Synergetic effect of the phytase combination on the hydrolysis of phytic acid

1. A composition combining at least two 3-phytases for hydrolysis of phytic acid (myo-inositol 1,2,3,4,5,6-hexakisphosphate), comprising:

a) a first phytase exhibiting at least 95% identity with the phytase of SEQ ID NO: 1 or exhibiting at least 95% identity with the phytase of SEQ ID NO: 2;

b) a second phytase exhibiting at least 95% identity with the phytase of SEQ ID NO: 3.

wherein the first and second phytases have a synergistic hydrolysis effect on phytic acid in the absence of a phytase having a different stereospecificity.

2. The composition according to claim 1 , wherein the first phytase is a 3-phytase which catalyses the hydrolysis of the six phosphate bonds of phytic acid.

3. The composition according to claim 1 , wherein the first phytase has an optimum temperature of between 55° C. and 80° C. and an optimum pH of between pH 3.5 and pH 5.

4. The composition according to claim 1 , wherein the first phytase is a phytase of the yeast Schwanniomyces castellii or a phytase of the yeast Debaryomyces castellii.

5. The composition according to claim 1 , wherein the first phytase is the phytase of SEQ ID NO: 1 or the phytase of SEQ ID NO: 2, and the second phytase is the phytase of SEQ ID NO: 3.

6. The composition according to claim 1 , wherein the second phytase is a 3-phytase which catalyses the hydrolysis of at least five phosphate bonds of phytic acid.

7. The composition according to claim 1 , wherein the second phytase has an optimum temperature of between 50° C. and 60° C. and an optimum pH of between pH 2 and pH 6.

8. The composition according to claim 1 , wherein the second phytase is an Aspergillus niger phytase.

9. The composition according to claim 1 , wherein the first phytase exhibits at least 99% identity with the phytase of SEQ ID NO: 1 or exhibits at least 99% identity with the phytase of SEQ ID NO: 2, and the second phytase exhibits at least 99% identity with the phytase of SEQ ID NO: 3.

10. The composition according to claim 1 , wherein said composition is in the form of a nutritional additive for animals or of an animal feed.

11. A method for supplementing the nutrition of an animal comprising feeding said animal the composition of claim 1 in a nutritional additive for animals or in an animal feed.

12. A method for increasing the availability of phytic phosphorus and improving the digestibility of animal feeds, comprising feeding animals the composition of claim 1 .

13. A method of hydrolysis of phytic acid (myo-inositol 1,2,3,4,5,6-hexakisphosphate) to inorganic monophosphates, to myo-inositols with a lower degree of phosphorylation and to free myo-inositol, comprising:

hydrolyzing phytic acid with a first phytase and a second phytase,

the first phytase exhibiting at least 95% identity with the 3-phytase of SEQ ID NO: 1 or exhibiting at least 95% identity with the 3-phytase of SEQ ID NO: 2, and

the second phytase exhibiting at least 95% identity with the 3-phytase of SEQ ID NO: 3,

wherein the first and second phytases have a synergistic hydrolysis effect on phytic acid in the absence of a phytase having a different stereospecificity.

14. The method according to claim 13 , wherein the first phytase is a 3-phytase which catalyses the hydrolysis of the six phosphate bonds of phytic acid.

15. The method according to claim 13 , wherein the first phytase has an optimum temperature of between 55° C. and 80° C. and an optimum pH of between pH 3.5 and pH 5.

16. The method according to claim 13 , wherein the first phytase is a phytase of the yeast Schwanniomyces castellii or a phytase of the yeast Debaryomyces castellii.

17. The method according to claim 13 , wherein the first phytase is the phytase of SEQ ID NO: 1 or the phytase of SEQ ID NO: 1 and the second phytase is the phytase of SEQ ID NO: 3.

18. The method according to claim 13 , wherein the second phytase is a 3-phytase which catalyses the hydrolysis of at least five phosphate bonds of phytic acids.

19. The method according to claim 13 , wherein the second phytase has an optimum temperature of between 50° C. and 60° C. and an optimum pH of between pH 2 and pH 6.

20. The method according to claim 13 , wherein the second phytase is an Aspergillus niger phytase.

21. The method according to claim 13 , wherein the first phytase exhibits at least 99% identity with the phytase of SEQ ID NO: 1 or exhibits at least 99% identity with the phytase of SEQ ID NO: 2, and the second phytase is the exhibits at least 99% identity with the phytase of SEQ ID NO: 3.

22. A kit or assembly for feeding animals, comprising:

the Schwanniomyces castellii 3-phytase of SEQ ID NO: 1 or the Debaryomyces castellii 3-phytase of SEQ ID NO: 2; and

the Aspergillus niger 3-phytase of SEQ ID NO: 3,

wherein the Schwanniomyces castellii 3-phytase of SEQ ID NO: 1 or the Debaryomyces castellii 3-phytase of SEQ ID NO: 2, in combination with the Aspergillus niger 3-phytase of SEQ ID NO: 3, have a synergistic hydrolysis effect on phytic acid in the absence of a phytase having a different stereospecificity.

23. The method according to claim 13 , wherein phytic acid is completely hydrolyzed.

24. The composition according to claim 1 , wherein the synergistic hydrolysis effect on phytic acid is obtained over a pH range of 3-6.5.

25. The composition according to claim 1 , wherein the first phytase is the phytase exhibiting at least 95% identity with the phytase of SEQ ID NO: 2.

26. The method according to claim 13 , wherein the first phytase is the phytase exhibiting at least 95% identity with the phytase of SEQ ID NO: 2.

27. The kit or assembly according to claim 22 , wherein the kit or assembly comprises the Debaryomyces castellii 3-phytase of SEQ ID NO: 2, and wherein the Debaryomyces castellii 3-phytase of SEQ ID NO: 2, in combination with the Aspergillus niger 3-phytase of SEQ ID NO: 3, have a synergistic hydrolysis effect on phytic acid in the absence of a phytase having a different stereospecificity.