METHODS AND COMPOSITIONS FOR DEGRADING PECTIN
The present invention provides enriched polynucleotides, and enriched polypeptides having pectinase activity. The present invention also includes methods of using the polynucleotides and polypeptides described herein. For instance, the methods include producing a metabolic product, such as ethanol.
1 - 34 . (canceled)
35 . An isolated polypeptide having pectinase activity, wherein the polypeptide comprises an amino acid sequence, wherein the amino acid sequence and the amino acid sequence of SEQ ID NO:2 or SEQ ID NO:4 have at least 80% identity.
36 . The isolated polypeptide of claim 35 wherein the isolated polypeptide is expressed by a genetically modified microbe.
37 . The isolated polypeptide of claim 36 wherein the microbe is a gram-negative microbe or a fungus.
38 . The isolated polypeptide of claim 36 wherein the microbe is E. coli or S. cerevisiae.
39 . A composition comprising an enriched polypeptide having pectinase activity, wherein the polypeptide comprises an amino acid sequence, wherein the amino acid sequence and the amino acid sequence of SEQ ID NO:2 or SEQ ID NO:4 have at least 80% identity.
40 . A method for degrading pectin comprising:
contacting a composition comprising pectin with a polypeptide having pectinase activity under conditions suitable for the degradation of the pectin, wherein the polypeptide comprises an amino acid sequence, wherein the amino acid sequence and the amino acid sequence of SEQ ID NO:2 or SEQ ID NO:4 have at least 80% identity, and wherein the pectin is degraded.
41 . The method of claim 40 further comprising contacting the degraded pectin with a polypeptide having oligogalacturonate activity.
42 . The method of claim 40 wherein the polypeptide is expressed by a genetically modified microbe, and wherein the contacting comprises contacting the pectin with the genetically modified microbe.
43 . The method of claim 42 wherein the genetically modified microbe expresses an exogenous polypeptide having oligogalacturonate activity.
44 . The method of claim 42 wherein the genetically modified microbe produces ethanol.
45 . The method of claim 40 wherein the composition comprises a lignocellulosic material.
46 . The method of claim 45 wherein the lignocellulose material is obtained from a fruit or a vegetable.
47 . The method of claim 42 wherein the microbe is a gram-negative microbe or a fungus.
48 . The method of claim 47 wherein the microbe is E. coli or S. cerevisiae.
49 . A method for producing a metabolic product comprising:
contacting a composition comprising pectin with a genetically modified microbe under conditions suitable for the degradation of the pectin, wherein the genetically modified microbe comprises a polypeptide having pectinase activity, wherein the polypeptide comprises an amino acid sequence, wherein the amino acid sequence and the amino acid sequence of SEQ ID NO:2 or SEQ ID NO:4 have at least 80% identity, and wherein the genetically modified microbe produces a metabolic product.
50 . The method of claim 49 wherein the metabolic product is ethanol.
51 . The method of claim 49 further comprising contacting the composition with a polypeptide having oligogalacturonate activity.
52 . A method for producing a metabolic product comprising:
contacting a composition comprising pectin with a genetically modified microbe under conditions suitable for the degradation of the pectin, wherein the genetically modified microbe comprises an exogenous polypeptide having pectinase activity and an exogenous polypeptide having oligogalacturonate activity, and wherein the genetically modified microbe produces a metabolic product.
53 . The method of claim 52 wherein the metabolic product is ethanol.
54 . The method of claim 52 wherein the microbe is a gram-negative microbe or a fungus.