IP Library › Patent Application 11920006
Patent Application
App. No. 11/920,006

Catalase gene and use thereof

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Patent No.
US None
App. No.
11/920,006
Abstract

The present invention relates to a gene encoding a catalase and use thereof, in particular, a brewery yeast having high sulfite-producing capability, alcoholic beverages produced with said yeast, and a method for producing said beverages. More particularly, the present invention relates to a yeast, whose capability of producing sulfite, that contribute to stability of flavor in products, is enhanced by amplifying expression level of CTA1 gene encoding a catalase Cta1p, especially non-ScCTA1 gene or ScCTA1 gene specific to a lager brewing yeast, and to a method for producing alcoholic beverages with said yeast.

Claims (42)

1 . A polynucleotide selected from the group consisting of:

(a) a polynucleotide comprising a polynucleotide consisting of the nucleotide sequence of SEQ ID NO:1;

(b) a polynucleotide comprising a polynucleotide encoding a protein consisting of the amino acid sequence of SEQ ID NO: 2;

(c) a polynucleotide comprising a polynucleotide encoding a protein consisting of the amino acid sequence of SEQ ID NO: 2 with one or more amino acids thereof being deleted, substituted, inserted and/or added, and having an catalase activity;

(d) a polynucleotide comprising a polynucleotide encoding a protein having an amino acid sequence having 60% or higher identity with the amino acid sequence of SEQ ID NO: 2, and having a catalase activity;

(e) a polynucleotide comprising a polynucleotide which hybridizes to a polynucleotide consisting of a nucleotide sequence complementary to the nucleotide sequence of SEQ ID NO: 1 under stringent conditions, and which encodes a protein having a catalase activity; and

(f) a polynucleotide comprising a polynucleotide which hybridizes to a polynucleotide consisting of a nucleotide sequence complementary to the nucleotide sequence of the polynucleotide encoding the protein of the amino acid sequence of SEQ ID NO: 2 under stringent conditions, and which encodes a protein having a catalase activity.

2 . The polynucleotide of claim 1 selected from the group consisting of:

(a) a polynucleotide encoding a protein consisting of the amino acid sequence of SEQ ID NO: 2, or encoding an amino acid sequence of SEQ ID NO: 2 wherein 1 to 10 amino acids thereof is deleted, substituted, inserted, and/or added, and wherein said protein has a catalase activity;

(b) a polynucleotide encoding a protein having 90% or higher identity with the amino acid sequence of SEQ ID NO: 2, and having a catalase activity; and

(c) a polynucleotide which hybridizes to SEQ ID NO: 1 or which hybridizes to a nucleotide sequence complementary to the nucleotide sequence of SEQ ID NO: 1 under high stringent conditions, and which encodes a protein having a catalase activity.

3 . The polynucleotide of claim 1 comprising a polynucleotide consisting of SEQ ID NO: 1.

4 . The polynucleotide of claim 1 comprising a polynucleotide encoding a protein consisting of SEQ ID NO: 2.

5 . The polynucleotide of claim 1 , wherein the polynucleotide is DNA.

6 . A protein encoded by the polynucleotide of claim 1 .

7 . A vector comprising the polynucleotide of claim 1 .

8 . A vector comprising the polynucleotide selected from the group consisting of:

(a) a polynucleotide encoding a protein consisting of the amino acid sequence of SEQ ID NO: 4, or encoding an amino acid sequence of SEQ ID NO: 4 wherein 1 to 10 amino acids thereof is deleted, substituted, inserted, and/or added, and wherein said protein has a catalase activity;

(b) a polynucleotide encoding a protein having 90% or higher identity with the amino acid sequence of SEQ ID NO: 4, and having a catalase activity; and

(c) a polynucleotide which hybridizes to SEQ ID NO: 3 or which hybridizes to a nucleotide sequence complementary to the nucleotide sequence of SEQ ID NO: 3 under high stringent conditions, and which encodes a protein having a catalase activity.

9 . A yeast, wherein the vector of claim 7 is introduced.

10 . The yeast of claim 9 , wherein a sulfite-producing capability is enhanced.

11 . The yeast with an enhanced sulfite-producing capability, wherein said sulfite-producing capability is enhanced by increasing an expression level of the protein of claim 6 .

12 . A method for producing an alcoholic beverage comprising culturing the yeast of claim 9 .

13 . The method for producing an alcoholic beverage of claim 12 , wherein the brewed alcoholic beverage is a malt beverage.

14 . The method for producing an alcoholic beverage of claim 12 , wherein the brewed alcoholic beverage is wine.

15 . An alcoholic beverage produced by the method of claim 12 .

16 . A method for assessing a test yeast for its sulfite-producing capability, comprising using a primer or a probe designed based on a nucleotide sequence of a gene having the nucleotide sequence of SEQ ID NO: 1 or SEQ ID NO: 3, and encoding a protein having a catalase activity.

17 . A method for assessing a test yeast for its sulfite-producing capability, comprising: culturing a test yeast; and measuring an expression level of a gene having the nucleotide sequence of SEQ ID NO: 1 or SEQ ID NO: 3, and encoding a protein having a catalase activity.

18 . A method for selecting a yeast, comprising: culturing test yeasts; quantifying the protein according to claim 6 or measuring an expression level of a gene having the nucleotide sequence of SEQ ID NO: 1 or SEQ ID NO: 3, and encoding a protein having a catalase activity; and selecting a test yeast having said protein amount or said gene expression level according to a target sulfite-producing capability.

19 . The method for selecting a yeast according to claim 18 , comprising: culturing a reference yeast and test yeasts; measuring an expression level of a gene having the nucleotide sequence of SEQ ID NO: 1 or SEQ ID NO: 3, and encoding a protein having a catalase activity in each yeast; and selecting a test yeast having the gene expressed higher than that in the reference yeast.

20 . The method for selecting a yeast according to claim 18 , comprising: culturing a reference yeast and test yeasts; quantifying the protein encoded by the polynucleotide in each yeast; and selecting a test yeast having said protein in a larger amount than that in the reference yeast.

21 . A method for producing an alcoholic beverage comprising:

(a) conducting fermentation for producing an alcoholic beverage using the yeast comprising a vector comprising a polynucleotide selected from the group consisting of:

(i) a polynucleotide comprising a polynucleotide consisting of the nucleotide sequence of SEQ ID NO:1;

(ii) a polynucleotide comprising a polynucleotide encoding a protein consisting of the amino acid sequence of SEQ ID NO: 2;

(iii) a polynucleotide comprising a polynucleotide encoding a protein consisting of the amino acid sequence of SEQ ID NO: 2 with one or more amino acids thereof being deleted, substituted, inserted and/or added, and having an catalase activity;

(iv) a polynucleotide comprising a polynucleotide encoding a protein having an amino acid sequence having 60% or higher identity with the amino acid sequence of SEQ ID NO: 2, and having a catalase activity;

(v) a polynucleotide comprising a polynucleotide which hybridizes to a polynucleotide consisting of a nucleotide sequence complementary to the nucleotide sequence of SEQ ID NO: 1 under stringent conditions, and which encodes a protein having a catalase activity; and

(vi) a polynucleotide comprising a polynucleotide which hybridizes to a polynucleotide consisting of a nucleotide sequence complementary to the nucleotide sequence of the polynucleotide encoding the protein of the amino acid sequence of SEQ ID NO: 2 under stringent conditions, and which encodes a protein having a catalase activity; or

a yeast selected by the method according to claim 18 ; and

(b) adjusting sulfite concentration.

Assignments (2)
ASSIGNMENT OF ASSIGNOR'S INTEREST Recorded Jun 18, 2009
From: SUNTORY LIMITED
To: SUNTORY HOLDINGS LIMITED
Reel/Frame 022865/0607 →
ASSIGNMENT OF ASSIGNOR'S INTEREST Recorded Nov 7, 2007
From: NAKAO, YOSHIHIRO; KODAMA, YUKIKO; SHIMONAGA, TOMOKO; OMURA, FUMIHIKO
To: SUNTORY LIMITED
Reel/Frame 020148/0717 →