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 present disclosure relates to the field of papermaking, especially to the manufacture of paper with improved moisture- and water-resistance. The present disclosure also relates to a paper with improved moisture- and water-resistance obtained by the process as well as compositions useful in the process of making moisture- and water-resistant paper.

Abstract: The present invention relates to laccase variants and uses thereof as eco-friendly biocatalysts in various industrial processes. More in particular, the invention relates to a polypeptide with laccase activity comprising an amino acid sequence that is at least 90% identical to the amino acid sequence according to SEQ ID NO: 1, wherein the polypeptide comprises at least one amino acid selected from the group consisting of Alanine, Proline, Aspartic acid, Isoleucine, Proline, Proline, Threonine and Proline at a position corresponding to of positions 253, 128, 384, 364, 292, 450, 33 and 322 in SEQ ID NO: 1 respectively.

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 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 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 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 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: This application relates to laccase variants and uses thereof as eco-friendly biocatalysts in various industrial processes. More in particular, the disclosure relates to a polypeptide with laccase activity comprising an amino acid sequence that is more than 80% identical to the amino acid sequence according to SEQ ID NO: 1, wherein the polypeptide comprises a non-polar amino acid, preferably an amino acid residue selected from the group consisting of proline, alanine, glycine and valine at a position corresponding to amino acid 113 of SEQ ID NO: 1.

Abstract: The present invention is in the field of paper production, more in particular it relates to the process of wood pulping. It provides useful biological methods and compounds for reducing the energy requirements of the production of wood pulp. It describes a method for reducing the energy requirement of a thermo-mechanical pulping (TMP) process wherein cellulose fibers are recovered from a biomass comprising lignocellulosic material, wherein the lignocellulosic material is treated with a CotA laccase before recovering the cellulose from the lignocellulosic material.

Abstract: This application relates to laccase variants and uses thereof as eco-friendly biocatalysts in various industrial processes. More in particular, the disclosure relates to a polypeptide with laccase activity comprising an amino acid sequence that is at least 75% identical to the amino acid sequence according to SEQ ID NO: 1, wherein the polypeptide comprises an amino acid residue selected from the group consisting of threonine, proline, alanine, glycine, serine, cysteine, aspartic acid, asparagine and valine at a position corresponding to amino acid 149 of SEQ ID NO: 1.

Abstract: The invention relates to processes for the conversion of biomass into carbohydrates, notable fermentable sugars. It provides means and methods for increasing the yield of enzymatic digestion of a biomass, in particular in those cases where cellulose is converted into sugars using a cellulose converting enzyme. More in particular, the invention relates to a method for producing a fermentable sugar from a lignocellulosic material wherein the lignocellulosic material is contacted with a laccase and an enzyme capable of degrading cellulose, either simultaneously or in a sequentially deferred fashion, wherein the laccase is the Bacillus spore coat protein CotA.

Abstract: The present invention relates to laccase variants having improved enzymatic properties in alkaline conditions and uses thereof as eco-friendly biocatalysts in various industrial processes.

Abstract: This application relates to laccase variants and uses thereof as eco-friendly biocatalysts in various industrial processes. More in particular, the disclosure relates to a polypeptide with laccase activity comprising an amino acid sequence that is more than 80% identical to the amino acid sequence according to SEQ ID NO: 1, wherein the polypeptide comprises a non-polar amino acid, preferably an amino acid residue selected from the group consisting of proline, alanine, glycine and valine at a position corresponding to amino acid 113 of SEQ ID NO: 1.