WO2017182666A1

WO2017182666A1 - Use of phospholipase c in palm oil milling

Info

Publication number: WO2017182666A1
Application number: PCT/EP2017/059577
Authority: WO
Inventors: Aindrila Dasgupta
Original assignee: Novozymes A/S
Priority date: 2016-04-22
Filing date: 2017-04-21
Publication date: 2017-10-26
Also published as: MY197025A

Abstract

The present invention relates to a process for extraction of crude palm oil from palm fruitlets comprising admixing a substrate comprising palm oil with an enzyme composition comprising a polypeptide, which has phospholipase C activity. The invention also relates to a crude palm oil, which is obtainable by the process according to the invention.

Description

USE OF PHOSPHOLIPASE C IN PALM OIL MILLING

Field of the Invention

The present invention relates to the field of crude palm oil extraction.

More particularly, the present invention relates to a method for extraction of crude palm oil from palm fruitlets comprising admixing a substrate comprising palm oil with an enzyme composition comprising a polypeptide, which has phospholipase C activity.

The invention also relates to a crude palm oil, which is obtainable by the process according to the invention.

Description of the Related Art

Palm oil production has huge economic implications in many developing countries in Asia, Africa and Latin America as large land banks are being devoted for growing the crop in recent years. Palm fruits or fruitlets grow in large bunches. Crude palm oil can be extracted from the palm fruitlets after the fresh fruit bunches (FFB) have gone through a sterilization and separation process. In general, the crude palm oil extraction process is characterised by the following major steps:

• sterilization of the fresh palm fruit bunches process; e.g. to arrest oil quality deterioration due to enzymatic activity, and facilitate the stripping of fruits from bunch stalks and the extraction of oil;

• threshing or stripping to remove fruitlets from the bunch stalk;

• discharging the fruitlets into vessels commonly referred to as digesters and digesting the fruitlets to produce a digested mash under controlled temperature;

• pressing of the digested mash; e.g. using a screw press, for subsequent recovery of oil; · subjecting the pressed liquor, also referred to as crude oil, to screening, e.g. to remove coarse fibre, and then to a clarification process to separate oil from water, cell debris, and any remaining fibrous material.

Palm fruit mesocarp contains large amounts of oil present as oil droplets within the mesocarp cells. Generally, the oil extraction rate (OER), which is a measure of the amount of extracted oil relative to the weight of the palm fruits is within the range of 20-24%, depending e.g. on fruit quality, and is subject to seasonal variation. In general, the palm oil milling process has been carefully optimized at each mill in order to minimize oil losses to the extent possible but there is still a strong incentive to improve the OER. There have been several reports indicating that enzymes, in particular cellulolytic enzymes, may be used successfully in palm oil milling to increase the oil yield (e.g. WO 2012/01 1 130). Recently, it has also been reported that enzymes, which degrade phospholipids, may be used to improve the clarification procedure, presumably by facilitating the separation of oil from water, and any remaining fibrous material (WO 2015/150372). In WO 2015/150372, the inventors proposed that lysophospholipids generated by the action of phospholipases A, B or D act as "surface acting material" to displace macromolecules adsorbed to the oil droplets, and thereby facilitate separation of the oil from non-oily matters. That, however, would discourage the skilled person from phospholipase C to improve the palm oil OER, because phospholipase C cleaves the phospholipids just before the phosphate group and hence does not produce lysophospholipids. In accordance therewith, the use of phospholipase C was specifically excluded from the scope defined by the claims in WO 2015/150372.

Summary of the Invention

The present invention relates to the use of polypeptides which have phospholipase C activity in crude palm oil milling

In a first aspect, the present invention provides a process for extraction of crude palm oil (CPO), comprising admixing a substrate comprising palm oil with an enzyme composition comprising a polypeptide, which has phospholipase C activity.

The invention also provides a crude palm oil, which is obtainable by the process according to the invention.

Definitions

Acetylxylan esterase: The term "acetylxylan esterase" means a carboxylesterase (EC 3.1.1.72) that catalyzes the hydrolysis of acetyl groups from polymeric xylan, acetylated xylose, acetylated glucose, alpha-napthyl acetate, and p-nitrophenyl acetate. Acetylxylan esterase activity can be determined using 0.5 mM p-nitrophenylacetate as substrate in 50 mM sodium acetate pH 5.0 containing 0.01 % TWEEN™ 20 (polyoxyethylene sorbitan monolaurate). One unit of acetylxylan esterase is defined as the amount of enzyme capable of releasing 1 μηηοΐβ of p-nitrophenolate anion per minute at pH 5, 25°C.

Alpha-glucuronidase: The term "alpha-glucuronidase" means an alpha-D-glucosiduronate glucuronohydrolase (EC 3.2.1 .139) that catalyzes the hydrolysis of an alpha-D-glucuronoside to D-glucuronate and an alcohol. Alpha-glucuronidase activity can be determined according to de Vries, 1998, J. Bacteriol. 180: 243-249. One unit of alpha-glucuronidase equals the amount of enzyme capable of releasing 1 μηηοΐβ of glucuronic or 4-O-methylglucuronic acid per minute at pH 5, 40°C.

Bacterial Phospholipase C/Phospholipase C derived from a bacterium: For purposes of the present invention, the term "derived from" as used herein in connection with a given source shall mean that the polypeptide is encoded by a polynucleotide, which in its native form is present in that source, and that the polypeptide is produced by the source or by a strain ("host cell") in which the polynucleotide from the source has been inserted. The term is also used in connection with polypeptides which are encoded by a modified form of a polynucleotide from the source, wherein the polynucleotides have been modified, such as by substitution, deletion, insertion or addition of one or more nucleic acid residues. Hence, the terms "bacterial Phospholipase C", "Phospholipase C derived from a bacterium" and "polypeptide having phospholipase C activity and being derived from a bacterium" are used interchangeably to refer to a polypeptide having Phospholipase C activity, which is encoded by a polynucleotide, which in its native form is present in bacterium, or is encoded by a modified form of that polynucleotide. In one aspect, the polypeptide obtained from a given source or host cell is secreted extracellularly.

Beta-glucosidase: The term "beta-glucosidase" means a beta-D-glucoside glucohydrolase (E.C. 3.2.1 .21 ) that catalyzes the hydrolysis of terminal non-reducing beta-D-glucose residues with the release of beta-D-glucose. Beta-glucosidase activity can be determined using p-nitrophenyl-beta- D-glucopyranoside as substrate according to the procedure of Venturi et al., 2002, J. Basic Microbiol. 42: 55-66. One unit of beta-glucosidase is defined as 1 .0 μηηοΐβ of p-nitrophenolate anion produced per minute at 25°C, pH 4.8 from 1 mM p-nitrophenyl-beta-D-glucopyranoside as substrate in 50 mM sodium citrate containing 0.01 % TWEEN® 20.

Beta-xylosidase: The term "beta-xylosidase" means a beta-D-xyloside xylohydrolase (E.C. 3.2.1 .37) that catalyzes the exo-hydrolysis of short beta (1→4)-xylooligosaccharides to remove successive D-xylose residues from non-reducing termini. Beta-xylosidase activity can be determined using 1 mM p-nitrophenyl-beta-D-xyloside as substrate in 100 mM sodium citrate containing 0.01 % TWEEN® 20 at pH 5, 40°C. One unit of beta-xylosidase is defined as 1 .0 μηηοΐβ of p-nitrophenolate anion produced per minute at 40°C, pH 5 from 1 mM p-nitrophenyl-beta-D- xyloside in 100 mM sodium citrate containing 0.01 % TWEEN® 20.

Cellobiohydrolase: The term "cellobiohydrolase" means a 1 ,4-beta-D-glucan cellobiohydrolase (E.C. 3.2.1.91 and E.C. 3.2.1 .176) that catalyzes the hydrolysis of 1 ,4-beta-D-glucosidic linkages in cellulose, cellooligosaccharides, or any beta-1 ,4-linked glucose containing polymer, releasing cellobiose from the reducing end (cellobiohydrolase I) or non-reducing end (cellobiohydrolase II) of the chain (Teeri, 1997, Trends in Biotechnology 15: 160-167; Teeri et al., 1998, Biochem. Soc. Trans. 26: 173-178). Cellobiohydrolase activity can be determined according to the procedures described by Lever et al., 1972, Anal. Biochem. 47: 273-279; van Tilbeurgh et al., 1982, FEBS Letters 149: 152-156; van Tilbeurgh and Claeyssens, 1985, FEBS Letters 187: 283-288; and Tomme et al., 1988, Eur. J. Biochem. 170: 575-581 .

Cellulolytic enzyme or cellulase: The term "cellulolytic enzyme" or "cellulase" means one or more (e.g., several) enzymes that hydrolyze a cellulosic material. Such enzymes include endoglucanase(s), cellobiohydrolase(s), beta-glucosidase(s), or combinations thereof. The two basic approaches for measuring cellulolytic enzyme activity include: (1 ) measuring the total cellulolytic enzyme activity, and (2) measuring the individual cellulolytic enzyme activities (endoglucanases, cellobiohydrolases, and beta-glucosidases) as reviewed in Zhang et al., 2006, Biotechnology Advances 24: 452-481 . Total cellulolytic enzyme activity can be measured using insoluble substrates, including Whatman N°1 filter paper, microcrystalline cellulose, bacterial cellulose, algal cellulose, cotton, pretreated lignocellulose, etc. The most common total cellulolytic activity assay is the filter paper assay using Whatman N°1 filter paper as the substrate. The assay was established by the International Union of Pure and Applied Chemistry (lUPAC) (Ghose, 1987, Pure Appl. Chem. 59: 257-68).

Cellulolytic enzyme activity can be determined by measuring the increase in production/release of sugars during hydrolysis of a cellulosic material by cellulolytic enzyme(s) under the following conditions: 1 -50 mg of cellulolytic enzyme protein/g of cellulose in pretreated corn stover (PCS) (or other pretreated cellulosic material) for 3-7 days at a suitable temperature such as 40°C-80°C, e.g., 40°C, 45°C, 50°C, 55°C, 60°C, 65°C, 70°C, 75°C, or 80°C, and a suitable pH, such as 4-9, e.g., 4.0, 4.5, 5.0, 5.5, 6.0, 6.5, 7.0, 7.5, 8.0, 8.5, or 9.0, compared to a control hydrolysis without addition of cellulolytic enzyme protein. Typical conditions are 1 ml reactions, washed or unwashed PCS, 5% insoluble solids (dry weight), 50 mM sodium acetate pH 5, 1 mM MnS0₄, 50°C, 55°C, or 60°C, 72 hours, sugar analysis by AMINEX® HPX-87H column chromatography (Bio-Rad Laboratories, Inc., Hercules, CA, USA).

Cellulosic material: The term "cellulosic material" means any material containing cellulose. The predominant polysaccharide in the primary cell wall of biomass is cellulose, the second most abundant is hemicellulose, and the third is pectin. The secondary cell wall, produced after the cell has stopped growing, also contains polysaccharides and is strengthened by polymeric lignin covalently cross-linked to hemicellulose. Cellulose is a homopolymer of anhydrocellobiose and thus a linear beta-(1 -4)-D-glucan, while hemicelluloses include a variety of compounds, such as xylans, xyloglucans, arabinoxylans, and mannans in complex branched structures with a spectrum of substituents. Although generally polymorphous, cellulose is found in plant tissue primarily as an insoluble crystalline matrix of parallel glucan chains. Hemicelluloses usually hydrogen bond to cellulose, as well as to other hemicelluloses, which help stabilize the cell wall matrix. Cellulose is generally found, for example, in the stems, leaves, hulls, husks, and cobs of plants or leaves, branches, and wood of trees. The cellulosic material can be, but is not limited to, agricultural residue, herbaceous material (including energy crops), municipal solid waste, pulp and paper mill residue, waste paper, and wood (including forestry residue) (see, for example, Wiselogel et al., 1995, in Handbook on Bioethanol (Charles E. Wyman, editor), pp. 105-1 18, Taylor & Francis, Washington D.C.; Wyman, 1994, Bioresource Technology 50: 3-16; Lynd, 1990, Applied Biochemistry and Biotechnology 24/25: 695-719; Mosier et al., 1999, Recent Progress in Bioconversion of Lignocellulosics, in Advances in Biochemical Engineering/Biotechnology, T. Scheper, managing editor, Volume 65, pp. 23-40, Springer-Verlag, New York). It is understood herein that the cellulose may be in the form of lignocellulose, a plant cell wall material containing lignin, cellulose, and hemicellulose in a mixed matrix. In one aspect, the cellulosic material is any biomass material. In another aspect, the cellulosic material is lignocellulose, which comprises cellulose, hemicelluloses, and lignin.

Crude oil: The term "crude oil" (also called a non-degummed oil) refers to a pressed or extracted oil or a mixture thereof. In the present context, it is to be understood that the oil is palm oil, in particular un-refined palm oil. In particular, the term "crude oil" refers to the effluent from the screw press of a palm oil mill; i.e. to the mixture of oil and water pressed out of the palm fruit mash, before it has been subject to clarification and separation of oil from water.

Endoglucanase: The term "endoglucanase" means a 4-(1 ,3;1 ,4)-beta-D-glucan 4- glucanohydrolase (E.C. 3.2.1.4) that catalyzes endohydrolysis of 1 ,4-beta-D-glycosidic linkages in cellulose, cellulose derivatives (such as carboxymethyl cellulose and hydroxyethyl cellulose), lichenin, beta-1 ,4 bonds in mixed beta-1 ,3-1 ,4 glucans such as cereal beta-D-glucans or xyloglucans, and other plant material containing cellulosic components. Endoglucanase activity can be determined by measuring reduction in substrate viscosity or increase in reducing ends determined by a reducing sugar assay (Zhang et al., 2006, Biotechnology Advances 24: 452- 481 ). Endoglucanase activity can also be determined using carboxymethyl cellulose (CMC) as substrate according to the procedure of Ghose, 1987, Pure and Appl. Chem. 59: 257-268, at pH 5, 40°C.

Feruloyi esterase: The term "feruloyi esterase" means a 4-hydroxy-3-methoxycinnamoyl-sugar hydrolase (EC 3.1.1.73) that catalyzes the hydrolysis of 4-hydroxy-3-methoxycinnamoyl (feruloyi) groups from esterified sugar, which is usually arabinose in natural biomass substrates, to produce ferulate (4-hydroxy-3-methoxycinnamate). Feruloyi esterase (FAE) is also known as ferulic acid esterase, hydroxycinnamoyl esterase, FAE-III, cinnamoyl ester hydrolase, FAEA, cinnAE, FAE-I, or FAE-II. Feruloyi esterase activity can be determined using 0.5 mM p-nitrophenylferulate as substrate in 50 mM sodium acetate pH 5.0. One unit of feruloyi esterase equals the amount of enzyme capable of releasing 1 μηηοΐβ of p-nitrophenolate anion per minute at pH 5, 25°C. Fungal Phospholipase C/Phospholipase C derived from a fungus: In accordance with the above, the terms "fungal Phospholipase C" "Phospholipase C derived from a fungus", and "polypeptide having phospholipase C activity and being derived from a fungus" are used interchangeably to refer to a polypeptide having Phospholipase C activity, which is encoded by a polynucleotide, which in its native form is present in a fungus, or is encoded by a modified form of that polynucleotide.

Isolated: The term "isolated" means a substance in a form or environment that does not occur in nature. Non-limiting examples of isolated substances include (1 ) any non-naturally occurring substance, (2) any substance including, but not limited to, any 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 (e.g., recombinant production in a host cell; multiple copies of a gene encoding the substance; and use of a stronger promoter than the promoter naturally associated with the gene encoding the substance).

Mature polypeptide: The term "mature polypeptide" means a polypeptide in its final form following translation and any post-translational modifications, such as N terminal processing, C terminal truncation, glycosylation, phosphorylation, etc.

Pectinase: The term "pectinase" is defined as any enzyme that degrades pectic substances. Pectic substances include homogalacturonans, xylogalacturonans, and rhamnogalacturonans as well as derivatives thereof. Pectinase treatment may be achieved by one or more pectinases, such as two or more pectinases of the same type (e.g., two different pectin methylesterases) or of different types (e.g., a pectin methylesterase and an arabinanase). The pectinase may, for example, be selected from the group consisting of arabinanase (catalyses the degradation of arabinan sidechains of pectic substances), arabinofuranosidase (removes arabinosyl substituents from arabinans and arabinogalactans), galactanase (catalyses the degradation of arabinogalactan and galactan sidechains of pectic substances), pectate lyase (cleaves glycosidic bonds in polygalacturonic acid by beta-elimination), pectin acetylesterase (catalyses the removal of acetyl groups from acetylated pectin), pectin lyase (cleaves the glycosidic bonds of highly methylated pectins by beta-elimination), pectin methylesterase (catalyses the removal of methanol from pectin, resulting in the formation of pectic acid, polygalacturonic acid), polygalacturonase (hydrolyses the glycosidic linkages in the polygalacturonic acid chain), rhamnogalacturonan acetylesterase (catalyses the removal of acetyl groups from acetylated rhamnogalacturonans), and rhamnogaiacturonase and rhamnogalacturonan lyase (degrade rhamnogalacturonans). Phospholipase C activity: The term "phospholipase C activity" or "PLC activity" relates to an enzymatic activity that removes the phosphate ester moiety from a phospholipid to produce a 1 ,2 diacylglycerol (see Figure 3). Most PLC enzymes belong to the family of hydrolases and phosphodiesterases and are generally classified as EC 3.1 .4.3. Some PLC enzymes are classified in other EC classes, for example Pl-specific PLC's. Phospholipase C activity may be determined by one of the assays described in the "Assay for phospholipase activity" section.

Phospholipase C specificity: The term "phospholipase C specificity" relate to a polypeptide having phospholipase C activity where the activity is specified towards one or more phospholipids, with the four most important once being phosphatidylcholine (PC), phosphatidylethanolamine (PE), phosphatidic acid (PA) and phosphatidyl inositol (PI) (see Figure 2).

Assays for phospholipase activity: Routine protocols for determining the activity phospholipase C, are well known in the art.

Exemplary activity assays include turbidity assays, methylumbelliferyl phosphocholine (fluorescent) assays, Amplex red (fluorescent) phospholipase assays, thin layer chromatography assays (TLC), cytolytic assays and p-nitrophenylphosphorylcholineassays. Using these assays polypeptides, peptides or antibodies can be quickly screened for a phospholipase activity.

Plate assays with a substrate containing agar can be used to determine phospholipase activity. Useful substrates are lecithin or specific phospholipids. The assay can be conducted as follows. Plates are casted by mixing of 5 ml 2% Agarose (Litex HSA 1000) prepared by mixing and cooking in buffers (100 mM HEPES and 100 mM Citrate with pH adjusted from pH 3.0 to pH 7.0) for 5 minutes followed by cooling to approximately 60°C and 5ml substrate (L-alfa Phosohatidylcholine, 95% from Soy (Avanti 441601 ) or L-a-phosphatidylinositol from Soy (Avanti 840044P) for Pl- specificity or L-a-phosphatidylethanolamine from Soy (Avanti 840024P) or lecithin) dispersed in water (MilliQ) at 60°C for 1 minute with Ultra Turrax for PC-specificity) gently mixed into petri dishes with diameter of 7 cm and cooled to room temperature before holes with a diameter of approximately 3 mm were punched by vacuum. Ten microliters of purified enzyme diluted to 0.4 mg/ml is added into each well before plates were sealed by parafilm and placed in an incubator at 55°C for 48 hours. Plates were taken out for photography at regular intervals.

Turbidity assays to determine phospholipase activity are described, e.g., in Kauffmann (2001 ) "Conversion of Bacillus thermocatenulatus lipase into an efficient phospholipase with increased activity towards long-chain fatty acyl substrates by directed evolution and rational design," Protein Engineering 14:919-928; Ibrahim (1995) "Evidence implicating phospholipase as a virulence factor of Candida albicans," Infect. Immun. 63:1993-1998.

Methylumbelliferyl (fluorescent) phosphocholine assays to determine phospholipase activity are described, e.g., in Goode (1997) "Evidence for cell surface internal phospholipase activity in ascidian eggs," Develop. Growth Differ. 39:655-660; Diaz (1999) "Direct fluorescence-based lipase activity assay," BioTechniques 27:696-700.

Amplex Red (fluorescent) Phospholipase Assays to determine phospholipase activity are available as kits, e.g., the detection of phosphatidylcholine-specific phospholipase using an Amplex Red phosphatidylcholine-specific phospholipase assay kit from Molecular Probes Inc. (Eugene, OR), according to manufacturer's instructions.

Fluorescence is measured in a fluorescence microplate reader using excitation at 560 ± 10nm and fluorescence detection at 590 ± 10 nm. The assay is sensitive at very low enzyme concentrations.

Thin layer chromatography assays (TLC) to determine phospholipase activity are described, e.g., in Reynolds (1991 ) Methods in Enzymol. 197:3-13; Taguchi (1975) "Phospholipase from Clostridium novyi type A.I," Biochim. Biophys. Acta 409:75-85. Thin layer chromatography (TLC) is a widely used technique for detection of phospholipase activity. Various modifications of this method have been used to extract the phospholipids from the aqueous assay mixtures. In some PLC assays the hydrolysis is stopped by addition of chloroform/methanol (2: 1 ) to the reaction mixture. The unreacted starting material and the diacylglycerol are extracted into the organic phase and may be fractionated by TLC, while the head group product remains in the aqueous phase. For more precise measurement of the phospholipid digestion, radio labeled substrates can be used (see, e.g., Reynolds (1991 ) Methods in Enzymol. 197:3-13). The ratios of products and reactants can be used to calculate the actual number of moles of substrate hydrolyzed per unit time. If all the components are extracted equally, any losses in the extraction will affect all components equally. Separation of phospholipid digestion products can be achieved by silica gel TLC with chloroform/methanol/water (65:25:4) used as a solvent system (see, e.g., Taguchi (1975) Biochim. Biophys. Acta 409:75-85).

p-Nitrophenylphosphorylcholine assays to determine phospholipase activity are described, e.g., in Korbsrisate (1999) J. Clin. Microbiol. 37:3742-3745; Berka (1981 ) Infect. Immun. 34:1071 - 1074. This assay is based on enzymatic hydrolysis of the substrate analog p- nitrophenylphosphorylcholine to liberate a yellow chromogenic compound p-nitrophenol, detectable at 405 nm. This substrate is convenient for high throughput screening. Similar assays using substrates towards the other phospholipid groups can also be applied e.g. using p- nitrophenylphosphorylinositol or p-nitrophenylphosphorylethanolamine.

A cytolytic assay can detect phospholipases with cytolytic activity based on lysis of erythrocytes. Toxic phospholipases can interact with eukaryotic cell membranes and hydrolyze phosphatidylcholine and sphingomyelin, leading to cell lysis. See, e.g., Titball (1993) Microbiol. Rev. 57:347-366. Further assays like 31 P-NMR and Liquid Chromatography coupled to triple quadrupole mass spectrometer (LC/MS/MS) may be used. A 31 P-NMR assay is disclosed in the paragraph below that defines the term "PC and PE-specific phospholipase C". Quantitative analysis of phospholipids by Liquid Chromatography coupled to triple quadrupole mass spectrometer (LC/MS/MS) assay is described in the following:

Quantitative analysis of phospholipids by LCMS/MS:

Liquid Chromatography coupled to triple quadrupole mass spectrometer (LC/MS/MS) or coupled to quadrupole mass spectrometer time of flight (LC/TOF/MS) is used to quantify the individual phospholipids species: phosphatidylcholine (PC); Phosphatidylinositol (PI); Phosphatidylethanolamine (PE) and Phosphatidic acid (phosphatidate) (PA). The sensitivity of the assay goes down to less than 1 mg Phosphorus/kg oil for PC, PE and PI (ppm) and less than 10 mg Phosphorus/kg for PA. The oil sample is dissolved in chloroform. The extract is then analysed on LC-TOF-MS (or on LC-MS/MS if lower detection limits are needed) using following settings:

LC-settings

Eluent A: 50% Acetonitril, 50% Water, 0.15% formic acid

Eluent B: 100% Isopropionic acid, 0.15% formic acid

Run time: 26.9 min

Flow: 0.50 mL/min

Column temperature: 50°C

Autosampler temp: 15-25°C

Injection volume: 1 μί

Column type Material: Charged Surface Hybrid, length: 50mm, size:1 ^m, ID: 2.1 mm MS-settings

The data may be processed using MassLynx version 4.1 Software. PC and PE-specific phospholipase C: The term "PC and PE-specific phospholipase C" or "PC, PE-specific phospholipase C" relates to a polypeptide having activity towards phosphatidylcholine (PC), phosphatidylethanolamine (PE). In addition to the PC and PE specificity it may also have some activity towards phosphatidic acid (PA) and phosphatidyl inositol (PI). Preferably a PC and PE specific phospholipase C removes at least 30% PC and at least 30% PE from an oil or fat with at least 100 ppm PC and 100 ppm PE when using the P-NMR assay set forth below at the optimal pH of the enzyme and an enzyme dosage of 10 mg/kg. More preferably it removes 40%, 50%, 60%, 70% or 80%, even more preferred it removes 90% and most preferred it removes between 90% and 100% of the PC in the oil or fat and 40%, 50%, 60%, 70% or 80%, even more preferred it removes 90% and most preferred it removes between 90% and 100% of the PE in the oil or fat.

31 P-NMR assay: This assay follows the conversion of individual phospholipids shown in Figure 2 in an oil environment and reveals the substrate specificity and preference of the phospholipase, and provides an indication of the pH optimum of the enzymes.

Substrate

Crude soy bean oils with the following content of the specific phospholipids measured by P-NMR were used.

PA: 80-140 ppm Phosphorus (P)

PE: 140-200 ppm P

PI: 70-1 10 ppm P

PC: 130-200 ppm P

Other crude oils may also be applied in this assay, e.g. from rapeseed, sunflower, corn, cottonseed, groundnut, rice bran. The primary criterion is that the oil contains minimum 30 ppm of each of the specific phospholipids (to be significantly above the NMR quantification limit). Ensure mixing before the crude oil is pipetted (it precipitates over time).

Buffers and enzyme

0.2 M Cs-EDTA pH 7.5 solution: EDTA (5.85 g) is dispersed in MQ-water (50 mL). The pH is adjusted to 7.5 using 50% w/w CsOH (approx. 30 mL), which will dissolve the EDTA completely. MQ-water is added to a total volume of 100 mL to give a concentration of 0.2 M.

Internal standard: 2 mg/mL solution triphenyl phosphate (TPP) in MeOH.

pH buffers:

100 mM Na-citrate pH 4.0

100 mM Na-citrate pH 5.5 100 mM Na-citrate pH 7.0

Enzyme: Dilute to concentrations of 0.9, 0.27, and 0.09 mg Enzyme Protein (EP) / mL in the three buffers and keep cold to be used the same day.

Assay

250 micro-L crude oil is weighed into a 2 mL Eppendorf and 25 micro-L enzyme diluted in the desired pH buffer was added. This results in 10, 30, and 100 mg EP/kg oil. The mixture is incubated in a thermoshaker at 50 °C for 2 h. Then 0.500 mL phosphate standard solution, 0.5 mL chloroform-d (CDCI3) and 0.5 mL Cs-EDTA buffer is added. Phase separation is obtained after 30 sec shaking followed by centrifugation (tabletop centrifuge, 3 min, 13,400 rpm). The lower phase is transferred to a NMR-tube. ³¹P NMR with 128 scans, 5 sec delay time is run. All signals are integrated. Assignments (approx. ppm at 25 °C): 1.7 (PA), -0.1 (PE), -0.5 (PI), -0,8 (PC). The position of the signals can change significantly according to exact pH value, temperature, sample concentration, etc. The concentration of each species is calculated as "ppm P", i.e. mg elemental Phosphorus per kg oil sample. Hence, ppm P = l/l (IS ) ^* n(IS) ^* M(P) / m(oil). %Remaining phospholipid is calculated as the ratio of the phospholipid concentration in the enzyme treated sample to the same concentration in a blank sample.

Pi-Specific Phospholipase C: The term "Pl-specific phospholipase C" or "Phosphatidylinositol phospholipase C" relates to a polypeptide having activity towards phosphatidyl inositol (PI), meaning that its activity towards phosphatidylcholine (PC), phosphatidylethanolamine (PE), phosphatidic acid (PA) is low compared to the PI activity. Pl-specific phospholipase C enzymes can either belong to the family of hydrolases and phosphodiesterases classified as EC 3.1.4.1 1 or to the family of lyases classified as EC 4.6.1 .13. Pl-specific phospholipase C activity may be determined according to the procedure described above. Preferably a Pl-specific phospholipase C removes at least 30% PI from an oil or fat with at least 50 ppm PI when using the P-NMR assay of Example 5 at the optimal pH of the enzyme and an enzyme dosage of 10 mg/kg. More preferably it removes 40%, 50%, 60%, 70% or 80%, even more preferred it removes 90% and most preferred it removes between 90% and 100% of the PI in the oil or fat.

Preferably a Pl-specific Phospholipase C removes at least 20% more PI when compared to the amount of PC, PE or PA it can remove, more preferred at least 30%, 40%, even more preferred at least 50% and most preferred at least 60% more PI when compared to the amount of PC, PE or PA it can remove.

PC-, PE-, PA- and Pi-Specific Phospholipase C: The terms "PC-, PE-, PA,- and Pl-specific phospholipase C", and "polypeptide having activity towards phosphatidylcholine (PC), phosphatidylethanoamine (PE), phosphatidic acid (PA) and phosphatidylinositol (PI)" are used interchangeably. They relate to a polypeptide having activity towards phosphatidylcholine (PC), phosphatidylethanoamine (PE), phosphatidic acid (PA), and phosphatidyl inositol (PI). Preferably a PC-, PE-, PA,- and Pl-specific phospholipase C removes at least 30% of each of the four phospholipid species from an oil orfat with at least 100 ppm PC, 75 ppm PE, 5ppm PA and 50ppm PI when using the P-NMR described above at the optimal pH of the enzyme and an enzyme dosage of 10 mg/kg. More preferably it removes 40%, 50%, 60%, 70% or 80%, even more preferred it removes 90% and most preferred it removes between 90% and 100% of the PC in the oil or fat and 40%, 50%, 60%, 70% or 80%, even more preferred it removes 90% and most preferred it removes between 90% and 100% of the PE in the oil or fat.

Polygalacturonases: The term "polygalacturonases" (EC 3.2.1.15) are pectinases that catalyze random hydrolysis of (1 ,4)-alpha-D-galactosiduronic linkages in pectate and other galacturonans. They are also known as pectin depolymerase. Polygalacturonase hydrolyses the alpha-1 ,4- glycosidic bonds in polygalacturonic acid with the resultant release of galacturonic acid. This reducing sugar reacted then with 3,5-dinitrosalicylic acid (DNS). The colour change produced due to the reduction of DNS is proportional to the amount of galacturonic acid released, which in turn is proportional to the activity of polygalacturonase in the sample. One polygalacturonase unit (PGNU) is defined as the amount of enzyme which will produce 1 mg of galacturonic acid sodium salt under standard conditions (acetate buffer, pH 4.5, 40°C, 10 min reaction time, 540 nm).

Sequence identity: The relatedness between two amino acid sequences or between two nucleotide sequences is described by the parameter "sequence identity".

For purposes of the present invention, the sequence identity between two amino acid sequences is determined using the Needleman-Wunsch algorithm (Needleman and Wunsch, 1970, J. Mol. Biol. 48: 443-453) as implemented in the Needle program of the EMBOSS package (EMBOSS: The European Molecular Biology Open Software Suite, Rice et al., 2000, Trends Genet. 16: 276- 277), preferably version 5.0.0 or later. The parameters used are gap open penalty of 10, gap extension penalty of 0.5, and the EBLOSUM62 (EMBOSS version of BLOSUM62) substitution matrix. The output of Needle labeled "longest identity" (obtained using the -nobrief option) is used as the percent identity and is calculated as follows:

(Identical Residues x 100)/(Length of Alignment - Total Number of Gaps in Alignment)

For purposes of the present invention, the sequence identity between two deoxyribonucleotide sequences is determined using the Needleman-Wunsch algorithm (Needleman and Wunsch, 1970, supra) as implemented in the Needle program of the EMBOSS package (EMBOSS: The European Molecular Biology Open Software Suite, Rice et al., 2000, supra), preferably version 5.0.0 or later. The parameters used are gap open penalty of 10, gap extension penalty of 0.5, and the EDNAFULL (EMBOSS version of NCBI NUC4.4) substitution matrix. The output of Needle labeled "longest identity" (obtained using the -nobrief option) is used as the percent identity and is calculated as follows:

(Identical Deoxyribonucleotides x 100)/(Length of Alignment - Total Number of Gaps in Alignment)

Xylan-containing material: The term "xylan-containing material" means any material comprising a plant cell wall polysaccharide containing a backbone of beta-(1 -4)-linked xylose residues. Xylans of terrestrial plants are heteropolymers possessing a beta-(1 -4)-D-xylopyranose backbone, which is branched by short carbohydrate chains. They comprise D-glucuronic acid or its 4-O-methyl ether, L-arabinose, and/or various oligosaccharides, composed of D-xylose, L- arabinose, D- or L-galactose, and D-glucose. Xylan-type polysaccharides can be divided into homoxylans and heteroxylans, which include glucuronoxylans, (arabino)glucuronoxylans, (glucurono)arabinoxylans, arabinoxylans, and complex heteroxylans. See, for example, Ebringerova et al., 2005, Adv. Polym. Sci. 186: 1 -67.

Amylase: For the purpose of the present invention "amylase" refers to an enzyme that catalyses the hydrolysis of starch into sugars. Amylase activity may be determined as described by Joseph D. Teller, Measurement of amylase acitivity, J. Biol. Chem. 1950, 185:701 -704.

Xylan degrading activity or xylanolytic activity: The term "xylan degrading activity" or "xylanolytic activity" means a biological activity that hydrolyzes xylan-containing material. The two basic approaches for measuring xylanolytic activity include: (1 ) measuring the total xylanolytic activity, and (2) measuring the individual xylanolytic activities (e.g., endoxylanases, beta- xylosidases). Recent progress in assays of xylanolytic enzymes was summarized in several publications including Biely and Puchard, 2006, Journal of the Science of Food and Agriculture 86(1 1 ): 1636-1647; Spanikova and Biely, 2006, FEBS Letters 580(19): 4597-4601 ; Herrimann et ai, 1997, Biochemical Journal 321 : 375-381 .

Total xylan degrading activity can be measured by determining the reducing sugars formed from various types of xylan, including, for example, oat spelt, beechwood, and larchwood xylans, or by photometric determination of dyed xylan fragments released from various covalently dyed xylans. A common total xylanolytic activity assay is based on production of reducing sugars from polymeric 4-O-methyl glucuronoxylan as described in Bailey et al., 1992, I nterlaboratory testing of methods for assay of xylanase activity, Journal of Biotechnology 23(3): 257-270. Xylanase activity can also be determined with 0.2% AZCL-arabinoxylan as substrate in 0.01 % TRITON® X-100 and 200 mM sodium phosphate pH 6 at 37°C. One unit of xylanase activity is defined as 1 .0 μηηοΐβ of azurine produced per minute at 37°C, pH 6 from 0.2% AZCL-arabinoxylan as substrate in 200 mM sodium phosphate pH 6. Xylan degrading activity can be determined by measuring the increase in hydrolysis of birchwood xylan (Sigma Chemical Co., Inc., St. Louis, MO, USA) by xylan-degrading enzyme(s) under the following typical conditions: 1 ml reactions, 5 mg/ml substrate (total solids), 5 mg of xylanolytic protein/g of substrate, 50 mM sodium acetate pH 5, 50°C, 24 hours, sugar analysis using p- hydroxybenzoic acid hydrazide (PHBAH) assay as described by Lever, 1972, Anal. Biochem. 47: 273-279.

Xylanase: The term "xylanase" means a 1 ,4-beta-D-xylan-xylohydrolase (E.C. 3.2.1.8) that catalyzes the endohydrolysis of 1 ,4-beta-D-xylosidic linkages in xylans. Xylanase activity can be determined with 0.2% AZCL-arabinoxylan as substrate in 0.01 % TRITON® X-100 and 200 mM sodium phosphate pH 6 at 37°C. One unit of xylanase activity is defined as 1 .0 μηηοΐβ of azurine produced per minute at 37°C, pH 6 from 0.2% AZCL-arabinoxylan as substrate in 200 mM sodium phosphate pH 6.

Pectin methylesterase (PME), EC 3.1 .1 .1 1 , is an enzyme that acts mainly in the hydrolysis of methyl ester groups in pectin chains to form carboxylate groups, releasing methanol and H30+ (Jayani, R.S.; Saxena, S.; Gupta, R. Microbial pectinolytic enzymes: a review. Process Biochemistry, London, v.40, p.2931 -2944, 2005). Pectin methyl esterase activity may be determined e.g. as described by Lemke Gonzalez et al., Pectin methylesterase activity determined by different methods and thermal inactivation of exogenous pme in mango juice. Ciena agrotec. vol.35 no.5 Lavras Sept./Oct. 201 1

Palm oil mill effluent (POME): Palm oil mill effluent (POME) is the waste water discharged e.g. from the sterilization process, crude oil clarification process.

Oil extraction rate (OER): For the purpose of the present invention, "Oil extraction rate (OER)" may be defined as by Chang et al., oil palm Industry economic journal, volume 3, 2003[9]. Chang et al. defines the Oil extract rate as ratio of oil recovered and Fresh fruit branch (FFB) times 100. According to this definition, the mathematical formula is:

OER = (weight of oil recovered/weight of FFB processed) x 100

Temperature optimum: In the context of the invention, the term "temperature optimum" refers to the temperature at which an enzyme's catalytic activity is at its greatest. Below the temperature, reacting molecules have more and more kinetic energy as the temperature rises. This increases the chances of a successful collision and so the rate increases. Above temperature optimum the enzyme structure begins to denature since at higher temperatures intra- and intermolecular bonds are broken as the enzyme molecules gain even more kinetic energy.

A temperature optimum may be determined by assessing the enzyme activity; e.g. the cellulase activity, of a purified enzyme, a crude extract of the enzyme or an enzyme in a whole broth, over a range of temperatures (e.g. 40 to 90°C) at a relevant pH (e.g. pH 5) and for an appropriate incubation period; e.g. for a period of 5-60 minutes, such as 5-30 minutes, 10-30 minutes or 20- 30 minutes, or 20-25 minutes. For determination of cellulase activity, the buffers, substrate and assay principle disclosed below, in the definition of "thermostability" may be used in a determination of temperature optimum.

Thermal transition midpoint: As used herein, the term "thermal transition midpoint" refers to the temperature at which equal amounts of native and denatured forms of a polypeptide exist in equilibrium. Thermal transition midpoints may be determined using Differential Scanning Calorimetry (DCS) using e.g. an acetate buffer, such as 50 mM Acetate pH 5,5.

Thermostability: As used herein, "thermostability" refers to the stability of an enzyme when the enzyme is tested or left at a specific high temperature, such as 70°C. The thermostability may be determined by incubating the enzyme in an appropriate buffer (e.g. 0.1 M Na-OAc buffer pH 5.0) at an elevated temperature, e.g. 70 degrees Celsius for varying time periods (i.e. 0 min, 20 min, 40 min and 60 minutes) followed by transfer of the samples to ice, and then determine the residual enzyme activity. For instance, residual cellulase activity may be determined on Konelab using the following protocol:

Substrate: Carboxymethyl cellulose (CMC), 5 g/L in Na-AOc buffer pH 5.0

Sample dissolution and dilution buffer: 0.1 M Na-OAc buffer pH 5.0

Stop and detection reagent: PAH BAH, 50 g/L K-Na-tartrate, 20 g/L PAH BAH, 5.52g/L Bismuth(lll)-acetate, 0.5 M NaOH

Assay principle: Cellulose is hydrolyzed and form reducing carbohydrate. The substrate carboxymethyl cellulose (CMC) is a substituted form of cellulose. The reaction is stopped by an alkaline reagent containing PAH BAH and Bismuth that forms complexes with reducing sugar. The complex formation results in colour production which can be read at 405 nm by a spectrophotometer. The produced colour is proportional to the cellulose activity.

The residual activity is calculated and plotted against time of heat treatment

In the present application, reference to "about" a value or parameter herein includes aspects that are directed to that value or parameter per se. For example, description referring to "about X" includes the aspect "X".

As used herein and in the appended claims, the singular forms "a," "or," and "the" include plural referents unless the context clearly dictates otherwise. It is understood that the aspects of the invention described herein include "consisting" and/or "consisting essentially of" aspects. Unless defined otherwise or clearly indicated by context, all technical and scientific terms used herein have the same meaning as commonly understood by one of ordinary skill in the art to which this invention belongs. Description of the figures

Figure 3: Schematic representation of a production line in a commercial palm oil mill from thresher to screw press. The production line includes: Thresher (A), Conveyor(s) (B), (C) and (D), Digester (E) and Screw press (F). Enzyme application is shown at points (G), (H) and/or (I); including water dosing (K) and enzyme dosing (J). Steam supply to the digester is shown as (L) and dilute crude oil (DCO) exit from screw press is shown as (M).

Figure 2: Illustrates where different phospholipases cleave a phospholipid as well as the four major functional groups on phospholipids.

Figure 3: Illustrates the reaction of a phospholipid with a phospholipase C to form diglyceride and a phosphate ester or phosphoric acid.

Detailed Description of the Invention

The present invention relates to the use of polypeptides which have phospholipase C activity in crude palm oil milling.

The present inventors have surprisingly found that polypeptides, which have phospholipase C activity are highly useful in increasing the oil yield in an enzyme-assisted process for extraction of crude palm oil.

Sterilization is the first step in the process which is crucial to the final oil quality as well as the strippability of fruits. Steam sterilization of the FFBs facilitates fruits being stripped from bunches to give the palm fruitlet. The sterilization step has several advantages one being that it softens the fruit mesocarp for subsequent digestion.

After sterilization, stripping, digestion and pressing may be performed using equipment in a configuration as outlined in Figure 1. Stripping or threshing is carried out in a mechanized system having a rotating drum or fixed drum equipped with rotary beater bars detach the fruit from the bunch, leaving the spikelets on the stem (A). After stripping, the palm fruitlets (also referred to as "mass passing to digester" ("MPD")) are moved into a digester by one or more transportation means (B), (C) and (D). In the digester (E), the fruitlets are further reheated to loosen the pericarp.

The digester is typically a steam heated vessels, which has rotating shafts to which are attached stirring arms. The fruitlets are rotated about, causing the loosening of the pericarps from the nuts and degradation of the mesocarp. The digester is kept full and as the digested fruit is drawn out, freshly stripped fruits are brought in. The digested mass is passed into a press, such as a screw press (F), from which a mixture of oil, water, press cake or fibre and nuts are discharged. The mixture of oil, water and solids (Undiluted Dilute Crude Oil, (UDCO) or Diluted Crude Oil (DCO)) from the fruitlets is delivered from the press to a clarification tank for further processing.

In some embodiments, the palm fruitlets or "mass passing to digester" ("MPD") is/are moved from the thresher or stripper to a pre-cooker, before being moved into the digester.

Stripping, digestion and pressing may be performed using equipment which is in serial connection. The serial connection allows fruit bunches to be conveyed via the sterilizer into the thresher or stripper, palm fruitlets or "mass passing to digester" to be conveyed from the thresher or stripper to the digester, optionally via the pre-cooker, and transport of fruit mash from the digester into the screw press. In further embodiments the exit of the screw press is fluidically connected to downstream equipment for separation of oil from water and sludge.

In a first aspect, the present invention provides a process for extraction of crude palm oil (CPO). The process comprising admixing a substrate comprising palm oil with an enzyme composition comprising a polypeptide, which has phospholipase C activity; i.e. a polypeptide which cleaves a phospholipid to produce diacylglycerol and phosphate ester.

In the various aspects and embodiments of the invention the substrate, which comprises palm oil may be a substrate which also comprises fiber, in particular fiber from the mescocarp of palm fruitlets.

It is to be understood that the enzyme composition used according to the invention may be applied at any point in the crude palm oil extraction process, after the palm fruit bunches have been sterilized and until the oil is separated from water the water and from cell debris and fibrous material, which is also present in the liquid which is obtained by pressing of the mashed palm fruitlets. In particular, the substrate may be selected from the group consisting of palm fruitlets, mass passing to digester (MPD), mashed or partly mashed palm fruitlets or MPD, palm press liquid.

The said palm press liquid may in particular be crude oil, such as undiluted crude oil (UDCO) or diluted crude oil (DCO).

In the process according to the invention, the polypeptide which has phospholipase C activity may be a bacterial phospholipase or fungal phospholipase C or a combination thereof.

According to come embodiments of the invention, the polypeptide having phospholipase C activity is a PC-, PE-, PA- and Pi-Specific Phospholipase C. In other embodiments of the invention the polypeptide having phospholipase C activity is a PC- and PE- Specific Phospholipase C. In still further embodiments of the invention, the polypeptide having phospholipase C activity is a Pi-Specific Phospholipase C. According to some embodiments of the invention, the polypeptide having phospholipase C activity comprises, consists essentially of, or consists of an amino acid sequence selected from the group consisting of:

(a) the amino acid sequence set forth in any one of SEQ ID NOs: 1 -27,

(b) a amino acid sequence having at least 60% sequence identity to any one of the amino acid sequences in (a), and

(c) a subsequence of any one of the amino acid sequences in (a) and (b).

In some embodiments, the amino acid sequence in (b) has at least 65%, at least 70%, at least 75%, at least 80%, at least 85%, at least 90%, at least 91 %, at least 92%, at least 93%, at least 94%, at least 95%, at least 96%, at least 97%, at least 98%, at least 99% identity to any one of the amino acid sequences in (a)

In further embodiments, the subsequence in (c) is a truncated version of any one of the amino acid sequences in (a) and (b), which has been truncated by 1 , 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 10- 15, 15-20, 20-30, 30-40 or 40-50 amino acid residues.

The subsequence in (c) may in particular be a mature polypeptide of any one of the amino acid sequences in (a) and (b).

In particular embodiments, the subsequence in (c) comprises or consists of an amino acid sequence selected from the group consisting of: amino acids residues 18-613 of SEQ ID NO: 3, amino acid residues 25-625 of SEQ ID NO: 4, amino acid residues 1 -573 of SEQ ID NO: 4, amino acid residues 1 -545 of SEQ ID NO: 4, amino acid residues 25-573 of SEQ ID NO: 4, amino acid residues 25-545 of SEQ ID NO: 4, amino acid residues 25-625 of SEQ ID NO: 5, amino acid residues 1 -573 of SEQ ID NO: 5, amino acid residues 1 -545 of SEQ ID NO: 5, amino acid residues 25-573 of SEQ ID NO: 5, amino acid residues 25-545 of SEQ ID NO: 5, amino acid residues 19- 610 of SEQ ID NO: 6, amino acid residues 26-610 of SEQ ID NO: 6, amino acid residues 28-610 of SEQ ID NO: 6, amino acid residues 139-610 of SEQ ID NO: 6, amino acid residues 1 -565 of SEQ ID NO: 6, amino acid residues 19-565 of SEQ ID NO: 6, amino acid residues 26-565 of SEQ ID NO: 6, amino acid residues 28-565 of SEQ ID NO: 6, amino acid residues 139-565 of SEQ ID NO: 6, amino acid residues 5-592 of SEQ ID NO: 7, amino acid residues 5-583 of SEQ ID NO: 7, amino acid residues 5-556 of SEQ ID NO: 7, amino acid residues 1 -583 of SEQ ID NO: 7, amino acid residues 1 -556 of SEQ ID NO: 7, amino acid residues 25-289 of SEQ ID NO: 23, amino acid residues 12-256 of SEQ ID NO: 27.

The polypeptide having phospholipase C activity may be a variant of any one of the phospholipases defined above, such as a variant in which one or more amino acid residues, but at the most 50 amino acid residues has/have been substituted, deleted and/or inserted.

It will be understood that the said one or more polypeptides may be isolated polypeptides. In the process according to the invention, the said substrate may be contacted with two or more polypeptides which has phospholipase C activity, such as two or more polypeptides as defined above.

The polypeptide having phospholipase C activity may in particular be a polypeptide having thermal transition midpoint (Tm) in the range of 60-95°C, such as in the range of 65-95°C, 65- 90°C, 70-95°C, 70-90°C, 75-95°C, 75-90°C, 80-95°C, or such as 80-90°C.

The enzyme composition used according to the invention may further comprises a hydrolase other than a phospholipase, such as a cellulase, a hemicellulase, an amylase and/or a pectinase.

In one embodiment, the enzyme composition used in the process of the invention comprises a commercial cellulolytic enzyme preparation. Examples of commercial cellulolytic enzyme preparations suitable for use in the present invention include, for example, CELLIC® CTec (Novozymes A/S), CELLIC® CTec2 (Novozymes A/S), CELLIC® CTec3 (Novozymes A/S), CELLUCLAST™ (Novozymes A/S), NOVOZYM™ 188 (Novozymes A/S), SPEZYME™ CP (Genencor Int.), ACCELERASE™ TRIO (DuPont), FILTRASE® NL (DSM); METHAPLUS® S/L 100 (DSM), ROHAMENT™ 7069 W (Rohm GmbH), or ALTERNAFUEL® CMAX3® (Dyadic International, Inc.).

Suitable cellulases include those of bacterial or fungal origin. Chemically modified or protein engineered mutants are included. Suitable cellulases include cellulases from the genera Bacillus, Pseudomonas, Humicola, Fusarium, Thielavia, Acremonium, e.g. the fungal cellulases produced from Humicola insolens, Myceliophthora thermophila and Fusarium oxysporum disclosed in U.S. Pat. No. 5,648,263, U.S. Pat. No. 5,691 ,178, U.S. Pat. No. 5,776,757 and WO 89/09259. Especially suitable cellulases are the alkaline or neutral cellulases having colour care and whiteness maintenance benefits. Examples of such cellulases are cellulases described in EP 0 531 372, WO 96/1 1262, WO 96/29397, WO 98/08940. Other examples are cellulase variants such as those described in WO 94/07998, EP 0 531 315, U.S. Pat. No. 5,457,046, U.S. Pat. No. 5,686,593, U.S. Pat. No. 5,763,254, WO 95/24471 , WO 98/12307 and PCT/DK98/00299. Commercially used cellulases include Renozyme®, Celluzyme®, Celluclean®, Endolase® and Carezyme®. (Novozymes A/S), Clazinase®, and Puradax HA®. (Genencor Int. Inc), and KAC- 500(B)™ (Kao Corporation).

In currently preferred embodiments, the enzyme composition comprises Palmora® OER, which is commercially available from Novozymes A/S.

Examples of commercial hemicellulolytic enzyme preparations suitable for use in the present invention include, for example, SHEARZYME™ (Novozymes A/S), CELLIC® HTec (Novozymes A/S), CELLIC® HTec2 (Novozymes A/S), CELLIC® HTec3 (Novozymes A/S), ULTRAFLO® (Novozymes A/S), PULPZYME® HC (Novozymes A/S), MULTIFECT® Xylanase (Genencor), ACCELLERASE® XY (Genencor), ACCELLERASE® XC (Genencor), ECOPULP® TX-200A (AB Enzymes), HSP 6000 Xylanase (DSM), DEPOL™ 333P (Biocatalysts Limit, Wales, UK), DEPOL™ 740L. (Biocatalysts Limit, Wales, UK), and DEPOL™ 762P (Biocatalysts Limit, Wales, UK).

In particular embodiments, the hydrolase; e.g. the cellulase, the pectinase, and/or the amylase, has a temperature optimum in the range of 60-85°C, such as in the range of 65-85°C, 66-85°C, 67-85°C, 68-85°C, 69-85°C, 70-85°C, 65-79°C, 65-80°C, 66-80°C, 67-80°C, 66-79°C,

66- 78°C, 66-77°C, 66-76°C, 66-75°C, 66-74°C, 66-73°C, 66-72°C, 66-71 °C, 67-80°C, 67-79°C,

67- 78°C, 67-77°C, 67-76°C, 67-75°C, 67-74°C, 67-73°C, 67-72°C, 67-71 °C, 68-79°C, 68-78°C, 68-77°C, 68-76°C, 68-75°C, 68-74°C, 68-73°C, 68-72°C, 68-71 °C, 69-79°C, 69-78°C, 69-77°C,

69-76°C, 69-75°C, 69-74°C, 69-73°C, 69-72°C, 69-71 °C, and 70-85°C.

In particular, said cellulase, said pectinase, and/or said amylase, may be thermostable to such an extent that at least 15% of the enzyme activity (i.e. the cellulase, amylase and/or pectinase activity) is retained after incubation at 70°C for 20 minutes, to such an extent that at least 20% of the enzyme activity is retained after incubation at 70°C for 20 minutes, to such an extent that at least 25% of the enzyme activity is retained after incubation at 70°C for 20 minutes, to such an extent that at least 30% of the enzyme activity is retained after incubation at 70°C for 20 minutes, to such an extent that at least 35% of the enzyme activity is retained after incubation at 70°C for 20 minutes, to such an extent that at least 40% of the enzyme activity is retained after incubation at 70°C for 20 minutes, to such an extent that at least 50% of the enzyme activity is retained after incubation at 70°C for 20 minutes, to such an extent that at least 60% of the enzyme activity is retained after incubation at 70°C for 20 minutes, or to such an extent that at least 70% of the enzyme activity is retained after incubation at 70°C for 20 minutes.

The thermostability may in particular be determined by incubation at 70°C for 20 minutes in a 0.1 M Na-OAc buffer pH 5.0, followed by transfer to ice and determination of residual enzyme activity (i.e. residual cellulase, amylase and/or pectinase activity) on Konelab by a method comprising: hydrolyzing substrate (e.g. carboxymethyl cellulose (CMC) form reducing carbohydrate; stopping the hydrolyzation by an alkaline reagent containing PAHBAH and Bismuth, which that forms complexes with reducing sugar; and measuring color production by complex formation at 405 nm in a spectrophotometer.

The process according to the invention may in particular comprise contacting the substrate, such the palm fruitlets, the mass passing to digester (MPD), the mashed or partly mashed palm fruitlets, and/or the palm press liquid, with said enzyme composition at a temperature of above 65°C.

In some embodiments, the process according to the invention comprises the steps of: i) Contacting the palm fruitlets, the mass passing to digester (MPD) or the mashed or partly mashed palm fruitlets, with said enzyme composition at a temperature of above 65°C; and

ii) Extracting the CPO.

In further embodiments, the process according to the invention comprises

i) Subjecting sterilized fresh fruit bunches (FFB) to stripping or threshing to provide stripped fruitlets or MPD,

ii) Conveying the stripped fruitlets or MPD to a digester,

iii) Subjecting the stripped fruitlets or MPD to a digestion procedure to produce fruit mash,

iv) Subjecting the fruit mash to pressing to produce a crude oil comprising oil, water, cell debris, and/or fibrous material, and

v) Separating the oil in said crude oil from the water cell debris, and/or fibrous material.

The said enzyme composition may in particular be applied in step ii), iii), and/or in step v). In further embodiments, wherein reference is made to Figure 1 , the process according to the invention comprises the steps of:

i) Subjecting sterilized FFB to stripping or threshing in a stripper or thresher (A) to provide stripped fruitlets or MPD and discharging the stripped fruitlets or MPD to a conveyor; e.g. a screw conveyor (B),

ii) Conveying the stripped fruitlets or MPD to a digester (E) on one or more conveyors; e.g. conveyors (B), (C) and/or (D),

iii) Retaining the stripped fruitlets or MPD in the digester (E) to produce fruit mash, and

iv) Pressing the fruit mash in a press (F), such as a screw press, to extract CPO.

The enzyme composition may in particular be applied in step ii) or iii), such as by application onto the stripped fruitlets or MPD, while the stripped fruitlets or MPD is/are conveyed to a digester (F) as shown in Figure 1 , on one or more conveyors; e.g. conveyors (C), (D) and/or (E).

In some embodiments, the enzyme composition or the one or more enzymes; e.g. one or more enzymes as defined above are applied after step iv).

In other embodiments, the enzyme composition or the one or more enzymes; e.g. one or more enzymes as defined above, are applied after step iv) and before the oil in said crude oil is separated from the water and from the cell debris, and/or the fibrous material. In some embodiments step iii) comprises retaining the stripped fruitlets or MPD in the digester at temperatures above 65°C and up to 85°C from 10-30 minutes, such as from 10-28 minutes, 15-28 minutes, 12-30 minutes, 12-28 minutes or 12-25 minutes; e.g. by controlling the speed of the screw press (F) and/or by controlling steam supply (L).

In further embodiments step iii) comprises retaining the stripped fruitlets or MPD in the digester at temperatures between 55 and 90°C, such as between 60 and 90°C, between 60 and 85°C, between 60 and 80°C, between 65 and 85°C, or such as between 65 and 80°C from 7-30 minutes, from 10-30 minutes, such as from 7-28 minutes, from 10-28 minutes, 15-28 minutes, 12- 30 minutes, 12-28 minutes, from 7-25 minutes, from 10-25 minutes, from 7-20 minutes, from 10- 20 minutes or 12-25 minutes; e.g. by controlling the speed of the screw press (F) and/or by controlling steam supply (L).

In the process according to the invention, the palm fruitlets or MPD may be contacted with said enzyme composition at a temperature within the range of 55-90°C, such as a temperature within the range of 55-85°C, 55-80°C, 60-90°C, 60-85°C, 60-80°C, 66-90°C, 67-90°C, 68-90°C, 69-90°C, 70-90°C, 66-85°C, 66-80°C, 67-80°C, 66-79°C, 66-78°C, 66-77°C, 66-76°C, 66-75°C,

66- 74°C, 66-73°C, 66-72°C, 66-71 °C, 67-80°C, 67-79°C, 67-78°C, 67-77°C, 67-76°C, 67-75°C,

67- 74°C, 67-73°C, 67-72°C, 67-71 °C, 68-79°C, 68-78°C, 68-77°C, 68-76°C, 68-75°C, 68-74°C,

68- 73°C, 68-72°C, 68-71 °C, 69-79°C, 69-78°C, 69-77°C, 69-76°C, 69-75°C, 69-74°C, 69-73°C,

69- 72°C, 69-71 °C, 70-90°C, 70-89°C, 70-88°C, 70-87°C, 70-86°C, or 70-85°C.

In particular embodiment, the enzyme composition is dosed in amounts corresponding to

20-1000 mg enzyme protein/kg substrate, 20-750 mg enzyme protein/kg substrate, 20-500 mg enzyme protein/kg substrate, such as 20-450 mg enzyme protein/kg substrate, 20-400 mg enzyme protein/kg substrate, 20-350 mg enzyme protein/kg substrate, 20-300 mg enzyme protein/kg substrate, 20-250 mg enzyme protein/kg substrate, 20-200 mg enzyme protein/kg substrate, 20-150 mg enzyme protein/kg substrate, 20-100 mg enzyme protein/kg substrate, 20- 75 mg enzyme protein/kg substrate, 20-50 mg enzyme protein/kg substrate, 30-500 mg enzyme protein/kg substrate, 40-500 mg enzyme protein/kg substrate, 50-500 mg enzyme protein/kg substrate, 75-500 mg enzyme protein/kg substrate, 100-500 mg enzyme protein/kg substrate, 150-500 mg enzyme protein/kg substrate, 200-500 mg enzyme protein/kg substrate, 250-500 mg enzyme protein/kg substrate, 300-500 mg enzyme protein/kg substrate, 350-500 mg enzyme protein/kg substrate, 400-500 mg enzyme protein/kg substrate, 200-1000 mg enzyme protein/kg substrate, 200-750 mg enzyme protein/kg substrate, 30-400 mg enzyme protein/kg substrate, 30- 300 mg enzyme protein/kg substrate, 30-200 mg enzyme protein/kg substrate, 30-150 mg enzyme protein/kg substrate, 30-100 mg enzyme protein/kg substrate, 30-75 mg enzyme protein/kg substrate, or such as 30-50 mg enzyme protein/kg substrate. The enzyme composition may be dosed in amounts corresponding to 5-500 mg enzyme protein per metric ton of fresh fruit bunches (FFBs) entering the oil extraction process, such as 10-500 mg enzyme protein, such as 10-500 mg enzyme protein, such as 20-500 mg enzyme protein, such as 20-200 mg enzyme protein, such as 5-150 mg enzyme protein, such as 5-100 mg enzyme protein, such as 5-50 mg enzyme protein, such as 10-200 mg enzyme protein, such as 10-100 mg enzyme protein, such as 10-75 mg enzyme protein, or such as 10-50 mg enzyme protein per metric ton of fresh fruit bunches (FFBs) entering the oil extraction process.

In other embodiments, the enzyme composition is dosed such that the amount of enzyme protein corresponds to 100-1000 ppm, such as 200-1000 ppm, 100-500 ppm, such as 200-500 ppm, 250-400 ppm, 350-1000 ppm or 500-1500 ppm relative to the amount of substrate.

In the various embodiments of the invention the substrate may be contacted with said enzyme composition, e.g. at a temperature as specified above, for a period of 5-120 minutes, such as a period of 20-120 minutes, 25-120 minutes, 5-60 minutes, 20-60 minutes, 25-60 minutes, 30-60 minutes, 15-50 minutes, 20-50 minutes, 25-50 minutes, 30-50 minutes, 15-40 minutes, 20- 40 minutes, 25-40 minutes, 30-40 minutes, 15-30 minutes, 20-30 minutes, 25-28 minutes, 25-30 minutes, 25-35 minutes, 15-25 minutes, 20-25 minutes, 20-28 minutes, 15-20 minutes, 10-15 minutes or 5-10 minutes.

In particular embodiments, the process according to the invention comprises a digestion procedure in which the substrate, such as the MPD and or fruit mash is retained at temperatures above 65°C and up to 85°C for 10-30 minutes, such as for 10-28 minutes, 15-28 minutes, 12-30 minutes, 12-28 minutes or 12-25 minutes.

In particular embodiments, the process according to the invention comprises retaining the palm fruitlets or MPD in a pre-cooker at a temperature between 40 and 85°C, such as between 50 and 85°C, such as between 65 and 85°C, such as between 60 and 85°C, or such as between 70 and 80°C. In currently preferred embodiments the palm fruitlets or MPD are retained in a pre- cooker together with enzyme at a temperature between 65 and 75°C.

The palm fruitlets or MPD may be retained in said pre-cooker for a period of 15 - 120 minutes, such as 15-60 minutes, such as 30-120 minutes, or such as for a period of 30-60 minutes.

In some embodiments according to the invention the retention time in the pre-cooker may be even shorter. Hence, the palm fruitlets or MPD may be retained in said pre-cooker for a period of 2-20 minutes, such as 3-20 minutes, such as 5-20 minutes, such as 2-15 minutes, such as 3- 15 minutes, such as 3-10 minutes, such as 2-100 minutes, or such as for a period of 5-10 minutes.

The palm fruitlets or MPD may be retained in said pre-cooker for an amount of time which is sufficient to provide a total retention time of 15 minutes or more, such as 20 minutes or more, such as a retention time of 15 minutes - 1 hour, such as a retention time of 20 minutes - 1 hour, such as a retention time of 20 - 45 minutes or such as a retention time of 20 -30 minutes; the retention time being calculated as the time from application or dosing of enzyme to the time point at which the fruit mash is subject to pressing.

The process according to the invention may in particular be a process for increasing the oil extraction rate (OER), e.g. a process wherein said polypeptide having phospholipase C activity is used to increase the oil extraction rate (OER).

Another aspect of the invention provides a crude palm oil, which is obtainable by according to the aspect and any of the embodiments disclosed above.

The present invention is further described by the following examples that should not be construed as limiting the scope of the invention.

Examples

Example 1 : Effect of PLC on yield in a crude palm oil extraction process

Oil extraction procedure:

Palm fruitlets were sterilized at 120°C, 151b pressure for 30 min. The mesocarp was separated from the kernels and was mashed in a mash bath at room temp/60°C for 5 min.

Aliquots of 83g of mashed substrate having 32 % moisture were made up to 100gm with 17g water. Enzymes were added to the mash at 1000 ppm dose, and the mash was incubated at 70°C for 30 min with continuous mixing.

After incubation the mash was conditioned at 90°C for 15 min. Liquor was then extracted by para pressing at 4 bar for 10 sec. The extracted liquor was clarified at 90°C for 30 min and was subsequently centrifuged at 5000 rpm for 10 min in hot condition

Oil was recovered by pipetting.

Results:

The results are presented in Table 1 below: Phospholipase C provides a yield increase in the crude palm oil extraction process.

Table 1 :

Example 2: Effect of PLC in combination with cellulase

Enzymes:

The following enzymes and combinations thereof were included in the test:

Celluclast

Viscozyme barley HT

Experimental cellulase

Phospholipase C (SEQ ID NO: 20)

Phospholipase C (SEQ ID NO: 1 )

Oil extraction procedure:

Oil was recovered by pipetting.

Results:

The results are presented in Table 2 below: Cellulase provides a yield increase in the crude palm oil extraction process, which is further increased when phospholipase C is used in combination with cellulase.

Table 2:

avg %

%Oil %Oil %Oil Avg

% increase over increase

Treatments Yield Yield Yield OilYield

control over testl test2 test3 %

control

Control 32,4 31 ,6 31 ,6 31 ,9 0,5 -0,3 -0,3 0,0

Celluclast

32,3 35,3 31 ,3 33,0 0,4 3,4 -0,6 1 ,1

Viscozyme barley HT

32,0 36,8 34,4 0,1 4,9 2,5

Experimental cellulase 31 ,6 36,2 34,9 34,2 -0,3 4,3 3,0 2,3 Experimental

cellulase+PLC (SEQ ID

NO: 20)

35,5 36,6 36,1 3,6 4,7 4,2

Experimental cellulase+

PLC (SEQ ID NO: 1 )

29,3 36,0 41 ,7 35,7 -2,6 4,1 9,8 3,8

Experimental

cellulase+PLC (SEQ ID

NO: 20) +Viscozyme

barley HT

30,5 36,0 39,4 35,3 -1 ,4 4,1 7,5 3,4

Experimental

cellulase+PLC (SEQ ID

NO: 1 )+Viscozyme

barley HT

36,7 31 ,4 38,2 35,4 4,8 -0,5 6,3 3,5

Experimental

cellulase+PLC (SEQ ID

NO: 1 ) +celluclast 37 39

30,9 35,7 -1 ,0 5,2 7,1 3,8

Experimental

cellulase+celluclast

34,2 38 36,1 2,3 6,2 4,2

Claims

1 . A process for extraction of crude palm oil (CPO), comprising admixing a substrate comprising palm oil with an enzyme composition comprising a polypeptide, which has phospholipase C activity.

2. The process according to claim 1 , wherein the substrate also comprises fiber.

3. The process according to claim 1 , wherein said substrate is selected from the group consisting of palm fruitlets, mass passing to digester (MPD), mashed or partly mashed palm fruitlets or MPD and palm press liquid.

4. The process according to any of the preceding claims, wherein said palm press liquid is crude oil, such as undiluted crude oil (UDCO) or diluted crude oil (DCO).

5. The process according to any of the preceding claims, wherein said enzyme composition, which has phospholipase C activity is a bacterial phospholipase or fungal phospholipase C or a combination thereof.

6. The process according to any of the preceding claims, wherein said polypeptide having phospholipase C activity comprises, consists essentially of, or consists of an amino acid sequence selected from the group consisting of:

(a) the amino acid sequence set forth in any one of SEQ ID NOs: 1 -27,

(c) a subsequence of any one of the amino acid sequences in (a) and (b).

7. The process according to claim 6, wherein the subsequence in (c) is a mature

polypeptide of any one of the amino acid sequences in (a) and (b).

8. The process according to claim 6 or 7, wherein the subsequence in (c) comprises or consists of an amino acid sequence selected from the group consisting of: amino acids residues 18-613 of SEQ ID NO: 3, amino acid residues 25-625 of SEQ ID NO: 4, amino acid residues 1 -573 of SEQ ID NO: 4, amino acid residues 1 -545 of SEQ ID NO: 4, amino acid residues 25-573 of SEQ ID NO: 4, amino acid residues 25-545 of SEQ ID NO: 4, amino acid residues 25-625 of SEQ ID NO: 5, amino acid residues 1 -573 of SEQ ID NO: 5, amino acid residues 1 -545 of SEQ ID NO: 5, amino acid residues 25-573 of SEQ ID NO: 5, amino acid residues 25-545 of SEQ ID NO: 5, amino acid residues 19-610 of SEQ ID NO: 6, amino acid residues 26-610 of SEQ ID NO: 6, amino acid residues 28-610 of SEQ ID NO: 6, amino acid residues 139-610 of SEQ ID NO: 6, amino acid residues 1 -565 of SEQ ID NO: 6, amino acid residues 19-565 of SEQ ID NO: 6, amino acid residues 26- 565 of SEQ ID NO: 6, amino acid residues 28-565 of SEQ ID NO: 6, amino acid residues 139-565 of SEQ ID NO: 6, amino acid residues 5-592 of SEQ ID NO: 7, amino acid residues 5-583 of SEQ ID NO: 7, amino acid residues 5-556 of SEQ ID NO: 7, amino acid residues 1 -583 of SEQ ID NO: 7, amino acid residues 1 -556 of SEQ ID NO: 7, amino acid residues 25-289 of SEQ ID NO: 23, amino acid residues 12-256 of SEQ ID NO: 27.

9. The process according to any of the preceding claims, wherein said polypeptide having phospholipase C activity is a variant of any one of the phospholipases defined in claim 6(a), or in claim 7 or 8, such as a variant in which one or more amino acid residues, but at the most 50 amino acid residues has/have been substituted, deleted and/or inserted.

10. The process according to any of the preceding claims, wherein said one or more polypeptides are isolated polypeptides.

1 1 . The process according to any of the preceding claims, wherein said substrate is contacted with two or more polypeptides, which has phospholipase C activity/which cleaves a phospholipid to produce diacylglycerol and a phosphate ester; such as two or more polypeptides as defined in any of claims 6-10.

12. The process according to any of the preceding claims, wherein said polypeptide having phospholipase C activity has thermal transition midpoint (Tm) in the range of 60-95°C, such as in the range of 65-95°C, 65-90°C, 70-95°C, 70-90°C, 75-95°C, 75-90°C, 80-95°C, or such as 80-90°C.

13. The process according to claim 12, wherein said enzyme composition further comprises a hydrolase other than a phospholipase, such as a cellulase, a hemicellulase, an amylase and/or a pectinase.

14. The process according to claim13, wherein said hydrolase, such as said cellulase, said hemicellulase, said pectinase, and/or said amylase, has a temperature optimum in the range of 60-85°C, such as in the range of 65-85°C, 66-85°C, 67-85°C, 68-85°C, 69-85°C,

70-85°C, 65-79°C, 65-80°C, 66-80°C, 67-80°C, 66-79°C, 66-78°C, 66-77°C, 66-76°C, 66- 75°C, 66-74°C, 66-73°C, 66-72°C, 66-71 °C, 67-80°C, 67-79°C, 67-78°C, 67-77°C, 67- 76°C, 67-75°C, 67-74°C, 67-73°C, 67-72°C, 67-71 °C, 68-79°C, 68-78°C, 68-77°C, 68- 76°C, 68-75°C, 68-74°C, 68-73°C, 68-72°C, 68-71 °C, 69-79°C, 69-78°C, 69-77°C, 69- 76°C, 69-75°C, 69-74°C, 69-73°C, 69-72°C, 69-71 °C, and 70-85°C.

15. The process according to any of claims 13 and 14, wherein said cellulase, hemicellulase, said pectinase, and/or said amylase, is thermostable to such an extent that at least 15% of the enzyme activity (i.e. the cellulase, amylase and/or pectinase activity) is retained after incubation at 70°C for 20 minutes, to such an extent that at least 20% of the enzyme activity is retained after incubation at 70°C for 20 minutes, to such an extent that at least 25% of the enzyme activity is retained after incubation at 70°C for 20 minutes, to such an extent that at least 30% of the enzyme activity is retained after incubation at 70°C for 20 minutes, to such an extent that at least 35% of the enzyme activity is retained after incubation at 70°C for 20 minutes, to such an extent that at least 40% of the enzyme activity is retained after incubation at 70°C for 20 minutes, to such an extent that at least

50% of the enzyme activity is retained after incubation at 70°C for 20 minutes, to such an extent that at least 60% of the enzyme activity is retained after incubation at 70°C for 20 minutes, or to such an extent that at least 70% of the enzyme activity is retained after incubation at 70°C for 20 minutes

16. The process according to any of the preceding claims, comprising the steps of:

i) Contacting the palm fruitlets or MPD with said enzyme composition at a temperature of above 50°C, such as a temperature of above 60°C, such as a temperature of above 65°C;

ii) Extracting the CPO.

17. The process according to any of the preceding steps, comprising

ii) Conveying the stripped fruitlets or MPD to a digester,

18. The process according to claim 17, wherein said enzyme composition is applied in step ii), iii), or in step v).

19. The process according to any of the preceding claims, comprising the steps of:

20. The process according to claim 19, wherein said enzyme composition is applied in step ii) or iii), such as by application onto the stripped fruitlets or MPD, while the stripped fruitlets or MPD is/are conveyed to a digester (F) as shown in Figure 1 , on one or more conveyors; e.g. conveyors (C), (D) and/or (E).

21 . The process according to any of the preceding claims, wherein the palm fruitlets or MPD is contacted with said enzyme composition at a temperature within the range of 66-90°C, such as a temperature within the range of 55-90°C, such as a temperature within the range of 55-85°C, 55-80°C, 60-90°C, 60-85°C, 60-80°C, 66-90°C, 67-90°C, 68-90°C, 69-90°C, 70-90°C, 66-85°C, 66-80°C, 67-80°C, 66-79°C, 66-78°C, 66-77°C, 66-76°C, 66-75°C, 66-

74°C, 66-73°C, 66-72°C, 66-71 °C, 67-80°C, 67-79°C, 67-78°C, 67-77°C, 67-76°C, 67- 75°C, 67-74°C, 67-73°C, 67-72°C, 67-71 °C, 68-79°C, 68-78°C, 68-77°C, 68-76°C, 68- 75°C, 68-74°C, 68-73°C, 68-72°C, 68-71 °C, 69-79°C, 69-78°C, 69-77°C, 69-76°C, 69- 75°C, 69-74°C, 69-73°C, 69-72°C, 69-71 °C, 70-90°C, 70-89°C, 70-88°C, 70-87°C, 70- 86°C, or 70-85°C.

22. The process according to any of the preceding claims, wherein the enzyme composition is dosed in amounts corresponding to 5-500 mg enzyme protein per metric ton of fresh fruit bunches (FFBs) entering the oil extraction process, such as 10-500 mg enzyme protein, such as 10-500 mg enzyme protein, such as 20-500 mg enzyme protein, such as 20-200 mg enzyme protein, such as 5-150 mg enzyme protein, such as 5-100 mg enzyme protein, such as 5-50 mg enzyme protein, such as 10-200 mg enzyme protein, such as 10-100 mg enzyme protein, such as 10-75 mg enzyme protein, or such as 10-50 mg enzyme protein per metric ton of fresh fruit bunches (FFBs) entering the oil extraction process.

23. The process according to any of the preceding claims, wherein the enzyme composition is dosed such that the amount of enzyme protein corresponds to 100-1000 ppm, such as 200-1000 ppm, 100-500 ppm, such as 200-500 ppm, 250-400 ppm or 350-1000 ppm relative to the amount of substrate.

24. The process according to any of the preceding claims, wherein the substrate is contacted with said enzyme composition for a period of 5-120 minutes, such as a period of 20-120 minutes, 25-120 minutes 5-60 minutes, 20-60 minutes, 25-60 minutes, 30-60 minutes, 15- 50 minutes, 20-50 minutes, 25-50 minutes, 30-50 minutes, 15-40 minutes, 20-40 minutes, 25-40 minutes, 30-40 minutes, 15-30 minutes, 20-30 minutes, 25-28 minutes, 25-30 minutes, 25-35 minutes, 15-25 minutes, 20-25 minutes, 20-28 minutes, 15-20 minutes, 10-15 minutes or 5-10 minutes.

25. The process according to any of the preceding claims, wherein the digestion procedure comprises retaining the MPD and or fruit mash at temperatures above 65°C and up to 85°C for 10-30 minutes, such as for 10-28 minutes, 15-28 minutes, 12-30 minutes, 12-28 minutes or 12-25 minutes.

26. The process according to any of the preceding claims, said process being for increasing the oil extraction rate (OER)/wherein said polypeptide having phospholipase C activity is used to increase the oil extraction rate (OER).

27. A crude palm oil, which is obtainable by the process according to any of the preceding claims.