Abstract: The invention is in the field of enzymology. More in particular, it provides a method for the isomerization of glucose into fructose wherein the glucose is derived from lignocellulosic material. More in particular, the invention provides polypeptides encoding mutant glucose isomerase enzymes with improved glucose isomerase activity as compared to the corresponding wild type enzyme. The disclosed polypeptides are particularly suited for converting glucose to fructose in the presence of xylose.

Abstract: The invention relates to obtaining lignin preparations of desirable molecular size and properties. It describes a method of de-polymerizing lignin of high molecular weight into low molecular weight lignin. More in particular, the invention provides a method for producing lignin with a low molecular weight wherein high molecular weight lignin is contacted with an alkaline laccase at alkaline pH in a reaction vessel and wherein the lignin with a molecular weight below 2 kDa is selectively removed from the reaction vessel during the reaction.

Abstract: The invention is in the field of enzymology. More in particular, it provides a method for the isomerization of glucose into fructose wherein the glucose is derived from lignocellulosic material. More in particular, the invention provides polypeptides encoding mutant glucose isomerase enzymes with improved glucose isomerase activity as compared to the corresponding wild type enzyme. The disclosed polypeptides are particularly suited for converting glucose to fructose in the presence of xylose.

Abstract: The invention is in the field of protein chemistry, in particular in the field of enzymology. It provides pectinases, i.e. polypeptides with pectin-degrading properties. In particular the invention provides polypeptides with pectate lyase activity (EC 4.2.2.2). Enzymes according to the invention have improved properties, such as improved thermostability and decreased calcium dependence.

Abstract: The invention is in the field of enzymology. More in particular, it provides a method for the isomerization of glucose into fructose wherein the glucose is derived from lignocellulosic material. More in particular, it provides a method for converting glucose into fructose comprising the steps of: providing a composition comprising water, glucose and lignin, enzymatically converting the glucose to fructose in the presence of a glucose isomerase, and optionally purifying the fructose from the solution, wherein the glucose isomerase comprises an amino acid sequence that is at least 90% identical with the sequence according to SEQ ID NO: 1 or SEQ ID NO: 2.

Abstract: The invention is in the field of biotechnology and involves recombinant DNA technology. It provides means and methods for obtaining an insoluble active fusion protein comprising xylose isomerase activity. More in particular, the invention relates to a method for obtaining active insoluble xylose isomerase, comprising the expression in a host organism of a recombinant gene encoding a fusion protein comprising a xylose isomerase in combination with a PPIase, thereby obtaining the active insoluble xylose isomerase. It also provides recombinant fusion proteins comprising xylose isomerase activity as well as their use in converting xylose to xylulose and glucose to fructose.

Abstract: The invention relates to processes for the conversion of biomass into carbohydrates, notably reducing sugars. It provides means and methods for increasing the yield of enzymatic digestion of a biomass, in particular in methods wherein cellulose is converted into sugars using a cellulose-converting enzyme. More in particular, the invention provides a method for producing a reducing sugar from a lignocellulosic material, wherein the lignocellulosic material is contacted with a pectate lyase at a pH between 9 and 12, wherein the pectate lyase comprises an amino acid sequence according to SEQ ID NO: 1 or an amino acid sequence at least 70% identical with SEQ ID NO: 1.

Abstract: The invention is in the field of enzymology. More in particular, it provides a method for the isomerization of xylose into xylulose wherein the xylose is derived from lignocellulosic material.

Abstract: The invention is in the field of protein chemistry, in particular in the field of enzymology. It provides pectinases, i.e. polypeptides with pectin-degrading properties. In particular the invention provides polypeptides with pectate lyase activity (EC 4.2.2.2). Enzymes according to the invention have improved properties, such as improved thermostability and decreased calcium dependence.

Abstract: The present invention is in the field of delignifying and/or bleaching of pulp, more in particular wood pulp. Such a process is useful in paper production. More in particular, the method relates to the use of an enzyme for delignification and/or bleaching, more in particular a bacterial laccase. Even more in particular, it provides a method for delignifying and/or bleaching of a pulp, comprising an enzymatic treatment step wherein lignin-containing pulp and a laccase are reacted at alkaline pH, wherein the laccase has an amino acid sequence according to SEQ ID NO: 1 or an amino acid sequence at least 90% identical to SEQ ID NO: 1.

Abstract: The present invention is in the field of delignifying and/or bleaching of pulp, more in particular wood pulp. Such a process is useful in paper production. More in particular, the method relates to the use of an enzyme for delignification and/or bleaching, more in particular a bacterial laccase. Even more in particular, it provides a method for delignifying and/or bleaching of a pulp, comprising an enzymatic treatment step wherein lignin-containing pulp and a laccase are reacted at alkaline pH, wherein the laccase has an amino acid sequence according to SEQ ID NO: 1 or an amino acid sequence at least 90% identical to SEQ ID NO: 1.

Abstract: The invention is in the field of enzymology. More in particular, it provides a method for the isomerization of xylose into xylulose wherein the xylose is derived from lignocellulosic material.

Abstract: The invention is in the field of enzymology. More in particular, it provides a method for the isomerization of glucose into fructose wherein the glucose is derived from lignocellulosic material. More in particular, it provides a method for converting glucose into fructose comprising the steps of: providing a composition comprising water, glucose and lignin, enzymatically converting the glucose to fructose in the presence of a glucose isomerase, and optionally purifying the fructose from the solution, wherein the glucose isomerase comprises an amino acid sequence that is at least 90% identical with the sequence according to SEQ ID NO: 1 or SEQ ID NO: 2.

Abstract: The invention is in the field of biotechnology and involves recombinant DNA technology. It provides means and methods for obtaining an insoluble active fusion protein comprising xylose isomerase activity. More in particular, the invention relates to a method for obtaining active insoluble xylose isomerase, comprising the expression in a host organism of a recombinant gene encoding a fusion protein comprising a xylose isomerase in combination with a PPIase, thereby obtaining the active insoluble xylose isomerase. It also provides recombinant fusion proteins comprising xylose isomerase activity as well as their use in converting xylose to xylulose and glucose to fructose.

Abstract: The invention is in the field of protein chemistry, in particular in the field of enzymology. It provides pectinases, i.e. polypeptides with pectin-degrading properties. In particular the invention provides polypeptides with pectate lyase activity (EC 4.2.2.2). Enzymes according to the invention have improved properties, such as improved thermostability and decreased calcium dependence.

Abstract: The invention is in the field of protein chemistry, in particular in the field of enzymology. It provides pectinases, i.e. polypeptides with pectin-degrading properties. In particular the invention provides polypeptides with pectate lyase activity (EC 4.2.2.2). Enzymes according to the invention have improved properties, such as improved thermostability and decreased calcium dependence.

Abstract: The invention relates to processes for the conversion of biomass into carbohydrates, notably reducing sugars. It provides means and methods for increasing the yield of enzymatic digestion of a biomass, in particular in methods wherein cellulose is converted into sugars using a cellulose-converting enzyme. More in particular, the invention provides a method for producing a reducing sugar from a lignoceliulosic material, wherein the lignocellulosic material is contacted with a pectate lyase at a pH between 9 and 12, wherein the pectate lyase comprises an amino acid sequence according to SEQ ID NO: 1 or an amino acid sequence at least 70% identical with SEQ ID NO: 1.