Abstract: The invention relates to isolation of an Aspergillus gene encoding rhamnogalacturonase (RG-ase) and the construction of recombinant Aspergillus strains with overexpression of RG-ase. These strains can be used for the commercial production of RG-ase. RG-ase is an important enzyme in processes requiring the degradation and/or modification of pectin or modification of pectin-containing vegetable or plant cell wall material. RG-ase may be used in various applications, including the processing of fruits and vegetables, in the extraction of components from vegetable material or for improving the functionality of pectin or pectin-containing vegetable material, food material or plant cell wall material.

Abstract: The invention relates to recombinant DNA technology for the production of an enzyme having sulfhydryl oxidase ("SOX") activity. This SOX-enzyme can be used where the oxidation of free sulfhydryl groups (thio compounds) to the corresponding disulfides is desirable. SOX enzyme may be used for treatment of bakery products or for removal of off-flavour from milk or beer.

Abstract: Recombinant DNA molecules coding for pectin lyase (PL) expression systems and derivatives thereof, such as the structural genes of PLA, PLB, PLC, PLD, PLE and PLF, and corresponding regulatory sequences, e.g. promoter, signal and terminator sequences, and hybrid vectors comprising corresponding DNAs, including hybrid vectors with DNA coding for homologous or heterologous polypeptides, hosts, especially filamentous fungi, e.g. Aspergillus hosts, transformed by said vectors, methods for the preparation of said recombinant DNA molecules and said hosts and the use of the recombinant DNA molecules for the preparation of new expression systems. A further objective is the preparation of polypeptides by means of said DNAs and said hosts.

Abstract: Methods and DNA constructs are provided for the expression of a fungal acetyl xylan esterase gene in microbial hosts. A purified fungal acetyl xylan esterase is obtained which is suited for the use as an accessory enzyme in the degradation of acetylated xylans.

Abstract: Methods and expression constructs are provided for the cloning and overexpression of xylanases of fungai origin in a selected microbial host cell. Xylanases of fungal origin generally have lower pH optima and remain stable over a broader pH range than do xylanases of bacterial origin. The present invention provides for the high level production of fungal xylanases which are may be used in a variety of industrial applications requiring xylanase activity at a low pH.