at least one a-glucanohydrolase in combination (i.e., concomitantly in the reaction mixture) with at least one of the above glucosyltransferases.
• the simultaneous use of the two enzymes produces a different product profile (i.e., the profile of the soluble oligomer/polymer composition) when compared to a sequential application of the same enzymes (i.e., first synthesizing the glucan polymer from sucrose using a glucosyltransferase and then subsequently treating the glucan polymer with an a-glucanohydrolase).
• a glucan oligomer/polymer synthesis method based on sequential application of a glucosyltransferase with an ⁇ -glucanohydrolase is specifically excluded.
• a method to produce a soluble a-glucan oligomer/polymer composition comprising:
• polypeptide having glucosyltransferase activity said polypeptide having at least 90% identity to SEQ ID NO: 1 or 3;
• step (b) optionally isolating the soluble ⁇ -glucan oligomer/polymer composition from the product of step (b).
• GTF0544 glucosyltransferase
• Streptococcus mutans GTF0544 may be produced as a catalytically active fragment of the full length sequence reported in GENBANK ® gi:
• the present a-glucan oligomer/polymer composition is produced using the Streptococcus mutans GTF0544 glucosyltransferase (or a catalytically active fragment thereof suitable for expression in the recombinant host cell) in combination with a least one a- glucanohydrolase having endohydrolytic activity. Similar to the Streptococcus mutans GTF0544 glucosyltransferase (or a catalytically active fragment thereof suitable for expression in the recombinant host cell) in combination with a least one a- glucanohydrolase having endohydrolytic activity. Similar to the
• an a-glucanohydrolase may be defined by the endohydrolysis activity towards certain a-D-glycosidic linkages. Examples may include, but are not limited to, dextranases (capable of hydrolyzing a- (1 ,6)-linked glycosidic bonds; E.C. 3.2.1.1 1 ), mutanases (capable of hydrolyzing a-(1 ,3)-linked glycosidic bonds; E.C. 3.2.1.59),
• mycodextranases capable of endohydrolysis of (1 ⁇ 4)-a-D-glucosidic linkages in a-D-glucans containing both (1 ⁇ 3)- and (1 ⁇ 4)-bonds; EC 3.2.1 .61 ), glucan 1 ,6-a-glucosidase (EC 3.2.1 .70), and alternanases (capable of endohydrolytically cleaving alternan; E.C. 3.2.1 .-; see U.S. 5,786,196).
• the ⁇ -glucanohydrolase is at least one mutanase (EC 3.1.1 .59).
• Mutanases useful in the methods disclosed herein can be identified by their characteristic structure. See, e.g., Y.
• the mutanase is one obtainable from the genera Peniciiiium, Paenibaciiius, Hypocrea, Aspergillus, and Trichoderma.
• the mutanase is from Peniciiiium marneffei ATCC 18224 or Paenibaciiius Humicus.
• the mutanase comprises an amino acid sequence selected from SEQ ID NOs 4, 6, 9, 1 1 , and any combination thereof.
• the above mutanases may be a catalytically active truncation so long as the mutanase activity is retained.
• the Paenibacillus Humicus mutanase identified in GENBANK ® as gi:257153264 (also referred to herein as the "3264" mutanase or simply "MUT3264") or a catalytically active fragment thereof may be used in combination with the GTF0544 giucosyitransferase to produce the present a-glucan oligomer/polymer composition.
• the MUT3264 mutanase may be produced with its native signal sequence, an alternative signal sequence (such as the Bacillus subtilis AprE signal sequence; SEQ ID NO: 7), or may be produced in a mature form (for example, a truncated form lacking the signal sequence) so long as the desired mutanase activity is retained and the resulting product (when used in combination with the GTF0544 giucosyitransferase) is the present a- glucan oligomer/polymer composition.
• an alternative signal sequence such as the Bacillus subtilis AprE signal sequence; SEQ ID NO: 7
• SEQ ID NO: 7 Bacillus subtilis AprE signal sequence
• the present a-glucan oligomer/polymer composition is produced using a giucosyitransferase enzyme having an amino acid sequence having at least 90%, preferably 91 , 92, 93, 94, 95, 96, 97, 98, 99, or 100% to SEQ ID NO: 1 (the full length form) or SEQ ID NO: 3 (a catalytically active truncated form) in combination with a mutanase having at least 90%, preferably 91 , 92, 93, 94, 95, 96, 97, 98, 99, or 100% to SEQ ID NO: 4 (the full length form as reported in
• MUT3264 will retain a similar activity and produce a product profile consistent with the present ⁇ -glucan oligomer/polymer composition.
• the temperature of the enzymatic reaction system comprising concomitant use of at least one giucosyitransferase and at least one a- glucanohydrolase may be chosen to control both the reaction rate and the stability of the enzyme catalyst activity.
• the temperature of the reaction may range from just above the freezing point of the reaction formulation (approximately 0 °C) to about 60 °C, with a preferred range of 5 °C to about 55 °C, and a more preferred range of reaction temperature of from about 20 °C to about 45 °C.
• the ratio of glucosyltransferase to a-glucanohydrolase may vary depending upon the selected enzymes. In one embodiment, the ratio of glucosyltransferase to a-glucanohydrolase (v/v) ranges from 1 :0.01 to 0.01 : 1 .0. In another embodiment, the ratio of glucosyltransferase to a- glucanohydrolase (units of activity/units of activity) may vary depending upon the selected enzymes. In still further embodiments, the ratio of glucosyltransferase to ⁇ -glucanohydrolase (units of activity/units of activity) ranges from 1 :0.01 to 0.01 : 1.0.
• substantially similar enzyme sequences may also be used in the present compositions and methods so long as the desired activity is retained (i.e., glucosyltransferase activity capable of forming glucans having the desired glycosidic linkages or a- glucanohydrolases having endohydrolytic activity towards the target glycosidic linkage(s)) .
• glucosyltransferase activity capable of forming glucans having the desired glycosidic linkages or a- glucanohydrolases having endohydrolytic activity towards the target glycosidic linkage(s)
• catalytically activity truncations may be prepared and used so long as the desired activity is retained (or even improved in terms of specific activity).
• substantially similar sequences are defined by their ability to hybridize, under highly stringent conditions with the nucleic acid molecules associated with sequences exemplified herein.
• sequence alignment algorithms may be used to define substantially similar enzymes based on the percent identity to the DNA or amino acid sequences provided
• a nucleic acid molecule is "hybridizable" to another nucleic acid molecule, such as a cDNA, genomic DNA, or RNA, when a single strand of the first molecule can anneal to the other molecule under appropriate conditions of temperature and solution ionic strength.
• Hybridization and washing conditions are well known and exemplified in Sambrook, J. and Russell, D., T. Molecular Cloning: A Laboratory Manual, Third Edition, Cold Spring Harbor Laboratory Press, Cold Spring Harbor (2001 ).
• the conditions of temperature and ionic strength determine the "stringency" of the hybridization.
• Stringency conditions can be adjusted to screen for moderately similar molecules, such as homologous sequences from distantly related organisms, to highly similar molecules, such as genes that duplicate functional enzymes from closely related organisms.
• Post-hybridization washes typically determine stringency conditions.
• One set of preferred conditions uses a series of washes starting with 6X SSC, 0.5% SDS at room temperature for 15 min, then repeated with 2X SSC, 0.5% SDS at 45°C for 30 min, and then repeated twice with 0.2X SSC, 0.5% SDS at 50°C for 30 min.
• a more preferred set of conditions uses higher temperatures in which the washes are identical to those above except for the temperature of the final two 30 min washes in 0.2X SSC, 0.5% SDS was increased to 60°C.
• Another preferred set of highly stringent hybridization conditions is 0.1 X SSC, 0.1 % SDS, 65°C and washed with 2X SSC, 0.1 % SDS followed by a final wash of 0.1 X SSC, 0.1 % SDS, 65°C.
• RNA:RNA, DNA:RNA, DNA:DNA For hybrids of greater than
• the length for a hybridizable nucleic acid is at least about 10 nucleotides.
• a minimum length for a hybridizable nucleic acid is at least about 15 nucleotides in length, more preferably at least about 20 nucleotides in length, even more preferably at least 30 nucleotides in length, even more preferably at least 300 nucleotides in length, and most preferably at least 800 nucleotides in length.
• the temperature and wash solution salt concentration may be adjusted as necessary according to factors such as length of the probe.
• the term “percent identity” is a relationship between two or more polypeptide sequences or two or more polynucleotide sequences, as determined by comparing the sequences.
• identity also means the degree of sequence relatedness between polypeptide or polynucleotide sequences, as the case may be, as determined by the match between strings of such sequences.
• Identity and “similarity” can be readily calculated by known methods, including but not limited to those described in: Computational Molecular Biology (Lesk, A. M., ed.) Oxford University Press, NY (1988); Biocomputing: Informatics and Genome Projects (Smith, D.
• a fast or slow alignment is used with the default settings where a slow alignment is preferred.
• suitable isolated nucleic acid molecules encode a polypeptide having an amino acid sequence that is at least about 20%, preferably at least 30%, 40%, 50%, 60%, 70%, 80%, 85%, 90%, 91 %, 92%, 93%, 94%, 95%, 96%, 97%, 98%, or 99% identical to the amino acid sequences reported herein.
• suitable isolated nucleic acid molecules encode a polypeptide having an amino acid sequence that is at least about 20%, preferably at least 30%, 40%, 50%, 60%, 70%, 80%, 85%, 90%, 91 %, 92%, 93%, 94%, 95%, 96%, 97%, 98%, or 99% identical to the amino acid sequences reported herein; with the proviso that the polypeptide retains the respective activity (i.e. ,
• any number of common purification techniques may be used to obtain the present soluble a-glucan oligomer/polymer composition from the reaction system including, but not limited to centrifugation, filtration, fractionation, chromatographic separation, dialysis, evaporation, precipitation, dilution or any combination thereof, preferably by dialysis or chromatographic separation, most preferably by dialysis (ultrafiltration).
• the genes and gene products of the instant sequences may be produced in heterologous host cells, particularly in the cells of microbial hosts.
• Preferred heterologous host cells for expression of the instant genes and nucleic acid molecules are microbial hosts that can be found within the fungal or bacterial families and which grow over a wide range of temperature, pH values, and solvent tolerances.
• any of bacteria, yeast, and filamentous fungi may suitably host the expression of the present nucleic acid molecules.
• the enzyme(s) may be expressed intracellular ⁇ , extracellularly, or a
• host strains include, but are not limited to, bacterial, fungal or yeast species such as Aspergillus, Trichoderma, Saccharomyces, Pichia, Phaffia, Kluyveromyces, Candida, Hansenula, Yarrowia, Salmonella, Bacillus, Acinetobacter, Zymomonas,
• Agrobacterium Erythrobacter, Chlorobium, Chromatium, Flavobacterium, Cytophaga, Rhodobacter, Rhodococcus, Streptomyces, Brevibacterium, Corynebacteria, Mycobacterium, Deinococcus, Escherichia, Erwinia,
• Pantoea Pseudomonas, Sphingomonas, Methylomonas, Methylobacter, Methylococcus, Methylosinus, Methylomicrobium, Methylocystis,
• the fungal host cell is Trichoderma, preferably a strain of Trichoderma reesei.
• bacterial host strains include Escherichia, Bacillus, Kluyveromyces, and Pseudomonas.
• the bacterial host cell is Bacillus subtilis or Escherichia coli.
• Large-scale microbial growth and functional gene expression may use a wide range of simple or complex carbohydrates, organic acids and alcohols or saturated hydrocarbons, such as methane or carbon dioxide in the case of photosynthetic or chemoautotrophic hosts, the form and amount of nitrogen, phosphorous, sulfur, oxygen, carbon or any trace micronutrient including small inorganic ions.
• the regulation of growth rate may be affected by the addition, or not, of specific regulatory molecules to the culture and which are not typically considered nutrient or energy sources.
• Vectors or cassettes useful for the transformation of suitable host cells are well known in the art.
• the vector or cassette contains sequences directing transcription and translation of the relevant gene, a selectable marker, and sequences allowing autonomous replication or chromosomal integration.
• Suitable vectors comprise a region 5' of the gene which harbors transcriptional initiation controls and a region 3' of the DNA fragment which controls transcriptional termination. It is most preferred when both control regions are derived from genes homologous to the transformed host cell and/or native to the production host, although such control regions need not be so derived.
• Initiation control regions or promoters which are useful to drive expression of the present cephalosporin C deacetylase coding region in the desired host cell are numerous and familiar to those skilled in the art. Virtually any promoter capable of driving these genes is suitable for the present disclosure including but not limited to, CYC1, HIS3, GAL1, GAL10, ADH1, PGK, PH05, GAPDH, ADC1, TRP1, URA3, LEU2, ENO, TPI
• Termination control regions may also be derived from various genes native to the preferred host cell. In one embodiment, the inclusion of a termination control region is optional. In another embodiment, the chimeric gene includes a termination control region derived from the preferred host cell.
• a variety of culture methodologies may be applied to produce the enzyme(s). For example, large-scale production of a specific gene product over-expressed from a recombinant microbial host may be produced by batch, fed-batch, and continuous culture methodologies. Batch and fed-batch culturing methods are common and well known in the art and examples may be found in Biotechnology: A Textbook of Industrial Microbiology by Wulf Crueger and Anneliese Crueger (authors), Second Edition, (Sinauer Associates, Inc., Sunderland, MA (1990) and Manual of Industrial Microbiology and Biotechnology, Third Edition, Richard H. Baltz, Arnold L. Demain, and Julian E. Davis (Editors), (ASM Press, Washington, DC (2010).
• Continuous cultures are an open system where a defined culture media is added continuously to a bioreactor and an equal amount of conditioned media is removed simultaneously for processing. Continuous cultures generally maintain the cells at a constant high liquid phase density where cells are primarily in log phase growth.
• continuous culture may be practiced with immobilized cells where carbon and nutrients are continuously added and valuable products, by-products or waste products are continuously removed from the cell mass. Cell immobilization may be performed using a wide range of solid supports composed of natural and/or synthetic materials.
• Recovery of the desired enzyme(s) from a batch fermentation, fed- batch fermentation, or continuous culture may be accomplished by any of the methods that are known to those skilled in the art.
• the cell paste is separated from the culture medium by centrifugation or membrane filtration, optionally washed with water or an aqueous buffer at a desired pH, then a suspension of the cell paste in an aqueous buffer at a desired pH is homogenized to produce a cell extract containing the desired enzyme catalyst.
• the cell extract may optionally be filtered through an appropriate filter aid such as celite or silica to remove cell debris prior to a heat- treatment step to precipitate undesired protein from the enzyme catalyst solution.
• the solution containing the desired enzyme catalyst may then be separated from the precipitated cell debris and protein by membrane filtration or centrifugation, and the resulting partially-purified enzyme catalyst solution concentrated by additional membrane filtration, then optionally mixed with an appropriate carrier (for example, maltodextrin, phosphate buffer, citrate buffer, or mixtures thereof) and spray-dried to produce a solid powder comprising the desired enzyme catalyst.
• an appropriate carrier for example, maltodextrin, phosphate buffer, citrate buffer, or mixtures thereof
• the resulting partially-purified enzyme catalyst solution can be stabilized as a liquid formulation by the addition of polyols such as maltodextrin, sorbitol, or propylene glycol, to which is optionally added a preservative such as sorbic acid, sodium sorbate or sodium benzoate.
• polyols such as maltodextrin, sorbitol, or propylene glycol
• a preservative such as sorbic acid, sodium sorbate or sodium benzoate.
• a soluble a-glucan oligomer/polymer composition comprising:
• the present soluble a-glucan oligomer/polymer composition comprises a content of reducing sugars of less than 10%.
• the soluble ⁇ -glucan oligomer/polymer composition comprises less than 1 % a- (1 ,4) glycosidic linkages.
• the soluble ⁇ -glucan oligomer/polymer composition is characterized by a number average molecular weight (Mn) between 400 and 2000 g/mole.
• a fabric care, laundry care, or aqueous composition comprising 0.01 to 99 wt% (dry solids basis), preferably 10 to 90% wt%, of the soluble ⁇ -glucan oligomer/polymer composition described above.
• a method to produce a soluble a-glucan oligomer/polymer composition comprising:
• sucrose preferably at a concentration of at least 50 g/L, preferably at least 200 g/L;
• polypeptide having glucosyltransferase activity said polypeptide having at least 90% identity, preferably at leat 91 , 92, 93, 94, 95, 96, 97, 98, 99 or 100% identity to SEQ ID NO: 1 or 3;
• iii at least one polypeptide having a-glucanohydrolase activity; preferably endomutanase activity or endodextranase activity; and
• step (b) optionally isolating the soluble ⁇ -glucan oligomer/polymer composition from the product of step (b); and d. optimally concentrating the soluble a-glucan
• the at least one polypeptide having glucosyltransferase activity and the at least one polypeptide having a-glucanohydrolase activity are concomitantly present in the reaction mixture.
• the endomutanase comprises an amino acid sequence having at least 90% identity to SEQ ID NO: 4, 6, 9 or 1 1 .
• the endodextranase is dextranase L from Chaetomium erraticum.
• the ratio of glucosyltransferase activity to ⁇ -glucanohydrolase activity is 0.01 : 1 to 1 :0.01 .
• a method to produce the a-glucan oligomer/polymer composition comprising:
• c. optionally isolating the soluble ⁇ -glucan oligomer/polymer composition from the product mixture comprising glucose oligomers; and d. optionally concentrating the soluble a-glucan
• composition comprising 0.01 to 99 wt % (dry solids basis) of the present soluble ⁇ -glucan oligomer/polymer composition and at least one of the following ingredients: at least one cellulase, at least one protease or a combination thereof.
• compositions wherein the composition is in the form of a liquid, a powder, granules, shaped spheres, shaped sticks, shaped plates, shaped cubes, tablets, powders, capsules, sachets, or any combination thereof.
• a method according to any of the above embodiments wherein the isolating step comprises at least one of centrifugation, filtration, fractionation, chromatographic separation, dialysis, evaporation, dilution or any combination thereof.
• sucrose concentration in the single reaction mixture is initially at least 200 g/L upon combining the set of reaction components.
• a method according to any of the above embodiments wherein the ratio of glucosyltransferase activity to a-glucanohydrolase activity ranges from 0.01 : 1 to 1 :0.01 .
• a method according to any of the above embodiments wherein the suitable reaction conditions comprises a reaction temperature between 0 °C and 45 °C.
• reaction conditions comprise a pH range of 3 to 8, preferably 4 to 8.
• a buffer is present and is selected from the group consisting of phosphate, pyrophosphate, bicarbonate, acetate, or citrate
• a method according to any of the above methods wherein said at least one glucosyltransferase is selected from the group consisting of SEQ ID NOs: 1 , 3, 13, 16, 17, 19, 28, 30, 32, 34, 36, 38, 40, 42, 44, 46, 48, 50, 52, 54, 56, 58, 60, 62 and any combination thereof.
• a method according to any of the above embodiments wherein said at least one a-glucanohydrolase is selected from the group consisting of SEQ ID NOs 4, 6, 9, 1 1 and any combination thereof.
• a method according to any of the above embodiments wherein said at least one glucosyltransferase and said at least one a-glucanohydrolase is selected from the combinations of glucosyltransferase GTF0544 (SEQ ID NO: 1 , 3 or a combination thereof) and mutanase MUT3264 (SEQ ID NOs: 4, 6, 9 or a combination thereof)
• a product produced by any of the above process embodiments preferably wherein the product produced is the soluble a-glucan
• IPTG isopropyl-p-D-thio- galactoside
• Resuspended cells were passed through a French Pressure Cell (SLM Instruments, Rochester, NY) twice to ensure >95% cell lysis. Cell lysate was centrifuged for 30 min at 12,000 x g and 4 °C. The resulting supernatant (cell extract) was analyzed by the BCA protein assay and SDS-PAGE to confirm expression of the GTF enzyme, and the cell extract was stored at -80 °C. pHYT Vector
• the pHYT vector backbone is a replicative Bacillus subtilis expression plasmid containing the Bacillus subtilis aprE promoter, derived from the Escherichia coli-Bacillus subtilis shuttle vector pHY320PLK (GENBANK ® Accession No. D00946 and is commercially available from Takara Bio Inc. (Otsu, Japan)).
• the replication origin for Escherichia coli and ampicillin resistance gene are from pACYC177 (GENBANK® X06402 and is commercially available from New England Biolabs Inc., Ipswich, MA).
• the replication origin for Bacillus subtilis and tetracycline resistance gene were from pAMalpha-1 (Francia et al., J Bacteriol. 2002 Sep; 184(18):5187-93)).
• the linker sequence is 5'-GGATCCTGACTGCCTGAGCTT-3' (SEQ ID NO: 25).
• the aprE promoter and AprE signal peptide sequence are native to Bacillus subtilis.
• the BPN' terminator is from subtilisin of Bacillus amyloliquefaciens. In the case when native signal peptide was used, the AprE signal peptide was replaced with the native signal peptide of the expressed gene.
• Trichoderma reesei spore suspension was spread onto the center
• the macrocarrier holder containing the macrocarrier (BioRad 165-2335; Bio-Rad Laboratories, Hercules, CA) was placed flatly on top of the filter paper and the Petri dish lid replaced.
• a tungsten particle suspension was prepared by adding 60 mg tungsten M-10 particles (microcarrier, 0.7 micron, BioRad #1652266, Bio-Rad Laboratories) to an Eppendorf tube. Ethanol (1 mL) (100%) was added. The tungsten was vortexed in the ethanol solution and allowed to soak for 15 minutes. The Eppendorf tube was microfuged briefly at maximum speed to pellet the tungsten.
• the ethanol was decanted and washed three times with sterile distilled water. After the water wash was decanted the third time, the tungsten was resuspended in 1 mL of sterile 50% glycerol.
• the transformation reaction was prepared by adding 25 ⁇ suspended tungsten to a 1 .5 mL-Eppendorf tube for each transformation. Subsequent additions were made in order, 2 ⁇ DNA pTrex3 expression vector (SEQ ID NO: 12; see U.S. Pat. No. 6,426,410), 25 pL 2.5M CaCI2, 10 ⁇ 0.1 M spermidine. The reaction was vortexed continuously for 5-10 minutes, keeping the tungsten suspended.
• the Eppendorf tube was then microfuged briefly and decanted.
• the tungsten pellet was washed with 200 ⁇ of 70% ethanol, microfuged briefly to pellet and decanted.
• the pellet was washed with 200 ⁇ of 100% ethanol, microfuged briefly to pellet, and decanted.
• the tungsten pellet was resuspended in 24 ⁇ 100% ethanol.
• the Eppendorf tube was placed in an ultrasonic water bath for 15 seconds and 8 ⁇ aliquots were transferred onto the center of the desiccated macrocarriers.
• the macrocarriers were left to dry in the desiccated Petri dishes.
• a Helium tank was turned on to 1500 psi (- 10.3 MPa). 1 100 psi
• MABA Modified amdS Biolistic agar
• Glucosyltransferase activity assay was performed by incubating 1 - 10% (v/v) crude protein extract containing GTF enzyme with 200 g/L sucrose in 25 mM or 50 mM sodium acetate buffer at pH 5.5 in the presence or absence of 25 g/L dextran (MW ⁇ 1500, Sigma-Aldrich, Cat.#31394) at 37 °C and 125 rpm orbital shaking.
• dextran MW ⁇ 1500, Sigma-Aldrich, Cat.#31394
• One aliquot of reaction mixture was withdrawn at 1 h, 2 h and 3 h and heated at 90 °C for 5 min to inactivate the GTF.
• the insoluble material was removed by centrifugation at 13,000xg for 5 min, followed by filtration through 0.2 pm RC
• concentration at each time point was plotted against the reaction time and the initial reaction rate was determined from the slope of the linear plot.
• One unit of GTF activity was defined as the amount of enzyme needed to consume one micromole of sucrose in one minute under the assay condition.
• Insoluble mutan polymers required for determining mutanase activity were prepared using secreted enzymes produced by
• Streptococcus sobrinus ATCC ® 33478TM Streptococcus sobrinus ATCC ® 33478TM. Specifically, one loop of glycerol stock of S. sobrinus ATCC ® 33478TM was streaked on a BHI agar plate (Brain Heart Infusion agar, Teknova, Hollister, CA), and the plate was incubated at 37 °C for 2 days; A few colonies were picked using a loop to inoculate 2X 100 mL BHI liquid medium in the original medium bottle from Teknova, and the culture was incubated at 37 °C, static for 24 h. The resulting cells were removed by centrifugation and the resulting
• Mutan polymer (390 mg) was suspended in 39 mL of sterile water to make suspension of 10 mg/mL. The mutan suspension was homogenized by sonication (40% amplitude until large lumps disappear, ⁇ 10 min in total). The homogenized suspension was aliquoted and stored at 4 °C. A mutanase assay was initiated by incubating an appropriate amount of enzyme with 0.5 mg/ml_ mutan polymer (prepared as described above) in 25 mM KOAc buffer at pH 5.5 and 37 °C. At various time points, an aliquot of reaction mixture was withdrawn and quenched with equal volume of 100 mM glycine buffer (pH 10).
• PAHBAH p-hydroxybenzoic acid hydrazide solution
• the working solution was prepared by mixing one part of reagent A (0.05 g/mL p-hydroxy benzoic acid hydrazide and 5% by volume of concentrated hydrochloric acid) and four parts of reagent B (0.05 g/mL NaOH, 0.2 g/mL sodium potassium tartrate).
• reagent A 0.05 g/mL p-hydroxy benzoic acid hydrazide and 5% by volume of concentrated hydrochloric acid
• reagent B 0.05 g/mL NaOH, 0.2 g/mL sodium potassium tartrate
• methylation analysis or “partial methylation analysis” (see: F. A. Pettolino, et al., Nature Protocols, (2012) 7(9): 1590-1607).
• the technique has a number of minor variations but always includes: 1 . methylation of all free hydroxyl groups of the glucose units, 2. hydrolysis of the methylated glucan to individual monomer units, 3. reductive ring-opening to eliminate anomers and create methylated glucitols; the anomeric carbon is typically tagged with a deuterium atom to create distinctive mass spectra, 4.
• the partially methylated products include non-reducing terminal glucose units, linked units and branching points.
• the individual products are identified by retention time and mass spectrometry.
• the distribution of the partially-methylated products is the percentage (area %) of each product in the total peak area of all partially methylated products.
• the gas chromatographic conditions were as follows: RTx-225 column (30 m x 250 pm ID x 0.1 pm film thickness, Restek Corporation, Bellefonte, PA, USA), helium carrier gas (0.9 mL/min constant flow rate), oven temperature program starting at 80°C (hold for 2 min) then 30°C/min to 170°C (hold for 0 min) then 4°C/min to 240°C (hold for 25 min), 1 ⁇ _ injection volume (split 5: 1 ), detection using electron impact mass spectrometry (full scan mode) Viscosity Measurement
• oligomer/polymer was measured using a TA Instruments AR-G2
• Soluble oligosaccharides were quantitated by HPLC with two tandem Aminex HPX-42A columns (Bio-Rad). Chromatographic conditions used were 85 °C column temperature and 40 °C detector temperature, water as mobile phase (flow rate of 0.6 mL/min), and injection volume of 10 ⁇ _. Software package used for data reduction was EMPOWERTM version 3 from Waters Corp.
• Oligosaccharide samples from DP2 to DP7 were obtained from Sigma-Aldrich: maltoheptaose (DP7, Cat.# 47872), maltohexanose (DP6, Cat.# 47873), maltopentose (DP5, Cat.# 47876), maltotetraose (DP4, Cat.# 47877), isomaltotriose (DP3, Cat.# 47884) and maltose (DP2, Cat.#47288). Calibration was performed for each individual oligosaccharide with various concentrations of the standard.
• Soluble oligosaccharide fiber present in product mixtures produced by the conversion of sucrose using glucosyltransferase enzymes with or without added mutanases as described in the following examples were purified and isolated by size-exclusion column chromatography (SEC).
• SEC size-exclusion column chromatography
• product mixtures were heat-treated at 60 °C to 90 °C for between 15 min and 30 min and then centrifuged at 4000 rpm for 10 min. The resulting supernatant was injected onto an AKTAprime
• SEC GE Healthcare Life Sciences
• 10 mL - 50 mL injection volume connected to a GE HK 50/60 column packed with 1 .1 L of Bio-Gel P2 Gel (Bio-Rad, Fine 45-90 pm) using water as eluent at 0.7 mL/min.
• the SEC fractions ( ⁇ 5 mL per tube) were analyzed by HPLC for oligosaccharides using a Bio-Rad HPX-47A column.
• glucosyltransferase enzyme identified in GENBANK ® as Gl:290580544 (SEQ ID NO: 1 ; Gtf-B from Streptococcus mutans NN2025) was synthesized using codons optimized for expression in E. coli (DNA 2.0).
• the plasmid pMP67 was used to transform E. coli TOP10 to generate the strain identified as TOP10/pMP67. Growth of the E. coli strain TOP10/pMP67 expressing the Gtf-B enzyme
• GTF0544 (SEQ ID NO: 3) and determination of the GTF0544 activity followed the methods described above.
• GenScript GenScript USA Inc., Piscataway, NJ.
• GenScript GenScript USA Inc., Piscataway, NJ.
• MUT3264 SEQ ID NO: 6
• pET24a Novagen; Merck KGaA, Darmstadt, Germany
• the resulting plasmid was transformed into E coli BL21 (DE3) (Invitrogen) to generate the strain identified as SGZY6.
• the strain was grown at 37 °C with shaking at 220 rpm to ⁇ of ⁇ 0.7, then the temperature was lowered to 18 °C and IPTG was added to a final concentration of 0.4 mM.
• the culture was grown overnight before harvest by centrifugation at 4000g.
• the cell pellet from 600 mL of culture was suspended in 22 mL 50 mM KPi buffer, pH 7.0.
• SG1021 -1 is a Bacillus subtilis mutanase expression strain that expresses the mutanase from Paenibacillus humicus NA1 123 isolated from fermented soy bean natto.
• the native signal peptide was replaced with a Bacillus AprE signal peptide (GENBANK ® Accession No. AFG28208; SEQ ID NO: 7).
• polynucleotide encoding MUT3264 (SEQ ID NO: 8) was operably linked downstream of an AprE signal peptide (SEQ ID NO: 7) encoding Bacillus expressed MUT3264 provided as SEQ ID NO: 9. A C-terminal lysine was deleted to provide a stop codon prior to a sequence encoding a poly histidine tag.
• the B. subtilis host BG6006 strain contains 9 protease deletions omyE.xylRPxylAcomK-ermC , degUHy32, oppA, AspoIIE3501, AaprE, AnprE, Aepr, AispA, Abpr, Avpr, AwprA, Ampr-ybfJ, AnprB).
• the wild type mut3264 (as found under GENBANK ® Gl: 257153264) has 1 146 amino acids with the N terminal 33 amino acids deduced as the native signal peptide by the SignalP 4.0 program (Nordahl et al., (201 1 ) Nature Methods, 8:785-786).
• the mature mut3264 without the native signal peptide was synthesized by GenScript and cloned into the Nhel and Hindlll sites of the replicative Bacillus expression pHYT vector under the aprE promoter and fused with the B. subtilis AprE signal peptide (SEQ ID NO: 7) on the vector.
• the construct was first transformed into E. coli DH10B and selected on LB with ampicillin (100 pg/mL) plates.
• the confirmed construct pDCQ921 was then transformed into B. subtilis BG6006 and selected on the LB plates with tetracycline (12.5 pg/mL).
• subtilis expression strain SG1021 was purified and a single colony isolate, SG1021 -1 , was used as the source of the mutanase mut3264.
• SG1021 -1 strain was first grown in LB containing 10 g/mL tetracycline, and then sub-cultured into Grantsll medium containing 12.5 pg/mL tetracycline and grown at 37 °C for 2-3 days. The cultures were spun at 15,000g for 30 min at 4 °C and the supernatant filtered through a 0.22 pm filter. The filtered supernatant containing MUT3264 was aliquoted and frozen at -80°C.
• PRODUCTION OF MUTANASE MUT3325 Gl: 212533325 A gene encoding the Penicillium marneffei ATCC ® 18224TM mutanase identified in GENBANK ® as Gl:212533325 was synthesized by GenScript (Piscataway, NJ).
• the nucleotide sequence (SEQ ID NO: 10) encoding protein sequence (MUT3325; SEQ ID NO: 1 1 ) was subcloned into plasmid pTrex3 (SEQ ID NO: 12) at Sacll and AscI restriction sites, a vector designed to express the gene of interest in Trichoderma reesei, under control of CBHI promoter and terminator, with Aspergillus niger acetamidase for selection.
• the resulting plasmid was transformed into T. reesei by biolistic injection as described in the general method section, above. The detailed method of biolistic transformation is described in International PCT Patent Application Publication WO2009/126773 A1 .
• a 1 cm 2 agar plug with spores from a stable clone TRM05-3 was used to inoculate the production media (described below).
• the culture was grown in the shake flasks for 4-5 days at 28 °C and 220 rpm.
• the cell mass was first removed by centrifugation at 4000g for 10 min and the supernatant was filtered through 0.2 ⁇ sterile filters.
• the expression of mutanase MUT3325 was confirmed by SDS- PAGE.
• Fermentation seed culture was prepared by inoculating 0.5 L of minimal medium in a 2-L baffled flask with 1 .0 mL frozen spore suspension of the MUT3325 expression strain TRM05-3 (Example 4)
• the minimal medium was composed of 5 g/L ammonium sulfate, 4.5 g/L potassium phosphate monobasic, 1.0 g/L magnesium sulfate heptahydrate, 14.4 g/L citric acid anhydrous, 1 g/L calcium chloride dihydrate, 25 g/L glucose and trace elements including 0.4375 g/L citric acid, 0.5 g/L ferrous sulfate heptahydrate, 0.04 g/L zinc sulfate heptahydrate, 0.008 g/L cupric sulfate pentahydrate, 0.0035 g/L manganese sulfate monohydrate and 0,002 g/L boric acid.
• the pH was 5.5.).
• the culture was grown at 32 °C and 170 rpm for 48 hours before transferred to 8 L of the production medium in a 14-L fermentor.
• the production medium was composed of 75 g/L glucose, 4.5 g/L potassium phosphate monobasic, 0.6 g/L calcium chloride dehydrate, 1.0 g/L magnesium sulfate heptahydrate, 7.0 g/L ammonium sulfate, 0.5 g/L citric acid anhydrous, 0.5 g/L ferrous sulfate heptahydrate, 0.04 g/L zinc sulfate heptahydrate, 0.00175 g/L cupric sulfate pentahydrate, 0.0035g/L manganese sulfate monohydrate, 0.002 g/L boric acid and 0.3 mL/L foam blast 882,
• the fermentation was first run with batch growth on glucose at 34 °C, 500 rpm for 24 h. At the end of 24 h, the temperature was lowered to 28 °C and agitation speed was increased to1000 rpm. The fermentor was then fed with a mixture of glucose and sophorose (82% w/w) at specific feed rate of 0.030 g glucose-sophorose solids / g biomass / hr. At the end of run, the biomass was removed by centrifugation and the supernatant containing the mutanase was concentrated about 10-fold by ultrafiltration using 10-kD Molecular Weight Cut-Off ultrafiltration cartridge (UFP-10-E- 35; GEHeaithcare, Little Chaifont, Buckinghamshire, UK).
• UFP-10-E- 35 GEHeaithcare, Little Chaifont, Buckinghamshire, UK.
• PJEXPRESS404® DNA 2.0, Menlo Park CA
• the plasmid pMP69 was used to transform E. coli BL21 (EMD Millipore, Billerica, MA) to generate the strain identified as BL21 -GI3130088, producing truncated form of the S. mutans GENBANK® gi:3130088 glucosyltransferase; also referred to herein as "GTF0088" (SEQ ID NO: 16).
• GTF0088 SEQ ID NO: 16
• a single colony from the plate was inoculated into LB media containing 100 ug/mL ampicillin and grown at 37 °C with shaking at 220 rpm for 3.5 hours.
• the culture was diluted 1250 fold into 8 flasks containing 2 L total of LB media with 100 ug/ml ampicillin and grown at 37 °C with shaking at 220 rpm for 4 hours.
• IPTG was added to a final concentration of 0.5 mM and the cultures were grown overnight before harvesting by centrifugation at 9000xg.
• the cell pellet was suspended in 50 mM KPi buffer, pH 7.0 at a ratio of 5 ml buffer per gram wet cell weight. Cells were disrupted by French Cell Press (2 passages @ 16,000 psi) and cell debris was removed by centrifugation at 25,000xg. Cell free extract was stored at -80°C.
• the amino acid sequence of the Streptococcus mutans LJ23 glucosyltransferase (gtf) as described in GENBANK® as 387786207 is provided as SEQ ID NO: 17.
• a coding sequence (SEQ ID NO: 18) encoding a truncated version (SEQ ID NO: 19) of the glucosyltransferase (gtf) enzyme identified in GENBANK ® as 387786207 ("GTF6207”) from S. mutans LJ23 was prepared by mutagenesis of the pMP69 plasmid described in Example 7.
• a 1630 bp DNA fragment encoding a portion of Gl:387786207 (SEQ ID NO:20) was ordered from GenScript (Piscataway, NJ).
• GenScript Procataway, NJ.
• the resultant plasmid (6207f1 in pUC57) was employed as a template for PCR with primers 8807f1 (5'-
• the PCR conditions for amplification were as follows: 1. 95 °C for 2 minutes, 2. 95 °C tor 40 seconds, 3. 48 °C for 30 seconds, 4. 72 °C for 1.5 minutes, 5. return to step 2 for 30 cycles, 6. 4 °C indefinitely.
• the reaction sample contained 0.5 uL of plasmid DNA for 6207f1 in pUC57 (90 ng), 4 uL of a mixture of primers 8807f1 and 8807r1 (40 pmol each), 5 uL of the 10X buffer, 2 uL 10 mM dNTPs mixture, 1 uL of the Pfu Ultra AD (Agilent Technologies, Santa Clara, CA) and 37.5 uL distillled water.
• the PCR product was gel purified with the GFX PCR DNA and Gel Band Purification Kit (GE Healthcare Bio-Sciences Corp., Piscataway, NJ). The purified product was employed as a megaprimer for mutagenesis of pMP69 with the QuikChange Lightning Site-Directed Mutagenesis Kit (Agilent
• the conditions for the mutagenesis reaction were as follows: 1 . 95 °C for 2 minutes, 2. 95 °C tor 30 seconds, 3. 60 °C for 30 seconds, 4. 68 °C for 12 minutes, 5. return to step 2 for 18 cycles, 6. 68 °C for 7 minutes, 7. 4 °C indefinitely.
• the reaction sample contained 1 uL of the pMP69 (50 ng), 17 uL of the PCR product (500 ng), 5 uL of the 10X buffer, 1 .5 uL QuikSolution reagent, 1 uL of dNTP mixture, 1 uL of QuikChange Lightning Enzyme and 23.5 uL distillled water. 2 uL of Dpnl was added and the mixture was incubated for 1 hr at 37 °C. The resultant product was then transformed into ONE SHOT ® TOP10
• Colonies from the transformation were grown overnight in LB media containing 100 ug/mL ampicillin and plasmids were isolated with the QIAprep Spin Miniprep Kit (Qiaqen, Valencia, CA). Sequence analysis was performed to confirm the presence of the gene encoding gi:387786207.
• the resultant plasmid p6207-1 (SEQ ID NO:22) was transformed into E. coli BL21 (EMD Millipore, Billerica, MA) to generate the strain identified as BL21 -6207.
• a single colony from the plate was inoculated into 5 mL LB media containing 100 ug/mL ampicillin and grown at 37 °C with shaking at 220 rpm for 8 hours. The culture was diluted 200 fold into 4 flasks containing 1 L total of LB media with 100 ug/mL ampicillin and 1 mM IPTG. Cultures were grown at 33 °C overnight before harvesting by
• FIBER PRODUCED BY GTF-C AND BY GTF-6207 Solutions of chromatographically-purified soluble oligosaccharide fibers prepared as described in Examples 6, 9 and 10 were dried to a constant weight by lyophilization, and the resulting solids analyzed by 1 H NMR spectroscopy and by GC/MS as described in the General Methods section (above). The anomeric linkages for each of these soluble oligosaccharide fiber mixtures are reported in Tables 4 and 5.
• the amino acid sequence of the GTF0088 enzyme (Gl 3130088) was used as a query to search the NR database (non-redundant version of the NCBI protein database) with BLAST. From the BLAST search, over 60 sequences were identified having at least 80% identity over an alignment length of at least 1000 amino acids. These sequences were then aligned using CLUSTALW. Using Discovery Studio, a phylogenetic tree was also generated. The tree had three major branches. More than two dozen of the homologs belonged to the same branch as GTF0088. These sequences have amino acid sequence identities between 91 .5%- 99.5% in an aligned region of ⁇ 1455 residues, which extends from position 1 to 1455 in GTF0088.
• the constructs were first transformed into E. coli DH10B and selected on LB with ampicillin (100 ug/ml) plates. The confirmed constructs expressing the particular GTFs were then transformed into B. subtilis host containing 9 protease deletions (amyE: xylRPxylAcomK-ermC , degUHy32, oppA,
• the resulted B. subtilis expression strains were grown in LB medium with 5 ug/ml chloramphenicol first and then subcultured into Grantsll medium grown at 30 °C for 2-3 days. The cultures were spun at 15,000 g for 30 min at 4 °C and the supernatants were filtered through 0.22 um filters. The filtered supernatants were aliquoted and frozen at -80 °C.
• the supernatants containing the GTF0088 homolog enzymes with N terminal truncation were tested for activity in the sucrose conversion assay. After three days, the samples were analyzed by HPLC. The following table shows that all the N terminal truncated homolog enzymes were active in converting sucrose and the profile of the produced small sugars and oligomers was similar.
• Glucosyltransferases usually contain an N-terminal variable domain, a middle catalytic domain followed by multiple glucan binding domains at the C terminus.
• the GTF0088 homologs tested in Example 13A all contained the N terminal variable region truncation. Homologs with additional C terminal truncations of part of the glucan binding domains were also prepared and evaluated. This example describes the
• the C terminal T1 or T3 truncation was made to the GTF0088, GTF5318, GTF5328 and GTF5330 listed in the table in Example 13A.
• the nucleotide sequences of these T1 strains are shown in SEQ ID NOs: 47- 53 (odd numbers); the amino acid sequences of these T1 strains are shown in SEQ ID NOs: 48-54 (even numbers).
• the nucleotide sequences of the T3 strains are shown in SEQ ID NOs: 55-61 (odd numbers); the amino acid sequences of the T3 strains are shown in SEQ ID NOs: 56-62 (even numbers).
• the DNA fragments encoding the T1 or T3 truncation were PCR amplified from the synthetic gene plasmids provided by

Landscapes

• Chemical & Material Sciences (AREA)
• Health & Medical Sciences (AREA)
• Life Sciences & Earth Sciences (AREA)
• Chemical Kinetics & Catalysis (AREA)
• Organic Chemistry (AREA)
• Molecular Biology (AREA)
• Engineering & Computer Science (AREA)
• Emergency Medicine (AREA)
• Oil, Petroleum & Natural Gas (AREA)
• Wood Science & Technology (AREA)
• Medicinal Chemistry (AREA)
• Polymers & Plastics (AREA)
• General Health & Medical Sciences (AREA)
• Materials Engineering (AREA)
• Biochemistry (AREA)
• Detergent Compositions (AREA)
• Enzymes And Modification Thereof (AREA)
• Treatments For Attaching Organic Compounds To Fibrous Goods (AREA)
• Biological Depolymerization Polymers (AREA)
• Chemical Or Physical Treatment Of Fibers (AREA)
• Polysaccharides And Polysaccharide Derivatives (AREA)
• Preparation Of Compounds By Using Micro-Organisms (AREA)

Priority Applications (4)

Applications Claiming Priority (2)

Related Child Applications (2)

Publications (1)

Family

ID=57326501

Family Applications (1)

Country Status (4)

Cited By (10)

Families Citing this family (15)

Citations (149)

Family Cites Families (178)