IP Library Granted Patent US 12,668,786
Granted Patent B2
US 12,668,786 · App. 18/044,250 · Granted Jun 30, 2026

Esterase and methods of use, thereof

Inventors: Feng Guo (Los Altos, CA); Helong Hao (Shanghai, CN); Bradley Kelemen (Menlo Park, CA); Amy Deming Liu (Sunnyvale, CA); Kefeng Ni (Shanghai, CN); Zhen Qian (Shanghai, CN); Zhongmei Tang (Shanghai, CN)
Assignee: Danisco US Inc.
C12N9/18C08J11/105C08J2301/32C08J2367/02
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Quick Facts
Patent No.
US 12,668,786
App. No.
18/044,250
Granted
Jun 30, 2026
Kind
B2
Abstract

The present disclosure relates to a method and a composition comprising an esterase for enzymatic surface modification of a polyester. The present disclosure also relates to a method of degradation or hydrolysis of an insoluble plant material.

Claims (5)

1 . A method for modifying an ester bond-containing polymer, comprising: contacting the ester bond-containing polymer with an effective amount of a polypeptide having polymer degradation or hydrolysis activity, wherein the polypeptide comprises an amino acid sequence having at least about 80% amino acid sequence identity to the amino acid sequence of SEQ ID NO:2, wherein the modification comprises hydrolysis of the ester bond, and wherein the ester bond-containing polymer is selected from the group consisting of polyethylene terephthalate (PET), polytrimethylene terephthalate (PTT) and arabinoxylan.

2 . The method of claim 1 , wherein the ester bond-containing polymer comprises pills on the surface of a fabric comprising the ester bond-containing polymer.

3 . The method of claim 1 , wherein the method further comprises contacting the ester bond-containing polymer with one or more cleaning agents selected from the group consisting of surfactants, builders, bleaching agents, dye transfer inhibiting agents, chelating agents, dispersants, polysaccharides, softening agents, suds suppressors, carriers, enzymes, enzyme stabilizing systems, polyacids, soil removal agents, anti-redeposition agents, hydrotropes, opacifiers, antioxidants, bactericides, dyes, perfumes, brighteners, and combinations thereof.

4 . The method of claim 1 , wherein the method further comprises contacting the ester bond-containing polymer with one or more enzymes selected from the group consisting of protease, hemicellulase, cellulase, peroxidase, esterase, xylanase, lipase, phospholipase, esterase, perhydrolase, cutinase, pectinase, pectate lyase, mannanase, keratinase, reductase, oxidase, phenoloxidase, lipoxygenase, ligninase, alpha-amylase, glucoamylase, pullulanase, beta-amylase, phytase, tannase, pentosanase, beta-glucanase, arabinosidase, laccase, transferrase, and combinations thereof.

5 . A method of degrading a plastic product containing at least one ester bond-containing polymer comprising contacting the plastic product with an effective amount of a polypeptide comprising an amino acid sequence having at least 80% amino acid sequence identity to the amino acid sequence of SEQ ID NO: 2, and wherein the ester bond-containing polymer is selected from the group consisting of polyethylene terephthalate (PET), polytrimethylene terephthalate (PTT) and arabinoxylan.