HK1069849B - Novel alkaline protease variants and detergents and cleansers containing these novel alkaline protease variants - Google Patents

Description

Novel alkaline protease variants and detergents containing the same

Technical Field

The present invention relates to novel alkaline protease variants. The protease variant has a variation in the number of Bacillus lentus alkaline proteases at amino acid position 61, positions 199 and/or 211 and at least one further modification which contributes to the stability of the molecule, in particular a point mutation at position-3 and/or 4. Particularly preferred variants of Bacillus lentus (B.lentus) -alkaline protease S3TN41/G61A/V1991 and S3T/V41/G61A/V1991/L211D. The invention also relates to the possibility of using the novel alkaline protease variants in various technical processes, in particular in detergents.

Background

Subtilisin-type enzymes (subtilases, subtilopeptidases, EC3.4.21.62) are listed as series-proteases based on their highly efficient catalytic action of amino acids. It is derived and secreted from natural microorganisms, in particular from the genus Bacillus (Bacillus) -species. It functions as a non-specific endopeptidase, that is to say it hydrolyzes any amide bonds present in the peptide or protein. The pH optimum is mostly in the distinctly alkaline region. A general overview of this family is found, for example, in the "subtilisins enzymes" page 75-95, by r.siezen, the text "Subtilases: subtilisin-like proteins ", published by R.Bott and C.Betzel, New York, 1996. Subtilisins are suitable for many technical applications, as active ingredients in cosmetics and in particular in detergents.

Proteases may be used as active ingredients in detergents, in addition to other enzymes such as amylases, lipases or cellulases. It can decompose protein-containing dirt on the laundry, such as textiles or tableware. Owing to their high solubility, the hydrolysates can be washed out together with the washing float or be attacked, dissolved, emulsified or suspended by the constituents of the washing agent. Thereby creating a synergistic effect between the enzyme and other detergent ingredients. Subtilisin plays an important role for detergent proteases on the basis of their advantageous enzymatic properties, such as stability or pH-optimum. The most important aspects thereof and the most important countermeasures for the technical development thereof are described below.

For detergent protease development, the basic strategy is to first isolate the enzyme naturally produced by the microorganism and test its possibilities of application on the basis of its basic properties. The molecule can then be modified. For example, 164-A1 from (Bacillus sp.) 164-A1 containing protease from (Bacillus spec.) is suitable for use in detergents according to patent application WO 93/07276A 1, Gaithersburg, MD, USA, Chemgen Corp. and Austin, TX, USA, vista chemical Company. Other alkaline proteases, such as PD138, NCIMB 40338 from Bacillus sp (WO 93/18140A 1), Tokyo, Japan, Kao Corp. from Bacillus sp.ferm.protease K-16 (US-patent 5344770) and according to WO 96/25489A1(Procter & Gamble, Cincinatti, OH, USA), are derived from the psychrophilic microorganism yellow bacteria (Flavobacterium balsustinum).

Subtilisin BPN' from Bacillus amyloliquefaciens (Bacillus amyloliquefaciens) or Bacillus subtilis (b.subtilis) in vassantha et al, j.bacteriol., Vol.159811-819 (1984) and J.A. Wells et al, Nucleic Acids Research, Vol.117911-7925, is known. Subtilisin BPN' functions as a subtilisin reference enzyme, particularly with regard to position counting. The points of all relevant subtilisins are given, for example, in the BPN' count of patent application EP 130756Mutation (gene point mutation). In this respect only position-217, which corresponds to the enzyme according to the invention at position-211; non-specific alternatives are particularly emphasized for this; all are given up to substitution with M, W, C or K; preferably substituted with a or S.

In patent application CA 2049097 a1, multiple mutations of this molecule, in particular its stability in detergents, were investigated. The variant here has the substitutions Y217K and Y217L and the double mutation S63D/Y217K, i.e.these substitutions correspond to positions 211, and 61 and 211 of B.lentus alkaline protease. Of course no amino acids were introduced, and the amino acid at this position corresponds to the protease of one of the patent applications.

Variants with reduced bond sums to the substrate, obtained by point mutation reactions in the loop-regions of the enzyme and at the same time under conditions of increased hydrolysis rates, are described, for example, in patent applications WO 95/07991A 2 and WO 95/30010A 1. WO 95/07991 a2 relates to the sixth loop of the molecule; here, a double mutation is shown, in which, for example, the mutation at position 217 of the amino acid (corresponding to 211 in B.lentus-alkaline protease) to D is carried out in addition to a further mutation. Since in BPN' there is an I at position 205 (corresponding to 199), at most these two positions are described here, although always in combination with other mutations in the subtilisin loop region and specific variations in the enzymatic properties. Detergents with such BPN' -variants are disclosed, for example, in patent application WO 95/29979A 1. In WO 95/30010A1, another mutation has occurred in the other five loop regions, where, for example, at position 63 (corresponding to 61), but only a mutation to D or E has occurred at this position. In contrast, the two amino acid positions studied in this patent application are in positions 3 and 4, not in the ring-region. In addition, a large number of the labile substitutions given herein, in particular the labile mutations of subtilisin BPN', are involved.

Subtilisin Carlsberg is described by E.L.Smith et al (1968) in J.biol.chem., Vol.243, pp.2184-2191 and Jacobs et al (1985) in Nucl.acids Res., Vol.13, pp.8913-8926. It is naturally produced from lichen sporeBacillus (Bacillus licheniformis), and is available from Genencor International Inc., Rochester, New York, USA under the tradename MaxaseAnd Alcalase available from Novozymes A/S, Bagsvaerd, DaenemarkAnd (4) obtaining. Variants with reduced bond sums to the substrate under conditions of simultaneously higher hydrolysis rates, which are obtained by means of point mutations, are known, for example, from patent application WO 96/28566A 2. Variants are mentioned in which one or more substitutions in the loop region of the molecule have occurred. The only variants tested in the detergents with substitutions in the positions corresponding to the present patent application were multiple mutants in which the substitution G62 (corresponding to position 61 of B.lentus alkaline protease) was mutated to N, D, Q, E, P or S, among others, but not A, V204 (corresponding to position 199) to various other amino acids, but not I and L216 (corresponding to position 211) to 14 other amino acids, among which there is also D. Only the variant 3T referred to in this patent application, since position 3 of subtilisin Carlsberg is naturally occupied by T, and 211D, are described above.

Protease PB92 was obtained from the alkalophilic bacterium Bacillus novAnd (4) obtaining. The original sequence thereof is described in patent application EP283075a 2. Variants of this enzyme which are obtained by means of point mutations and which are suitable for use in detergents are disclosed, for example, in patent applications WO 94/02618A 1 and EP 328229A 1. In the first patent only a substitution at position 211 with a different amino acid is described, but no D substitution is used. The second patent discloses that the region in which the two particular groups 61 and 211 are located is bound to the substrate. Where position 61 of particular interest for the mutation is not mentioned, it is proposed for 211 to carry out a Y substitution which is only possible when combined with at least one other substitutionThe washing efficiency of the corresponding formula is improved.

Subtilisin 147 and 309 were obtained from Novozymes under the trade name EsperaseAnd SavinaseAnd (5) carrying out sale. Originally derived from the Bacillus (Bacillus) -family, disclosed in patent application GB 1243784A. The use of other variants of this enzyme developed by point mutation in detergents is disclosed in the patent applications WO 94/02618A 1 (see above), WO 89/06279A 1, WO 95/30010A 2 and WO 99/27082A 1.

The patent application WO 89/06279A 1 pursued the object of obtaining a higher oxidative stability, an increased proteolytic rate and an improved washing performance. Thus substitutions at specific positions should alter the physical or chemical properties of the subtilisin 147 or 309 (which is consistent with the alkaline protease from Bacillus lentus DSM 5483) molecule; bit 199 is described herein without specific substitution. Variants of subtilisin 309 are described in patent application WO 95/30011A 2, which have point mutations in the loop regions of the molecule and thus reduce the adsorption on the substrate under conditions which simultaneously increase the rate of hydrolysis. Bits 61, 199, and 211 are also within this range. Also for bit 211, a replacement of L211D is proposed; para 61 suggests replacing G with N, D, Q, E, P or S; there are also a number of possibilities for 199, but not I. In patent application WO 99/27082A1 variants have been developed which improve the washing efficiency, for example by subtilisin 309, the active loop of which is enlarged by the insertion of at least one amino acid. It does not involve substitution as in the present patent application.

Subtilisin DY was first produced by Nedkov et al, 1985, biol366As described in pages 421 and 430. For example, according to patent application WO 96/28557A 2, it is possible to achieve optimum efficacy for use in detergents by targeted point mutations in the active loopAnd (5) fruit. Variants with reduced adsorption and increased hydrolysis rates can thus be produced, for which G at position 62 (corresponding to 61 for B.lentus alkaline protease) is replaced by N, D, Q, E, P or S, and not 204I at position 204 (corresponding to 199) and a large number at position 216 (corresponding to 211), with D being also present, since subtilisin DY naturally contains T at position 3, a variant 3T/211D being likewise described.

The enzyme Thermoase (Thermitase) naturally produced to Thermoactinomyces vulgaris (Thermoactinomyces vulgaris) was first reported by Meloun et al (FEBS Lett.1983, S.195-200). It is for example given in patent application WO 96/28558A 2 that the absorption is reduced and the hydrolysis rate is increased for this variant due to the substitution in the ring region. There is described a substitution of 14 amino acids at position 221 (corresponding to 211 for B.lentus-alkaline protease), with D being present, and a substitution of G at position 70 (corresponding to 61) with N, D, Q, E, P or S. Since I is naturally present at position 209 (corresponding to 199) of the thermitase, variants 199I and 211D of the major protease in the present application are the most. Instability can also occur, in particular, by threonine at position 3 and/or isoleucine at position 4 (according to b.lens-alkaline protease). The thermal enzymes contain the amino acids S and R in the corresponding homologous positions 10 and 11 (compare the sequence of WO 91/00345A 1). In addition, thermoenzymes are involved in molecules with an overall greater sequence deviation relative to other subtilisins. Thus there was only 45% identity (62% similar amino acids) between the mutein thermitase and the alkaline protease obtained from b.lentus DSM5483 (see below).

It also relates to a protease with less homology to the alkaline protease from B.1entus for proteinase K. Its muteins are only 33% identical (46% similar amino acids). Proteinase K is derived from the microorganism Tritirachium album limber and was described at the earliest by K.D.Jany and B.Mayer1985 in biol.chem.Hoppe-Seyler, Bd.366, S.485-492. WO 88/07581 a1 discloses very similar proteases TW3 and TW7 and their use in detergents. A number of substitutions for proteinase K are described in patent application WO 96/28556A 2, such as substitution at position 220 (corresponding to 211 for B.lentus-alkaline protease) with 14 other amino acids, where there is also D, and a change from G to N, D, Q, E, P or S at position 68 (corresponding to 61). The protease variants 3T, 199I and 211D in the present application are at most due to the natural presence of I at position 208 (corresponding to 199) and T at position 4 (corresponding to 3) of proteinase K.

Finally, Bacillus peptidase F (Bacillus subtilis) from Bacillus subtilis, which contains the dominating amino acids alanine and isoleucine at positions 61 and 199, is also mentioned. It has only a few similarities compared to the protease variant according to the invention: only 30% identity on the amino acid face was determined, and only 38% for similar amino acids. This enzyme is described in the above mentioned Siezen et al article, but has not been described and claimed so far for use in detergents.

Furthermore, for technical applications, particularly suitable proteases in detergents, are described in patent applications EP 199404A 2, EP 251446A 1, WO 91/06637A 1 and WO 95/10591A 1, which are known by Procter & Gamble Comp, Cincinatti, OH, USA as "protease A", "protease B", "protease C" and "protease D". The proteases of patent application EP 199404 are different BPN' -variants which are based on patent application EP 130756A 1 (see above) but do not have a variant according to the invention in an important position. A large number of BPN' -variants, also 217-variants (corresponding to position 211 of b.lentus-alkaline protease), are disclosed in EP 251446 a 1; it merely proposes all possible alternatives; and no disclosure is made as to the nature of the consequent variant 217D. "protease C" is distinguished according to patent application WO 91/06637A 1 by a point mutation of BPN' at positions 123 and/or 274. The term "protease D" relates to variants, firstly proteases from b.lentus, which possess mutations at position 76 (according to BPN' -numbering, corresponding to position 74 of b.lentus-alkaline protease) and in addition other positions according to WO 95/10591 a 1. Also among these may be bit 217 (corresponding to 211); but substitution of D is not described therein. Similar corresponding examples of applications in detergents and cosmetics are also US 6066611 a: there is also a mention of substitution in combination with substitution at position 76, and in theory 217D is also a substitution but not preferred.

It is further known that proteases are available under the trade name NovozymesAndunder the trade name GenencorPurafect Andadvanced Biochemicals Ltd, company Thane, India, under the trade nameAnd Wuxi Snyder Bioproducts Ltd, Inc., China, under the trade name ofThe enzyme of (1).

One strategy for improving the washing efficiency of subtilisins is to insert statistical or purposeful point mutations into known molecules based on the function of known single amino acids and to evaluate the washing performance of the variants obtained. This strategy is applied, for example, in patent US 5700676 and in patent application EP 130756 a1 (see above). As the only position to which the present invention relates, there is described a single or parallel substitution at position 217 (corresponding to position 211 of B.lens-alkaline protease) with respect to all 19 amino acids, without significant substitution for the present patent application. Also patent US 5801038. In patent US 5441882, a method is described for altering the enzyme itself or other properties by means of a specific single substitution, whereby for the present patent application no significant substitution at position 217 (corresponding to position 211 of b.lens-alkaline protease) is present. A variant with only one alternative is given in patent US 4760025; again, only bit 217 is disclosed, and no specific replacement is disclosed.

In order to improve the washing efficiency of subtilisins, strategies for inserting further amino acids into the active loop have been given in numerous patent applications, and there are thus published patent applications WO 00/37599A1, WO 00/37621A 1 to WO 00/37627 and WO 00/71683A 1 to WO 00/71691A 1 in addition to the already mentioned WO 99/27082A 1. In principle, it is possible to use all subtilisins belonging to the subgroups I-S1 (true subtilisins) or I-S2 (overbased subtilisins).

Another strategy for efficiency improvement is to change the surface charge and/or isoelectric point of the molecule and allow its interaction with the substrate to be altered. Such variants are described, for example, in patent US 5665587 and in patent applications EP 405901 a1 and WO 91/00334 a 1. There are a number of positions, in particular 3, 4 and 217 (corresponding to 3, 4 and 211 of b.lens-alkaline protease), but no real corresponding variants are disclosed. This position is likewise covered in patent application WO 91/00345A1, and no real corresponding variants are given. Point mutations for reducing PH-value-dependent molecular charge variants are disclosed in WO 92/11348a 1. The S3T and L211D substitutions identified in accordance with the present invention are most extensively described therein; there are no significant specific substitutions therein. In patent application WO 00/24924A 2, this principle leads to a method for the identification of variants suitable for use in detergents; furthermore, all variants disclosed have at least one substitution in position 103, and many of the preferred variants are not significant substitutions in accordance with the present invention. According to WO 96/34935A 2, the hydrophobicity of the molecules is increased for the purpose of achieving an improvement in the efficacy in detergents, but the stability of the enzymes may be affected.

The subtilisin variant shown in patent application WO 99/20727A 2, as obtained according to the method of patent application WO 00/24924A 2: all of which obtain at least one substitution at position 103 in combination with many other substitutions that may occur, but not at the position corresponding to position 61 of the b.lens protease. Preferred are multiple variants with at least 6 substitutions, in the middle of which there are also positions 205 and 217 (corresponding to 199 and 211 for b.lentus-alkaline protease); in particular, only two of the more than 50 variants are shared in the alternative 199I which is important according to the present patent application. The same mutations are disclosed in the detergent-related patent applications WO99/20723A2 and WO 99/20726A 2, which also contain an additional amylase, and a bleaching agent.

Modern enzyme development is directed to the statistical combination of protein elements from known, mutually homologous relationships into a new enzyme with properties which have not been achieved to date. Such methods are summarized in the following directly evolving concepts. For example, the following methods are available: StEP-method (Zhao et al, (1988), nat. Biotechnol., Band16S.258-261), Random priming recombination (Shao et al, (1988), Nucleic Acids Res., Band), and26s.681-683), DNA-recombination method (shmilling) (Stemmer, W.P.C. (1994), Nature, Band370S.389-391) or RACHITT method (Coco, W.M. et al, (2001), nat. Biotechnol., Band)19，S.354-359)。

A further, particularly complementary strategy is to increase the stability of the proteases concerned and thus their action. The proteases used in cosmetics can be stabilized by combination with a polymer, as described for example in patent US 523891; which in turn results in an improvement in skin compatibility. For detergents, point mutations are often used to improve stability. According to the patents US 6087315 and US 6110884 the proteases can be stabilized by replacing specific chromium amino acid groups with other groups. Thermostable BPN' -variants with a substitution of one K or L in position 217 (corresponding to 211 for b.lens-alkaline protease) and additionally substitution of 217K with S63D in position 63 (corresponding to position 61) are described in WO89/09819 a1 and WO 89/09830 a 1.

Other possibilities for describing stabilization by point mutations are, for example:

replacement of the amino acid group with proline as specified according to WO 92/19729A 1, as well as EP 583339B 1 and US-patent 5858757 and according to EP 516200A 1;

introducing polar or charged groups on the surface of the molecule according to EP 525610A 1, EP 995801A 1 and US-patent 5453372, furthermore at the position corresponding to V4 of the B.lentus protease; in contrast, the change was V4I, for example, in the present patent application, an amino acid with a low polarity was introduced;

enhancing the binding to metals, in particular by means of a mutase of the calcium-binding site, for example according to the rules of patent applications WO 88/08028A 1 and WO 88/08033A 1;

blocking autolysis by modification or mutagenesis enzymes, for example according to patent US 5543302.

A combination of multiple stabilization strategies is disclosed in patent application EP 398539a 1. This makes it possible to stabilize the subtilisin and thus to improve the washing performance, (1.) the amino acid in the calcium-binding position is replaced by a strongly anionic group, (2.) the natural Asn-Gly sequence is deleted or mutated, (3.) the meta-group is replaced by another and (4.) in addition, specific amino acid substitutions in the vicinity of the catalytic center are made. The first 3 possibilities are not mentioned in the variant according to the invention of the present patent application. Only bits 61 and 211 are involved for the 4 th possibility. However, it is suggested that the naturally occurring amino acid at this position (S63, and Y217 for subtilisin BPN') be replaced with G, and L. In contrast, in the molecules of the present patent application, the substitution is made at this position with another amino acid not found in G or L.

Other subtilisins, in particular those derived from Bacillus, proteins, are given in patents US 5340735, US 5500364, US 5985639 and US 6136553, the possibility of stabilization by means of point mutations. The position of the mutation can be determined by analysis of the three-dimensional structure. The variants at positions 61 and 211 are not mentioned in this context.

It is indicated, for example, in documents EP 755999 a1 and WO 98/30669 a1 that proteases, in particular proteases with improved efficiency after improved washing in detergents, can be used together with alpha-amylase and other detergent enzymes. It is known, for example, from patent application WO 97/07770A 1 that certain individuals of those as detergent proteases (see below) may also be suitable for use in cosmetics. Further application possibilities for proteases are described, for example, in patent application EP 380362A 1, which relates to organic chemical synthesis, for which purpose such subtilisins are suitable which are stabilized by means of point mutations counting B.lentus-alkaline proteases by individual mutations in positions 61 (by mutation to D) and/or 211 (by mutation to K or L) or also by further mutations. Also important alternatives of the invention are not mentioned in this connection.

As for the protease derived from b.lentus-alcalase, an overbased protease derived from bacillus. According to patent application WO 91/02792A 1, the reference number DSM5483 of one such species is given; the order and biochemical properties of the wild-type enzyme are also disclosed. It is disclosed in WO 92/21760A 1 and WO 95/23221A1 that enzyme variants obtained by point mutation are suitable for use in detergents.

The wild-type enzyme is derived from autotrophic green plants, originally obtained by screening according to the alkalophilic bacillus species, and shows relatively high stability against oxidation and detergent action per se. In patent application WO 91/02792A 1, as well as in patents EP 493398B 1 and US 5352604, the expression of a different species thereof in the host Bacillus licheniformis (Bacillus licheniformis) ATCC 53926 is described. In the claims of this said US-patent, the bits 208, 210, 212, 213 and 268 are marked withCharacteristic b.lentus-alkaline protease; which correspond to positions 97, 99, 101, 102 and 157 in the enumeration of mature proteins in which the enzyme is distinguished from matureGoddette et al (1992) at J.mol.biol., Band 228, S.580-595: "The crystal structure of The Bacillus lentus kalline protease, Subtilisin BL, at1.4The three-dimensional structure of this enzyme is described in the resolution article.

Also in patent application WO92/21760 a1, as well as in patent US 5340735, it is disclosed that the wild-type-enzyme b.lentus-alkaline protease (derived from b.lentus DSM 5483) is SEQ ID NO: 52 and a nucleotide sequence which is SEQ ID NO: 106. in addition, 51 different variants which result therefrom and which differ from the wild type at individual or multiple positions and are thus stabilized are disclosed in this patent application. There are also S3T, V4I and 199I substitutions. According to this patent application, most preferred is the substitution variant M131 with S3T/V4I/A188P/V193M/V199I, labelled ATCC68614 by American type Culture Collection, 10801 University Boulevard, Manassas, VA20110-2209, USA (http:// www.atcc.org). It is given for the purposes of the present patent application only as starting enzyme (see example 1) and in the sequence listing in terms of its DNA-and amino acid sequence in SEQ ID NO.1 and 2. All these are derived from the alkaline protease of Bacillus. US-patents US 5500364 and US 5985639 derived from WO-article indicate that variants with improved stability can be obtained by point mutations at other positions.

The use of the variants of the B.lentus-alkaline protease with improved efficiency by targeted mutagenesis in detergents is given in patent application WO 95/23221A1 and is regarded as a further development of the described and molecules. Some of these also have three substitutions S3T, V4I and V199I. In addition, they all have two or three further point mutations compared with the wild-type enzyme from b.lentus DSM 5483. Sometimes it also has other mutations in position 211, and 211D (variants F49, F54 and F55). Variants with 211D and 211E substitutions are logically claimed in this patent application, as well as in the attached US-patents US 5691295, US 5801039 and US 5855625. An ancillary countermeasure, namely the purposeful variation of the charge ratio in the vicinity of the substrate-binding pocket (Bindungstasche), is specified in patent US 6107589.

As all has been demonstrated by long-term work, there is a high demand for technically applicable proteases, partly in large numbers and partly only in individual positions in comparison with the proteases known to date. Which reveals various efficiency differences at large and subtle points. Firstly, it manifests itself in the use in detergents. For their development, it is not possible to settle only with an appreciable enzyme-catalytic performance, irrespective of the nature of the enzyme, for example a detergent formulation context. Other factors such as stability to high temperatures and oxidizing agents, surfactant-induced denaturation, the wrinkle effect (fatungseffekte) or the desired synergistic effect with other components play an important role here and can usually be determined only by experiments.

The main task of the present invention is to find subtilisins which improve the efficiency in technical applications, in particular subtilisins which improve the washing efficiency of detergents. The task is not only to increase the hydrolytic activity of the protease alone, but also to maintain the stability in the corresponding formulation.

Another task is to provide nucleic acids encoding the protease, and vectors, host cells and preparative methods which can be employed to obtain the protease. In addition, corresponding preparations, in particular detergents, corresponding washing methods and corresponding application possibilities are provided for the protease. Finally, the technical application possibilities of the proteases of the invention should be elucidated.

It has surprisingly been found that substitution of p-hydroxyphenylglycine in position 61 with other amino acids, especially with aliphatic amino acids and very especially with alanine, can contribute greatly to an increase in the washing efficiency. Other substitutions, such as with isoleucine at 199 and/or other certain amino acid groups, such as asparagine at 211, may be beneficial to this contribution by enzymatic action. This effect is enhanced by the amino acids threonine and isoleucine at positions 3 or 4, possibly augmented by a stabilizing factor.

Summary of The Invention

According to the invention, this object is also achieved by alkaline proteases of the subtilisin type, which are characterized in that the protease has, at position 61, a substitution with one of the amino acids alanine, valine, leucine, isoleucine, cystine, methionine, phenylalanine, tyrosine, tryptophan, threonine, histidine, lysine or arginine, predominantly with the amino acids alanine, valine, leucine or isoleucine, particularly preferably with alanine, in accordance with the subtilisin count from Bacillus lentus.

More preferred are solutions in which, in addition to the substitution at position 61, there is additionally an isoleucine at position 199; are those with one of the above-mentioned amino acids in position 61, isoleucine in position 199, asparaginic acid in position 211 and threonine in position 3 and/or isoleucine in position 4 for stabilization. Particularly preferred solutions are those proteases which are derived from B.lentus-alkaline proteases, in particular from one of the two variants of B.lentus-alkaline protease S3T/V4I/G61A/V199I or B.lentus-alkaline protease S3T/V4I/G61A/V199I/L211D. Further developments and derivatives of the proteases are also included in the subject of the invention.

The invention relates to nucleic acids which code for the proteases according to the invention, as well as vectors, host cells and production methods which can be used to obtain such proteases, as part of the solution and thus as subject of the invention. In addition, corresponding preparations, in particular detergents, corresponding washing methods and corresponding application possibilities are provided for the protease. Finally, the technical application possibilities of the proteases of the invention should be elucidated.

Brief Description of Drawings

FIG. 1 shows the results of an alignment of amino acid sequences of a plurality of different proteases; and

FIG. 2 is a map of the vector pUC18M 131.

Detailed Description

Proteins are, according to the meaning of the present patent application, composed of amino acids of natural origin, as linear as possible, and are mostly understood to be polymers which can assume a three-dimensional structure in order to perform their function. In this patent application 19 proteins are labeled, naturally occurring L-amino acids with the internationally common 1-and 3-letter-codes.

A combination of the label and a number indicates each protein, i.e., the amino acid group is present at a certain position. Thus, for example, S3 is represented by the serine (S) group at position 3, as described above and counting from the N-terminus of the protein. For example, a point mutation at this position with the amino acid threonine (T) can be abbreviated as S3T in accordance with the generic term. For variant designations with multiple point mutations, the substitutions can be separated from each other by slashes. The variant S3T/V4I therefore shows that the serine (S) previously present in position 3 is replaced by threonine (T) and that the valine (V) in position 4 is replaced by isoleucine (I).

Unless otherwise indicated, the positional indication according to the invention relates to the mature form of the respective protein in question, but not to the signal peptide (see below).

By enzyme, according to the meaning of the present patent application is understood a protein with a certain biochemical function. For example, enzymes which cleave proteins or enzymes having the function of cleaving proteins are generally understood as meaning that they can hydrolyze the amide bonds of proteins and, in particular, when these are present internally, and can therefore also be labeled as endopeptidases. Subtilisins are endopeptidases which are produced and at least secreted by natural gram-positive bacteria or which have been derived, for example, from molecular biological methods and which are homogenized in part, for example, in regions which form structures or have a function, with the natural subtilisin. For example, in the article "subtilos" by r.siezen: subtilisin-like "as expressed therein, see, r.bott and c.betzel," subtilisin "New York, 1996, pages 75-95 of the book.

A large number of proteins are called preproteins, which are combined with a signal peptide. It is understood that the N-terminal part of the protein functions largely to ensure that the protein produced by the cell and/or its correct folds is able to enter the cytoplasmic perimembrane or the surrounding medium. The signal peptide can then be cleaved off naturally by a signal peptidase of another protein, so that it exerts its own catalytic activity without the need for an adjacent N-terminal amino acid. According to FIG. 1 in WO 91/02792A 1, the Bacillus subtilis preprotein from Bacillus lentus DSM5483 contains 380 amino acids. Whereas the mature protein contains only 269 on the contrary; counting with the first amino acid of the mature protein, in this case alanine, according to the sequence of the preprotein, this is located at the number 112. The signal peptide of the subtilisin derived from b.licheniformis ATCC68614 was 111 amino acids in length and the mature peptide was 269 amino acids according to SEQ ID No.1 of the present patent application. Without this partition, the complete protein has a length of 380 amino acids, as indicated by SEQ ID No. 2. The sequence listing is likewise intended as a particularly preferred embodiment.

For technical applications, mutant peptides, i.e.enzymes produced after preparation, are preferred over preproteins on the basis of their enzymatic activity.

The preprotein is the inactive protein pre-stage. The signal sequence precursor is labeled pre-protein.

Nucleic acids are understood in the sense of the present patent application to be naturally occurring molecules of nucleotide composition which act as information carriers, which encode a linear amino acid sequence in a protein or enzyme, can be present as a single strand, as a single strand which is complementary to the single strand or as a double strand. As a natural, durable carrier of information, nucleic acid DNA is preferred for molecular biological work. In contrast, for the implementation of the invention in natural environments, for example in an experimental cell, an RNA should be formed, so that in the embodiment of the invention, the RNA molecules of significance for the invention are also used for expression.

In accordance with the understanding of the present patent application, the corresponding nucleic acid information units of a protein are labeled as genes. For DNA, the sequences of these two complementary segments are noted for each of the three possible selection orientations (Leserastern). It should furthermore be noted that the same amino acid can be encoded using different codon-triplets, so that a defined amino acid sequence (degeneracy of the genetic code) can be obtained in a variety of different and possibly only slightly identical nucleotide sequences. In addition, different organisms have differences in codon usage. Based on this principle, both amino acid sequences and nucleotide sequences are considered to be included in the scope of protection, and the nucleotide sequence given is only encoded as an example of a certain amino acid sequence.

The complete genes can be prepared by methods known to the expert at present, for example by standard methods in conjunction with molecular biology and/or protein chemistry, using chemical synthesis or Polymerase Chain Reaction (PCR) in chemical compounds, based on known DNA sequences and/or amino acid sequences. Such methods are known, for example, from "encyclopedia of biochemistry" (Lexikon der Biochemie), Spektrum Akademischer Press, Berlin, 1999, Band 1, S.267-271 and Band 2, S.227-229. It is more likely if the collection of the species can be traced back to the species source. Using PCR primers (Primern), it is possible to synthesize them according to a known sequence and to synthesize the corresponding gene from this species without problems: cloning and, if desired, further incubation. Examples of mutations which can be assigned to this include site-directed (ortsgerichtete) or randomly controlled (zufallsgesteuerte) mutant genes.

Changes in the nucleotide sequence, as carried out by known molecular biochemical methods, are marked as mutations. Depending on the manner of alteration, one may consider it, for example, as a deletion, insertion or substitution mutation or these, in which different genes or parts of genes merge (recombine) with one another, this being a gene mutation. The attached organism will be labeled as a mutant and the protein derived from the mutated nucleic acid as a variant. Thus, for example, deletion, insertion, substitution mutations or combinations can lead to deletion, insertion, substitution mutations or combinations of genes and to the production of corresponding deletion, insertion or substitution variants at the protein level, as well as combinations of proteins.

A vector is understood according to the present patent application to be a component which consists of a nucleic acid. The characterized nucleic acid domain contains a beneficial gene. Which allows independent replication across multiple generations or cell divisions in a species or a cell chain as the remaining genome, resulting in stable genetic components. Vectors are special plasmids, i.e. circulating genetic components, used in bacteria. Genetic engineering distinguishes between different vectors, which serve for storage and to some extent have genetic work and are known as so-called cloning vectors, which are, on the one hand, vectors which, on the other hand, can fulfill the function of the gene of interest in the host cell, that is to say bring about the expression of the protein in question. The vector is labeled as an expression vector.

By means of homology, i.e.comparison with known enzymes, for example by means of sequence, the enzymatic activity of the enzyme in question can be deduced from the amino acid sequence or nucleotide sequence. It may also be modified qualitatively or quantitatively by other aspects of the protein not participating in the actual reaction, for example it may relate to enzyme stability, activity, reaction conditions or substrate properties.

The term proteolytic enzyme or protease is understood to mean all functions beyond the function of a few amino acid groups in the catalytically active center, i.e.the action of all remaining proteins or parts of a plurality of remaining proteins on the actual catalytic activity. Even if only such a modified function or partial activity is present, proteolytic activity is to be understood according to the invention as long as it supports proteolytic reactions. For example, binding to substrates, intermediates or end products, activation or blocking or transmission of a modulatory effect on the hydrolytic activity are such co-functions or partial activities. It also relates, for example, to the formation of structural components which are remote from the active center. A second prerequisite for the proteolytic proteins involved in the invention is the hydrolysis by chemical action of the actual active groups, alone or in addition to the formation of peptide bonds by the action of modifying moieties. In addition, the activity of other proteases can also be modified qualitatively or quantitatively by one or more moieties, for example proteins according to the invention. The influence of this other factor can likewise be regarded as proteolytic activity. Proteolytically active enzymes also include enzymes whose activity is prevented by inhibitors over a given period of time. What is decisive is its fundamental properties for the corresponding proteolytic reaction.

By fragments, it is understood all genes smaller than the native protein or the corresponding intact delivery and proteins or peptides obtained, for example, synthetically. The complete protein involved can be deduced on the basis of its amino acid sequence. For example, they may adopt the same structure or have the same proteolytic activity or partial activity, e.g. complexation of substrates. Fragments and deletion variants of the starting protein are usually identical; where fragments are more likely to be formed of smaller fragments, there are no deletion mutations, more likely short segments, and therefore only individual subfunctions are missing.

By grafted or hybrid protein is understood, according to the present patent application, a protein consisting of different polypeptide chain components derived from the same or different organisms in nature. It is also known as recombination or combination mutation. The meaning of such a combination is, for example, that the protein fraction according to the invention is changed or modified to have an enzymatic function with the aid of the combination. It is not important to the invention that the grafted protein is derived from a single polypeptide chain or that multiple subunits have different functions. For the last-mentioned selection, a single grafted polypeptide chain can be broken down into multiple segments, for example by post-transfer or by a targeted proteolysis after a purification step.

Proteins obtained by insertional mutagenesis are to be understood as variants of this type which can be obtained by known methods by means of the insertion of a nucleic acid or protein fragment into the starting sequence. The substantial identity of the proteins can be deduced by grafting. They can be distinguished by the size ratio of the unalterable protein fraction to the total protein. In such insertional mutated proteins the foreign protein fraction is less than in the grafted protein.

Insertional mutagenesis, i.e., a partial sequence reversal, can be used as a deletion or as a special form of an insertion. And thus is considered a new grouping of different molecular moieties that differ from the original amino acid sequence. They can be regarded both as deletion variants, insertion variants and also as recombinant variants of the original protein.

According to the present patent application, derivatives are understood to be proteins whose amino acid chain can be chemically modified per se. This derivatization can be accomplished, for example, by biological methods associated with the biosynthesis of proteins in the host organism. For this purpose, molecular biological methods are used. But can also be accomplished chemically, such as by chemical modification of an amino acid side chain or by a combination of other compounds and proteins. For example, other proteins can also be involved in such compounds, for example by binding bifunctional compounds to the proteins according to the invention. When an inhibitor is involved in the bound substance, such a modification can, for example, influence the substrate properties or the binding strength to the substrate or lead to a temporary blocking of the enzyme activity, which is of great significance, for example, for storage. Also for derivatization, a combination with a macromolecular carrier is understood.

All enzymes, proteins, fragments and derivatives according to the definition of the present invention are expressed as general conceptual proteins unless otherwise specified.

The efficiency of the enzyme is understood to be the effect in each of the technical areas involved, which is based on the actual enzyme activity and additionally depends on other factors which are important for the respective process. This includes, for example, stability, substrate binding, interaction with materials carried by the substrate or interaction with other constituents, in particular synergism.

With regard to the washing or cleaning efficiency of the lotion, the term "washing effect" is understood to mean the effect of the lotion concerned on soiled items, such as clothing or objects having a hard surface. The contribution of individual components of such lotions, e.g. individual enzymes, in the overall lotion is evaluated. Since it is simply not possible to draw conclusions about its contribution to the efficiency of the lotion from the enzymatic properties of the enzyme alone. Here, as further factors, for example stability, substrate binding, binding to the laundry or interaction with other constituents of the lotion, especially synergism also plays a role in the soil-release effect.

The present patent application establishes countermeasures for the tasks presented, and further improvements can be made with respect to subtilisins derived from Bacillus lentus DSM5483, in particular with respect to the molecules disclosed in patent applications WO 91/02792A 1, WO 92/21760A 1 and WO 95/23221A1, and in particular with respect to the use of the variants M131S3T/V4I/A188P/V193M/V199I and F49S 3T/V4I/A188P/V193M/V199I/L211D in detergents. The accompanying technical specification can also be applied in other corresponding, especially in highly homologous proteases, most especially in subtilisin-type.

Of particular importance according to the invention are the mature proteins from Bacillus lentus DSM5483 (WO 92/21760A 1) at positions 3, 4, 61, 199 and 211 of subtilisin. It can act homologously with subtilisins of the most important origin according to Table 1; this homology allows distribution over other subtilisins. Thus, for example, in the r.siezen article "subtilisin: subtilisin-like ", pages 75-95, which is found in" subtilisin ", published by r.bott and c.betzel, New York, 1996, sets out a sequential combination of more than 20 subtilisins relative to subtilisin BPN' of known sequence.

Table 1: five specific homologous functions according to the invention

Reference enzyme	Literature by sequence	Bit 3	Bit 4	Bit 61	Bit 199	Bit 211
							Bacillus lentus-alkaline protease	WO 92/21760A1	S3	V4	G61	V199	L211
BPN’	Wells et al (see above)	S3	V4	S63	I205	Y217
							Subtilisin Carlsberg	Smith et al (see above)	T3	V4	G62	V204	L216
BP92	EP 283075A2	S3	V4	G61	V199	L211
							Subtilisin 309	WO 89/06279A1	S3	V4	G61	V199	L211
Thermoenzyme	WO 91/00345A1	S10	R11	G70	I209	L221
							Proteinase K	WO 91/00345A1	T4	A6	G68	I208	I220

The sequence of the amino acid sequences of a variant of Bacillus lentus alkaline protease according to the invention S3T/V4I/G61A/V199I and S3T/V4I/G61A/V199I/L211D, which is most important, is introduced into the subtilisin described, namely subtilisin 309(Savinase 309), is given in Table 1 according to the invention) Subtilisin PB92, subtilisin Carlsberg and subtilisin BPN'.

The use of the present specification in other respects should be based on a high degree of structural uniformity between subtilisin and broadly identical reactive antigens. It is therefore expected that the described point mutations will play a comparable role in the context of the respective molecules involved. In particular, based on the present specification, it is expected that subtilisins of this type, which have been developed under the current state of the art for use in detergents, can further improve their contribution to the efficiency of washing by the acceptance of such point mutations.

The substitution of the amino acids N, D, Q, E, P and S in accordance with the present technical conditions (see above) is described for position 61 as counted by Bacillus lentus alkaline protease, in particular in combination with other point mutations not according to the invention. The substitution of subtilisin with neutral, hydroxyl-containing amino acids threonine, with basic amino acids histidine, lysine, arginine, with aromatic amino acids phenylalanine, tyrosine, tryptophan, with the sulfur-containing amino acids cystine, methionine and with the aliphatic amino acids alanine, valine, leucine, isoleucine has not been reported so far; in particular, it is not concerned with improving the efficiency of enzymes, and in particular improving the washing efficiency of their corresponding detergents. This is accomplished by the present invention.

According to the invention, which relates to the efficiency-improving substitution in position 61, firstly a substitution with an aliphatic amino acid, i.e.alanine, valine, leucine, isoleucine, particularly preferably alanine, is involved. The characteristics of which are as in the case of the variants of Bacillus lentus alkaline protease S3T/V4I/G61A/V199I and of the (Bacillus lentus) alkaline protease S3T/V4I/G61A/V199I/L211D, it has surprisingly been found that the substitution of the hydroxyphenylglycine with one other amino acid, in particular with aliphatic amino acids and most particularly with alanine, in one position 61 contributes to a greatly increased washing efficiency.

As a variant derived from Bacillus lentus subtilisin, which has the highest coordination with the B.lentus protease variant S3T/V4I/G61A/V199I/L211D according to the invention, it can be regarded as B.lentus-alkaline protease variant F49 with characteristic substitutions S3T/V4I/A188P/V199M/V199I/L211D known from WO 95/23221A 1. The most similar variants to S3T/V4I/G61A/V199I are the B.lentus-alkaline protease variants S3T/V4I/A188P/V193M/V199I, known correspondingly in WO 92/21760A 1 and labeled as M131 in WO 95/23221A 1.

The present invention has a variation at position 61 in each of the two alternative positions A188P and V193M. It can be seen, for example, in patent application WO 95/30011A 2 that amino acid 193 of B.lentus-subtilisin is at the beginning of the 6 th loop, whereas amino acid 188 is not on the loop, but in the tight region between proteins. In this regard, the two mutations are in regions of different molecular structure. It has also surprisingly been found according to the invention that reversion to the wild-type amino acid at the two positions 188 and 193 and an additional mutation at position 61 of the 1 st loop results in an enzyme which is superior in washing efficiency to the hitherto known enzymes, in particular the hitherto known B.lentus-alkaline protease variants. This is particularly evident from the results given in examples 3, 5 and 7.

For example, in patent applications CA 2049097A 1, EP 380362A 1 and WO 95/30010A1 (see above), although variations in position 61 are recommended, only acidic amino acids are produced. In a series of stability-related point-mutation patent applications, such as WO 96/28556A 2 and in particular WO 95/30011A 2 (see above), additional such substitutions are described (N, D, Q, E, P and S) at position 61 (most subtilisins naturally contain P-hydroxyphenylglycine), which means that there are very large changes to the molecule and may influence the substrate-interaction due to the first loop. In contrast, it was even proposed in EP 398539B 1 that the mutation should occur such that the amino acid p-hydroxyphenylglycine can only be introduced into the corresponding subtilisin in the presence of the naturally occurring subtilisin derived from B.Lentus at this point. For reasons of the state of the art, it has surprisingly been found that a change in precisely this position is advantageous for the action on amino acids with aliphatic side chains, and in particular alanine substitutions show an advantageous response to the action of the enzyme.

From the point of view of the use of the application technology, it is surprising, in particular in detergents, that this leads to an improvement in the efficiency, in particular in the washing of different soils, of the enzyme, as will be shown in examples 2 to 7 of the present patent application.

In response to this consideration also other such variants are preferred which, in addition to the described substitution at position 61 according to the B.Lentus subtilisin count, also have a substitution of isoleucine at position 199. The effect of such a substitution on the enzymatic properties of b.lens DSM5483 subtilisin is described, for example, in WO92/21760 a 1.

Further preferred are alkaline proteases of the subtilisin-type, characterized in that the enzyme has isoleucine at position 199, asparagine at position 211 and the amino acids alanine, valine, leucine, isoleucine, cystine, methionine, phenylalanine, tyrosine, tryptophan, threonine, histidine, one of lysine or arginine, preferably alanine, valine, leucine or isoleucine, particularly preferably alanine, according to the B.Lentus subtilisin count. I.e. it relates to the amino acid molecule at that position, both naturally and by mutation.

The contribution of the amino acid group asparagine acid after position 211 to the improvement of the cleaning effect of the corresponding detergents is described, for example, in example 10 of patent application WO 95/23221A 1.

The alkaline protease according to the invention is preferably characterized in that it has at least a stabilizing effect. This increases the stability during storage and/or use, thus enabling the beneficial action of the amino acids mentioned above, as well as the maintenance and enhancement of the amino acid exchange over a longer period of time.

The stability of the proteases according to the invention can be increased, for example, by binding to polymers. One of the methods is described for example in patent US 5230891. It requires that the protein should be bound to such a polymer via a chemical coupling step before use in the corresponding detergent.

Preferably, stabilization is achieved by point mutation of the molecule. Which does not require additional processing steps after protein extraction. Suitable point mutations for this purpose are known in the state of the art. Stabilization can be achieved according to the patents US 6087315 and US 6110884 by replacing the specific tyrosine-group with others. According to the present specification, the protein derived from b.lentus corresponds to the substitution of the tyrosine-group according to SEQ ID No.2 in positions 89, 161, 165, 208 and 257; in B.lentus-alkaline protease, both positions additionally given there have been occupied by tyrosine.

Other possibilities are for example:

replacement of specific amino acid groups with proline according to EP 583339B 1; this corresponds to the substitution of the enzyme derived from b.lentus for S55P, a96P, a166P, a188P and/or S253P;

introducing polar or charged groups on the surface of the molecule according to EP 995801A 1;

modification of the binding to metal ions, in particular modification of the calcium-binding site, for example according to patent applications WO 88/08028A 1 and WO 88/08033A 1. According to the first document, one or more amino acid-groups which are bound to the calcium are substituted with negatively charged amino acids. According to D.W.Goddette et al (1992) at J.mol.biol., Band 228, 580-595, subtilisin from B.lentus occupies the following two calcium-binding sites: ca1 (with higher binding affinity) including positions 2Q(s), D40(s, 2 ×), L73^*N75(m), 177(s), V79(m) and Ca3 (with lower binding affinity) at positions including positions a168, a163, Y165, water 273, 317; each according to the numbering of subtilisin from b.lentus.

According to the specifications of patent application WO 88/08033A 1, in order to achieve stabilization, it is necessary to introduce at least one of the following two cystine/glycine mutations by calcium binding; it is involved in the NG-sequences in positions 60/61, 115/116 and 212/213, for example in subtilisin from b.lentus.

According to patent US 5453372, the effect of denaturants such as surfactants on proteins can be protected by specific mutations at the surface; the positions indicated there correspond to positions 134, 155, 158, 164, 188 and/or 189 in b.lentus-alcalase.

Other comparable possibilities are given in patent 3 by US 5340735, US 5500364, US 5985639 and US 613655.

For the stabilization of the alkaline proteases according to the invention, preference is given to the amino acid threonine in position 3, according to the count of subtilisin from B.Lentus. This molecular replacement with the wild-type enzyme is not only stable at elevated temperatures, but also stable to the action of surfactants, as is shown, for example, in table 3 of patent application WO92/21760 a 1. The N-termini of positions 3 and 4 to which the molecule belongs are located on the surface with active centers, especially the top of the cleft, after processing. The unbound endpoints are in contact with the molecular groups, particularly through non-covalent interacting groups, and help to maintain a spherical structure. Without being bound by theory, one can also assume that all mutations that limit the flexibility at this non-binding end point contribute to the stabilization of the entire molecule.

Also for the stabilization of an alkaline protease according to the invention, it is preferred that it relates to the amino acid isoleucine at count position 4 according to subtilisin from b.lentus. This alternative stabilization is likewise illustrated in Table 3 of patent application WO 92/21760A 1.

It is particularly preferred that the molecule is stabilized by isoleucine at both position 3 and 4, and its efficiency is improved.

Corresponding subtilisins of the invention are known in the examples of detergent formulations of the invention in relation to the state of the artThe efficiency is improved, and the enzyme has no stabilizing effect. Irrespective of the theory in combination, one may speculate that the stability of the variant involved contributes to the enzymatic activity in the wash float being maintained for a sufficiently long time, thereby supporting improved efficiency.

In addition, each of these substitutions can also improve the efficiency of the molecule in other ways, in particular in detergents, for example by interaction with a substrate or with other components of the respective detergent.

An especially preferred embodiment is one in which the alkaline protease according to the invention is characterized by threonine in position 3, isoleucine in position 4, alanine in position 61 and isoleucine in position 199, as counted for B.Lentus subtilisin.

The contribution of such variants to the washing efficiency of a corresponding detergent is discussed in the examples 3, 5 and7 of the present patent application.

Particularly preferred are embodiments in which the alkaline protease according to the invention is characterized by threonine in position 3, isoleucine in position 4, alanine in position 61, isoleucine in position 199 and asparagine in position 211, as counted for B.Lentus subtilisin.

The contribution of such variants to the washing efficiency of a corresponding detergent is discussed in the examples 2, 4 and 6 of the present patent application.

Preferably, such variants are derived from a (Bacillus) -subtilisin, in particular from a Bacillus lentus-subtilisin.

The Bacillus proteases have properties which are advantageous for the application possibilities of various technologies. Including a degree of stability to higher temperatures, oxidizing and denaturing agents. In addition, the use of microbial proteases has led to a great deal of experience with their bioengineered products, such as the structural format of the advantageous cloning vectors, the choice of host cells and the assessment of fermentation conditions or risks, such as allergenic reactions.

In particular subtilisins from Bacillus lentus, as well as those derived from natural proteases, are used in the state of the art, for example in detergents. To this end there are mentioned subtilisin 147, subtilisin 309 and B.lentus-alkaline protease mentioned at the outset. Empirical resources for the preparation and use of the protease are available, facilitating further development of the enzyme according to the invention. For example, compatibility with other chemical compounds, such as compositions of detergents, is achieved.

Suitable starter strains for this purpose are those which have been ordered from Mikroorganismen und Zellkulturen GmbH, Mascheroder Weg 1B, 38124 Brenrek City (Braunschweig) (http:// www.dsmz.de) according to Germany's contract number DSM5483 and which can be used, for example, as B.lentus-strains as described in patent applications WO 91/02792A 1, WO 92/21760A 1 or WO 95/23221A 1. Such variants can be prepared from the above-mentioned or homologous strains by standard methods of molecular biology, such as PCR and the known point mutation methods.

Particularly preferred variants and mentioned in the examples are those prepared in example 1 from B.lentus alkaline protease, which can be ordered under the name ATCC68614 from American type Culture Collection, 10801 University Boulevard, Manassas, VA20110-2209, USA (http:// www.atcc.org). The nucleotide sequence of the enzyme is disclosed in SEQ ID NO.1 and 2 in the sequence Listing of the present invention, as well as the amino acid sequence thereof.

The sequence can be used, for example, for the structural determination of primers for the preparation of a nucleic acid coding for the protease from a DNA preparation of a gram-positive bacterium, preferably a gram-positive bacterium such as B.lentus, for example for carrying out the mutation reaction and preparation in the canonical application of the present patent application, often modified in a manner known per se. In addition, many other nucleic acids are also conceivable on the basis of the genetically encoded variants, which likewise can also encode the variant and likewise can be selected preferentially by the subject of the invention.

Particular mention is made here of the sequence listing in accordance with the nucleotide sequence given under SEQ ID No.3, but above all of the B.lentus-alkaline protease S3T/V4I/G61A/V199I in accordance with the amino acid sequence given under SEQ ID No. 4. The improved washing efficiency contribution will be demonstrated in the corresponding application implementation using the present patent application.

Also preferred is an alkaline protease according to the above, characterized in that it is derived from one of the B.lentus DSM5483 or ATCC68614 subtilisins, in particular the B.lentus-alkaline protease S3T/V4I/G61A/V199I/L211D according to the amino acid sequence given in SEQ ID NO.6 and the nucleotide sequence given in SEQ ID NO. 5.

As it is described in the application examples of the present patent application, it shows the strongest efficiency improvement in the experiments compared to the control molecule. Which can be obtained as described above.

A preferred embodiment is a protein produced by the above-described protease, in particular with at least one portion of at least one other protein, obtained by fragmentation or deletion mutation, by insertion mutation, by substitution mutation or by pooling.

The method is formed in accordance with the state of the art. Corresponding molecular biological methods are therefore described, for example, in the manual "molecular cloning: a Laboratory Manual, Cold Spring harbor Laboratory Press, New York, 1989, is described in detail.

Variants which confer other properties, for example by substitution mutations or by further point mutations, are included here to be suitable for particular purposes of use, for example by changes in the surface charge as disclosed in WO 00/36069A 1, or by changes in substrate binding by catalysts or related rings as disclosed in WO 99/27082A1, for example. Variants may also be subjected to a mutation over a larger area. For example, to generate fragments or deletion mutations, to obtain the selection of particular subfunctions of the protease or to otherwise switch them off, for example substrate binding and interactions with other compounds via specific molecular regions.

The proteases according to the invention can achieve additional functions by means of insertions, substitutions or combinations. For example, combinations with specific sites (domainen) such as cellulose-binding sites, for example, are conceivable, as described in publications WO 99/57154A 1 to WO 99/57157. The amino acid-chain bonds noted here can be achieved by means of homogeneous fusion proteins from proteases, bond chain-regions and the formation of binding sites (bindungdomainen). Such binding sites may also be derived from the same or other proteases to enhance the binding of the protein according to the invention to a protease-substrate. Which can increase the local protease-concentration and is advantageous when applied alone, for example in the treatment of raw materials.

According to a further embodiment, the proteins of the invention are characterized in that they can also be derivatized.

This is particularly important when optimizing their respective purpose of use. Chemical modifications are possible, for example as described in patent application DE 4013142A 1, for example by coupling to low-or high-molecular compounds, such as the coupling of natural proteins of different organism origin to protein biosynthesis, for example by binding of a fatty acid radical to the near N-terminus or by glycosylation by means of eukaryotic host cells. Thus, embodiments of the invention produce additional derivatives of proteolytic enzymes or fragments.

The use of the binding proteins according to the invention in detergents shows that binding to other detergent-active substances or enzymes is of particular interest. Comparable conjugate species are described, for example, in patent applications WO 00/18865A 1 and WO 00/57155A 1 relating to cellulose-binding sites. Similarly, macromolecular compound couplings, such as polyethylene glycol, can be carried out to improve other properties of the molecule, such as stability or skin compatibility. Such modifications are described, for example, in patent US 5230891, to make the proteases concerned more suitable for use in cosmetics.

The protein derivatives according to the invention are also very broadly understood to mean the preparation of enzymes. Proteins containing various other substances may be co-present according to the extraction, processing or preparation of the protein, for example from the culture of the producing microorganism. Even the culture matured of the microorganism used for protease production showed proteolytic activity, indicating that the crude extract has corresponding utility for inactivating other proteinoid activities.

By using specific other materials, for example, the storage stability of the protein can be improved. Thus, all preparations of a particular protein according to the invention are also encompassed according to the invention, irrespective of whether the enzymatic activity is manifested in a particular preparation. It is therefore believed that it is desirable that no or only minor activity is present on storage and that its proteolytic action is exhibited when used. For example, it may depend on the rugate status of the protein or reversible binding to one or more accompaniments upon treatment of the protein preparation according to the invention. The particular co-preparation of proteases with protease-inhibitors is known in the state of the art (WO 00/01826A 2). Secondly, there are also fusion proteins in which the inhibitors are bound to the respective protease via a linkage, in particular via an amino acid-linkage (WO 00/01831A 2).

It is particularly desirable to further develop, derivatize and prepare the proteins mentioned according to the invention if they also have proteolytic activity, which is a prerequisite for their use according to the invention. The proteases obtained firstly by various mutation and/or derivatization means with respect to the starting molecules or non-derivatized molecules have an increased proteolytic activity and in particular an improved efficiency in their intended technical fields of use. In particular, the improvement of the washing efficiency in detergents is achieved here.

For example, the point mutations according to the invention can be combined with other point mutations which are involved in catalytic reactions, these mutations being carried out approximately in the active center. Thus, for example, the proteases according to the invention, which are derived from B.lentus-subtilisin, can be subjected to mutations in the loop region or additional introduction of amino acids, as described in patent application WO 95/30011A 2. Such work is described in the following numbered patents, namely WO 00/37599A1, WO 00/37621A 1 to WO 00/37627 and WO 00/71683A 1 to WO 00/71691A 1.

The absence of a region of the enzyme that interacts with other active ingredients in the reaction medium, possibly through the rugate effect, hinders the overall reaction, which may lead to a desired further development. Similarly, combinations with other effective enzymes, i.e.with other proteases, may be considered for successful enhancement of the proteolytic rate.

For example, the reversible blocking of a proteolytic activity by binding to an inhibitor during storage prevents the autohydrolysis of the protein and thus leads to a high proteolytic rate when diluted in the reaction medium. For example, coupling to specific binding sites can increase the concentration of protease relative to the float in the vicinity of the substrate during washing and thus increase the contribution of the enzyme to the washing efficiency.

In another embodiment, the protein or derivative is characterized in that it can be further stabilized or have more than one of the above-mentioned stabilizing effects.

Methods for point mutagenesis are particularly important for the present invention for practical reasons. All the above-mentioned possibilities can also be used in combination with the variant according to the invention. It is believed that a number of stabilizing mutations have an additive effect according to WO 89/09819A 1. Thus, for example, the variants according to the invention which are stabilized by one of the amino acids 3T or 4I, or both, are further stabilized by coupling with a polymer or by a further method as described above.

The object of the second invention is a nucleic acid. Including the nucleic acids encoded by the proteins or derivatives of the first invention object, which are correspondingly preferred.

Nucleic acids are the starting point for almost all common molecular biology research and further development and protein production. In particular the gene sequence and the accessory amino acid-sequences, each mutation and the expression of the protein. This method is described, for example, in the manual "molecular cloning: a Laboratory Manual, Cold Spring harbor Laboratory Press, New York, 1989.

On the DNA level, the enzymes according to the invention can be preferred by different methods of application which are summarized by all general concepts "protein engineering". This can be achieved in particular by the following properties which are achievable at the protein level: improved oxidative stability of the protein obtained, improved stability to denaturants or proteases, resistance to high temperature, acid and strong alkaline conditions, altered sensitivity to calcium or other auxiliary factors, reduced immunity or allergenic effects.

Examples of genes mutated according to the invention include those which are individually, purposefully substituted by bases or randomly point-mutated, in which individual bases are deleted in one or in part in the sequence, are combined with other genes or gene fragments, or which contribute to transformation. Such mutations or modifications may be made to achieve particular applications by enzymes produced by the nucleic acids involved. Such mutations may be targeted or by opportunistic methods such as administration of activity to cloned genes, directed discrimination-and/or screening methods.

In particular, for the nucleic acids coding for the protein fragments, all three selection orientations, whether sense or antisense (sense) -orientation, should be noted. Such oligonucleotides can be used as nucleic acids for the starting point of synthesis by Polymerase Chain Reaction (PCR). Such oligonucleotides, in particular when they cover a region corresponding to one of the 5 amino acid positions 3, 4, 61, 199 and 211, are included with emphasis in the scope of protection according to the invention. It also includes those oligonucleotides which have a variable sequence exactly at that position, so that the oligonucleotide encoded by a position corresponding to SEQ ID NO.3 and/or SEQ ID NO.5 is present in the population of the plurality of primers. It likewise includes antisense oligonucleotides, which can be used, for example, for expression regulation.

Further development of the proteases according to the invention can be considered in particular according to the article "protein engineering" by P.N.Bryan (2000) in Biochim.Biophys.acta, Band 1543, S.203-222.

The object of the invention relates firstly to subtilisin-encoding nucleic acids whose sequence corresponds to one of the nucleotide sequences given in SEQ ID NO.3 and/or SEQ ID NO. 5. This agreement relates in particular to the amino acid sequence SEQ ID NO.4 or SEQ ID NO.6 which corresponds to or comprises the region encoded by or comprising isoleucine at position 199, asparagine at position 211, threonine at position 3 and/or isoleucine at position 4, and in particular alanine at position 61.

As indicated above and in the examples, this position is particularly preferably represented by the alkaline proteases according to the invention. The use of this panel for other subtilisins is achieved by mutation of the other molecule in question at one or more of these positions. According to known methods (see above) this occurs only at the nucleic acid level.

It is preferably suitable for nucleic acids from the sequence of Bacillus proteins, in particular the sequence of Bacillus proteins DSM5483 protease. In the most particularly preferred case, the nucleic acid can be a variant of the B.lentus-alkaline protease S3T/V4I/G61A/V199I or B.lentus-alkaline protease S3T/V4I/G61A/V199I/L211D according to the invention which encodes and/or corresponds to a nucleotide as given in SEQ ID NO.3 or SEQ ID NO. 5. This identity relates to the region which is characteristic of the variant and particularly preferably the complete sequence.

Also included in the protective region are, for example, nucleic acids which can encode for insertion-or incorporation-mutants of proteolytic activity. Thus the active-contributing region may for example be combined by a site of binding cellulose or point mutations may be introduced in the catalytically inactive region to enable coupling of the produced protein to a polymer or to reduce the allergenic response.

A particular subject of the invention is a vector. Which contains a nucleic acid region as described above and in particular a nucleic acid region of a protein or derivative as described above.

In view of the nucleic acids of interest according to the invention, they can accordingly be placed in vectors. This is described in detail in the state of the art and is commercially available in quantity or variety, whether for cloning or for expression. Thus, for example, vectors derived from bacterial plasmids, viruses or bacteriophages, or a large number of synthetic vectors. Which is a suitable starting point for molecular biological or biochemical studies, and expression of genes or accessory proteins.

The vectors according to the invention are, in the first place, cloning vectors which contain a nucleic acid region as described above and, in particular, a nucleic acid region of a protein or derivative which has been encoded as described above.

Cloning vectors are suitable for the characterization of the molecular biological properties of the genes in question, in addition to the storage, the biological expansion or the selection of useful genes. At the same time, their preparation into transportable and easily storable forms of the nucleic acids described is the starting point of molecular biotechnology not associated with cells, for example PCR or In-vitro mutation methods.

Likewise, the vectors according to the invention are, in the first place, expression vectors which contain a nucleic acid region as described above and, in particular, a protein or derivative encoded as described above and a nucleic acid region which can be biosynthesized.

Such expression vectors are the basis for the implementation of the corresponding nucleic acids in biological production systems and the production of the associated proteins therefrom. A preferred embodiment of the subject of the invention is an expression vector having all the necessary gene components for expression, for example the promoter originally located in front of the gene in nature or a promoter from another organism. The components may be arranged, for example, in the form of so-called expression tapes. It is particularly preferred that it is compatible with the chosen expression system, in particular the host cell (see below).

A particular object of the invention is a cell which can be used in any form for the development, modification or production of a protein or derivative according to the invention. In particular, cells which contain a vector as described above or characteristic regions thereof, whether in the form of plasmids or in the form of chromosomes, are identified.

For example, it can be used for the amplification of the corresponding gene, also for mutation or transcription and translation and finally in biotechnological products.

The invention relates firstly to host cells which can be prepared or brought into expression with a protein or derivative as described above, in particular using a nucleic acid region as described above, and most particularly using an expression vector as described above.

The host cells that constitute the protein can be used in their biotechnological products. It must be obtained by means of a suitable vector, and can be said to be transformed. The vector or a region characteristic thereof may be present as a self-gene component in the chromosome of the host cell or integrated into a chromosome.

As host cells theoretically all organisms are suitable, i.e.prokaryotes, eukaryotes or Cyanophyta. Preferred are host cells which make good use of genes, e.g.those involved in transformation and establishment of stability with expression vectors, e.g.unicellular fungi or bacteria. Preferred host cells should be distinguished for this purpose by microbial and biotechnological use. For example, it relates to easy cultivation, high growth rates, less requirements for fermentation media and good productivity-and secretion rates for heterologous proteins. On the basis of this, each protein according to the invention can be obtained from a wide variety of host organisms. The optimal expression system for an individual case can generally be confirmed experimentally from a large number of different systems available in the state of the art.

Preferred embodiments are host cells whose activity is adjustable on the basis of the corresponding gene component, for example by controlling the addition of compounds, by changing the culture conditions or the dependence on the corresponding cell density. This controlled expression enables economical production of the protein of interest. The expression vector and the host cell are expediently identical to one another, for example with regard to the gene components necessary for expression (ribosome binding sites, promoters, terminators) or codon Usage (codon Usage). The latter can be optimized, for example, in that the codons in the gene which are not translated well by the particular host can be replaced by suitable hosts having the same meaning.

In a preferred embodiment, the host cell is characterized in that it is a bacterium, in particular a bacterium that secretes the newly produced protein into the surrounding medium.

Bacteria are superior due to short growth phase and low culture conditions requirements. This makes it possible to create an inexpensive method. For this reason, people invest a lot of experience and wealth in the bacteria in fermentation technology. For a particular product, different gram-negative or gram-positive bacteria are suitable for reasons derived from the test, such as nutrient source, product cultivation rate, time required, etc.

Coli, for example, can secrete large amounts of protein in the peripherical space. This may be beneficial for particular applications. The gram-positive bacteria, for example Bacillus, secrete proteins immediately into the nutrient medium surrounding the cells, and the proteins produced according to the invention can be purified directly according to a further preferred embodiment. In patent application WO 01/81597, even an accessible method is disclosed, which allows gram-negative bacteria to produce proteins.

Preferred bacteria are characterized in that they are gram-positive bacteria, in particular of the genus Bacillus, most particularly the species Bacillus lentus, Bacillus licheniformis, Bacillus amyloliquefaciens, Bacillus subtilis or Bacillus alcalophilus.

An embodiment of the invention uses Bacillus lentus, in particular B.lentus DSM5483 itself, for the preparation of a protein according to the invention (homologous). In contrast, heterologous expression is preferred. Bacteria of the genus Bacillus are preferred here because of their optimal production-technical properties in gram-positive bacteria. Included herein are species of Bacillus licheniformis, Bacillus amyloliquefaciens, Bacillus subtilis or other species or species of Bacillus alcalophilus. The species using Bacillus lentus has a similar codon-usage and produces comparable subtilisins themselves, which inevitably promote the corresponding synthesis apparatus (synthieapaprat).

A further advantage is that a mixture of proteins according to the invention can be obtained by this method with endogenous subtilisins derived from the host species. The co-expression of B.lentus-alkaline protease in Bacillus lichenfiformis is described in patent application WO91/02792(EP 493398B 1); there is also disclosed a large number of possible expression vectors. This system can also be used in newly discovered variants according to the invention.

Also preferred are host cells characterized in that they are eukaryotic cells, particularly those cells that post-translationally modify the protein produced.

For example, in the case of eukaryotes, fungi such as Actinomycetes (Actinomyceten) or yeasts such as Saccharomyces (Saccharomyces) or Kluyveromyces. For the modification, it is particularly relevant to such protein synthesis systems, for example comprising a combination of low molecular compounds such as membrane supports (membranakers) or oligosaccharides. This oligosaccharide-modification can reduce the allergenic effect as desired.

A separate invention object is a process for the preparation of a proteolytic enzyme or derivative according to the invention.

The process for the preparation of the proteolytic enzyme or derivative using a nucleic acid as described above and/or using a vector as described above and/or using a host cell as described above is claimed.

The corresponding oligopeptides and oligonucleotides and the complete genes and proteins can be synthesized, for example, according to the DNA and amino acid sequences mentioned above, for example, also from the sequence listing, in accordance with known molecular biological methods. On the premise of known subtilisin-producing microorganisms, other naturally occurring subtilisin products can also be isolated, their subtilisin sequences determined and the corresponding specifications developed further. Similarly, novel expression vectors were developed according to the examples of vectors disclosed in patent application WO 91/02792. Embodiments of the invention can also be cell-free expression systems, based on the nucleic acid sequence to which they belong, with the understanding that protein biosynthesis takes place in glass tubes. All of the above-mentioned components can also be combined in a novel process for the preparation of the proteins according to the invention. There are numerous possibilities for combinations of process steps with one another for each protein according to the invention, so that the optimum process can be obtained experimentally for each particular individual case.

A particular object of the invention is a preparation comprising the proteolytic enzyme according to the invention described above. It relates in particular to detergents, most particularly to preparations (lotions) in amounts of from 2. mu.g to 20 mg/g.

The possibility of using virtually all techniques for the enzyme according to the invention depends on the fact that the functionalized enzyme is to be used in a corresponding medium. Thus, for example, the microbiological application possibilities require that the enzyme, usually in a highly pure prepared form, be combined with the necessary reaction partners or cofactors in the medium. The preparation of raw material-treated preparations or cosmetics can likewise be characterized by a specific formulation. According to the invention, all formulations are understood to be preparations which contain the enzymes according to the invention.

As a preferred embodiment, detergents are listed as objects of the present invention. As indicated in the working examples of the present patent application, it was surprisingly established that a subtilisin variant having positions 61 (as counted for b.lentus-alkaline protease) and one of the amino acids alanine, valine, leucine, isoleucine, cystine, methionine, phenylalanine, tyrosine, tryptophan, threonine, histidine, lysine or arginine, in particular one of the amino acids alanine, valine, leucine or isoleucine, most particularly substituted for alanine, shows a significant efficiency increase for various contaminants, whether on textile or hard surfaces, relative to the unmutated molecule. The effect is reproducible at different temperatures or at different concentrations.

Formulations with the above variants are correspondingly preferred. This includes in particular the B.lentus-alkaline protease variants S3T/V4I/G61A/V199I and S3T/V4I/G61A/V199I/L211D, as well as the derived molecules.

All conceivable detergent types, whether concentrates or formulations for diluted use, are included for the purposes of the invention; in machine or hand washing or decontamination is used according to commercial standards. Examples of these include detergents according to the invention for textiles, carpets, natural fibers. Examples include also dish-washing sprays for machine or hand washing of dishes or cleaners for hard surfaces such as metal, glass, porcelain, crockery, tile, stone, painted surfaces, synthetic materials, wood or leather; all of these can be used with detergents marked according to the invention. The examples of the invention show the type of detergents to enrich the protein according to the invention.

Examples of embodiment of the invention include all preparations according to the invention produced and/or targeted in the state of the art. Examples of these include solid, powder-granulated, liquid, such as gel-like or paste-like preparations, possibly from multiple phases, compressed or uncompressed; other examples include: extrudates, granules, tablets or pouches, whether in large containers or in divided packages.

The preparations according to the invention contain the enzyme of the invention in an amount of 2. mu.g to 20mg and more preferably 5. mu.g to 17.5mg, 20. mu.g to 15mg, 50. mu.g to 10mg, 100. mu.g to 7.5mg, 200. mu.g to 5mg and 500. mu.g to 1mg/g per gram of preparation. This gives 40. mu.g to 4g and preferably 50. mu.g to 3g, 100. mu.g to 2g, 200. mu.g to 1g and particularly preferably 400. mu.g to 400mg per use.

The enzyme activity in this preparation can be determined according to the method described in "surfactant", Band7(1970), S.125-132. The corresponding is given in PE (protease-unit). The protease activity of the preparation can reach 1.500.000 protease units/g of the preparation.

In addition to the enzymes according to the invention, the preparations according to the invention may also contain further constituents such as surfactants, for example nonionic, anionic and/or zwitterionic surfactants, and/or bleaches, and/or builders and other conventional constituents.

As nonionic surfactants, use is made, above all, of alkoxylated, advantageously ethoxylated, in particular primary alcohols having 8 to 18C atoms and on average 1 to 12Mol of Ethylene Oxide (EO)/Mol of alcohol, in which the alcohol radicals are linear or, preferably, methyl-branched in the 2-position, and in which the mixture contains linear and methyl-branched radicals, as is customary in the carbonyl alcohol residues. In particular alcohol ethoxylates having a radical derived from natural linear alcohols of 12 to 18C atoms, for example from coconut-, palm-, tallow-or oleyl-alcohols, and having an average EO/Mol of 2 to 8. Preferred ethoxylated alcohols include, for example, C with 3EO or 4EO_12-14Alcohols, C with 7EO_9-11Alcohols, C with 3EO, 5EO, 7EO or 8EO_13-15Alcohols, C with 3EO, 5EO or 7EO_12-18Alcohols or mixtures thereof, e.g. from C with 3EO_12-14Alcohols and C with 5EO_12-18-mixtures of alcohols. The degree of ethoxylation given is a statistically intermediate value, which may be an integer or fractional number for a particular product. Preferred ethoxylation rates will give a restrictive homogeneous distribution (narrow range ethoxylates, NRE). In addition to the nonionic surfactant, fatty alcohols with more than 12EO may also be used. For example tallow alcohol with 14EO, 25 EO, 30 EO or 40 EO.

Another class of nonionic surfactants which can preferably be used, which are not exclusively nonionic surfactants or in combination with other nonionic surfactants, are alkoxylated, firstly ethoxylated or ethoxylated and propoxylated fatty acid alkyl esters, preferably having from 1 to 4 carbon atoms in the alkyl chain, in particular fatty acid methyl esters.

Another class of nonionic surfactants that is advantageous for use is the Alkyl Polyglycosides (APG). The alkylpolyglycoside which may be used satisfies the general molecular formula RO (G) z, is a straight-chain or branched chain in R, in particular methyl-branched, saturated or unsaturated, aliphatic radical having 8 to 22, in particular 12 to 18C atoms in the 2-position and G having the symbol corresponding to a sugar unit with 5 or 6C atoms, in particular glucose. The glycosylation rate z is between 1.0 and 4.0, above all between 1.0 and 2.0 and in particular between 1.1 and 1.4. It is preferable to use linear alkylpolyglycoside, and alkylpolyglycoside in which the polyglucoside group is monoglucosyl and the alkyl group is an n-alkyl group can also be used.

Nonionic surfactants of the amine oxide type, such as N-cocoalkyl-N, N-dimethyl amine oxide and N-tallowalkyl-N, N-dihydroxyethyl amine oxide, and fatty acid alkanolamides may also be used. The nonionic surfactant fraction is firstly not more than half, in particular not more than half, of the ethoxylated fatty alcohol.

Further suitable surfactants are polyhydroxy fatty acid amides having the general formula (II),

R1

I

R-CO-N-[Z] (II)

in RCO is an aliphatic acyl radical having 6 to 22 carbon atoms, R¹Is hydrogen, an alkyl-or hydroxyalkyl radical having 1 to 4 carbon atoms and [ Z]Is a straight or branched chain polyhydroxyalkyl group having 3 to 10 carbon atoms and 3 to 10 hydroxyl groups. As polyhydroxy fatty acid amides there are mentioned the substances known which are obtainable by conventional reductive amination with ammonia, monoalkylamines or monoalkanolamides and a reducing sugar and subsequent acylation with a fatty acid, fatty acid alkyl ester or fatty acid acyl chloride.

Also included for the polyhydroxy fatty acid amide groups are compounds of the general formula (III),

R1-O-R²

I

R-CO-N-[Z] (III)

in R is a linear or branched alkyl-or alkenyl radical having 7 to 12 carbon atoms, R¹Is a straight-chain, branched or cyclic alkyl radical or an aromatic radical having from 2 to 8 carbon atoms and R²Is a straight-chain, branched or cyclic alkyl or an aromatic radical or an alkoxy radical having 1 to 8 carbon atoms, where C is preferred_1-4-alkyl-or phenyl-and [ Z]Is a branched polyhydroxyalkyl group, the alkyl carbon chain being substituted with at least two hydroxyl groups, or alkoxylated, primarily ethoxylated or propoxylated derivatives.

Preferably by reductive amination with a reducing sugar, such as glucose, fructose, maltose, lactose, galactose, mannose or xylose. N-alkoxy-or N-aryloxy-substituted compounds can be converted, for example, by fatty acid methyl esters in the presence of an alcoholate catalyst into the desired polyhydroxy fatty acid amides.

As anionic surfactants, use may be made of the sulfonate or sulfate type. As surfactants of the sulfonate type, firstly C_9-13Alkylbenzenesulfonates, olefin sulfonates, i.e. mixtures of olefin-and hydroxyalkane sulfonates, and disulfonates, e.g. C, which will have a double bond in the terminal or internal position_12-18Sulphonation of monoolefins with gaseous sulphur trioxide and subsequent alkaline or acidic hydrolysis of the sulphonation product. Also suitable are compounds having C_12-18Alkane sulfonates of alkanes, for example obtained by chlorosulfonation or sulfoxidation followed by hydrolysis and neutralization. Also esters (ester sulfonates) of alpha-thio fatty acids, for example the alpha-sulfonated methyl esters of hydrogenated coconut-, palm-or tallow fatty acids, are suitable.

Further suitable anionic surfactants are sulfated fatty acid glycerides. The fatty acid glycerides may be mono-, di-and triglycerides and mixtures thereof, which may be obtained by esterifying monoglycerol with 1 to 3Mol of fatty acid or exchanging triglycerides with 0.3 to 2.0Mol of glycerol. Preferred siliconized fatty acid glycerides are siliconized products of saturated fatty acids having 6 to 22 carbon atoms, such as caproic acid, caprylic acid, capric acid, lauric acid, myristic acid, palmitic acid, stearic acid or behenic acid.

As alk (en) yl sulfates are preferred alkali metal-and in particular C₁₂-C₁₈Sodium salts of sulfuric acid half-esters of fatty alcohols, e.g. from coconut oil alcohol, tallow oil alcohol, lauryl-, myristyl-, cetyl-, stearyl-alcohol or C₁₀-C₂₀Half esters of carbonyl alcohols and of secondary alcohols of the respective carbon chain length. Also preferred are linear alkyl alk (en) yl sulfates of carbon chain length obtained by petrochemical synthesis which have a degradation performance similar to compounds derived from oleochemical feedstocks. Of interest to the washing technique is C₁₂-C₁₆Alkyl sulfates and C₁₂-C₁₅Alkyl sulfates and C₁₄-C₁₅-alkyl sulfates. 2, 3-alkyl sulfates are also suitable as anionic surfactants.

Also suitable are linear or branched C's containing 1 to 6Mol of ethylene oxide ethoxylation_7-21Alcohols, e.g. 2-methyl-branched C with an average of 3.5Mol Ethylene Oxide (EO)_9-11Alcohol or C with 1 to 4EO_12-18-sulfuric acid monoesters of fatty alcohols. They can be used only in small amounts in detergents owing to their high foamability, for example in amounts of up to 5 gew-%, typically from 1 to 55 gew-%.

Further suitable anionic surfactants are salts of alkylthiosuccinic acids, which are also referred to as thiosuccinic acid salts or thiosuccinic acid esters, and mono-or diesters of the thiosuccinic acid with alcohols, above all fatty alcohols and, in particular, ethoxylated fatty alcohols. Preferred sulfosuccinates contain C_8-18-fatty alcohol groups or mixtures thereof. Particularly preferred sulfosuccinates contain a fatty alcohol radical derived from ethoxylated fatty alcohols useful as nonionic surfactants (see above for description). Also particularly preferred for this purpose are sulfosuccinates whose fatty alcohol radical is derived from ethoxylated fatty alcohols having a corresponding homologue distribution. Likewise usable are alk (en) yl groups having 8 to 18 carbons in the carbon chainAtomic alk (en) ylsuccinic acids or salts thereof.

Other anionic surfactants are in particular soaps. Suitable are saturated fatty acid soaps, such as the laurates, myristates, palmitates, stearates, hydrogenated erucates and behenates, for example in particular the mixed salts of natural fatty acids, such as coconut-, palm-or tallow-acid sources.

Anionic surfactants, including soaps, may be present in the form of their sodium, potassium or ammonium salts as well as soluble salts of organic bases, such as mono-, di-or triethanolamine. Firstly, the anionic surfactant is a sodium or potassium salt, in particular a sodium salt.

The inventive washing agent may contain, firstly, 5 gew% to 50 gew%, in particular 8 gew% to 30 gew%, calculated as the finished washing agent.

Lotions according to the present invention may contain a bleaching agent. For bleaching agents, H can be evolved in water₂O₂Of particular interest are compounds such as sodium percarbonate, sodium perborate tetrahydrate and sodium perborate monohydrate. Other bleaching agents which can be used are, for example, pyrophosphoric acid peroxide, hydrogen peroxide citrate and hydrogen peroxide which liberate H₂O₂Peracids such as persulfates and persulfuric acid. Also usable are aqueous urea hydrogen peroxide, percarbamide, which has the general formula H₂N-CO-NH₂·H₂O₂. Especially for lotions for hard surface washing, such as machine dishwashing, it is preferred to have bleaches from the class of organic bleaches, although in principle they can also be used in lotions for textile washing. Typical organic bleaching agents are diacyl peroxides, such as dibenzoyl peroxide. Other typical organic bleaching agents are peroxyacids, here by way of example in particular alkyl peroxyacids and aryl peroxyacids. Preferred representatives are peroxybenzoic acid and ring-substituted derivatives, for example alkyl peroxybenzoic acids, also mono-magnesium salts of peroxy-alpha-naphthoic acid and perphthalic acid, aliphatic or aliphatic-substituted peroxy hardenersAliphatic acids, epsilon-phthalimide peroxycaproic acid (phthalimide peroxyn-caproic acid, PAP), o-carbonylbenzamido peroxycaproic acid, N-nonenamimido peroxyadipic acid and N-nonenamimido peroxysuccinate, and aliphatic and aromatic peroxydicarboxylic acids, such as 1, 12-diperoxycarboxylic acid, 1, 9-diperoxyloazelaic acid, diperoxydecanoic acid, diperoxy brassylic acid, diperoxyphosphatidic phthalic acid, 2-decyldiperoxobutane-1, 4-dioic acid, N, N-terephthaloyl-bis (6-aminoperoxycaproic acid).

The bleaching agent content of the lotion can be 1 to 40 gew-% and in particular 10 to 20 gew-%, where the use of perborate monohydrate or percarbonate is advantageous.

To achieve washing at or below 60 ℃ and an improved bleaching action, especially in the preparation phase of the wash, the wash may contain a bleach activator. As active ingredients of bleach activators, compounds are used which, under perhydrolysis conditions, release aliphatic peroxycarboxylic acids having from 1 to 10 carbon atoms, in particular from 2 to 4 carbon atoms, and/or sometimes substituted perbenzoic acids. Suitable are substances which contain O-and/or N-acyl groups and/or sometimes substituted benzoyl groups with the stated number of C-atoms. Preference is given to polyacylated alkylenediamines, in particular Tetraacetylethylenediamine (TAED), acylated triazine derivatives, in particular 1, 5-diacetyl-2, 4-dioxohexahydro-1, 3, 5-triazine (DADHT), acylated glycolurils, in particular 1, 3, 4, 6-Tetraacetylglycoluril (TAGU), N-acylimides, in particular N-nonanoyl-succinimide (NOSI), acylated phenolsulfonates, in particular N-nonanoyl-or iso-nonanoyl-oxophenolsulfonate (N-or iso-NOBS), acylated hydroxycarboxylic acids, such as triethyl-O-acetyl citrate (TEOC), carboxylic anhydrides, in particular phthalic anhydride, carboxyaminobenzoic anhydride and/or succinic anhydride, carboxylic acid amides, such as N-methyldiethanamide, glycolide, acylated polyvalent alcohols, in particular triacetin, diacetin, isopropyl acetate, 2, 5-diacetoxy-2, 5-dihydrofuran and the enol esters known from German patent applications DE 19616693 and DE 19616767, and also acetylated sorbitol and mannitol and also the mixtures described in European patent application EP 0525239 (SORMAN), acylated sugar derivatives, in particular Pentaacetylglucose (PAG), pentaacetylfructose, tetraacetylxylose and octaacetyllactose and also sometimes acetylated, sometimes N-alkylated and also gluconolactone, triazole and also glucosamine derivatives and/or particulate caprolactam and/or caprolactam derivatives, preferably N-acetylated lactams, such as N-benzoylcaprolactam and N-acetylcaprolactam, which are known from the international patent applications WO94/27970, WO 94/28102, WO 94/28103, WO 95/00626, WO 95/14759 and WO 95/17498. The hydrophilically substituted acyl acetals known from German patent application DE 19616769 and the acyl lactams described in German patent application DE 19616770 and in International patent application WO 95/14075 are likewise preferably used. Conventional bleach activator compositions known from german patent application DE 4443177 may also be used. Nitrile derivatives such as cyanopyradine, tetravalent nitriles (Nitrilquats) such as N-alkylaminoacetonitrile (N-alkylammoniumacetonitriles), and/or cyanamide derivatives may also be used. Preferred bleach activators are sodium-4- (octanoyloxy) -benzenesulfonate, N-nonanoyl-or iso-nonanoyl-oxobenzenesulfonate (N-or iso-NOBS), undecanoyl-oxobenzenesulfonate (UDOBS), sodium dodecanoyl-oxobenzenesulfonate (DOBS), decanoyl-oxobenzoic acid (DOBA, OBC10) and/or dodecanoyl-oxobenzenesulfonate (OBS 12), and N-methylmorpholinyl-acetonitrile (MMA). Such bleach activators are generally used in detergents in amounts of from 0.01 to 20 gew-%, preferably from 0.1 to 15 gew-%, in particular from 1 gew-% to 10 gew-%, based on the total composition.

In addition to or instead of the conventional bleach activators, they may contain in their place so-called bleach catalysts. The substances of this type are transition metal salts and transition metal complexes which enhance the bleaching action, such as, for example, Mn-, Fe-, Co-, Ru-or Mo-salts salen complexes or carbonyl complexes. Suitable bleach catalysts are also Mn-, Fe-, Co-, Ru-, Mo-, Ti-, V-and Cu-complexes with nitrogen-containing trigonal ligands and Co-, Fe-, Cu-and Ru-ammine complexes, preference being given here to the compounds described in DE 19709284A 1. Acetylcyanide derivatives according to WO 99/63038 are also possible and the bleach-activating transition metal complexes according to WO 99/63041 in combination with amylases have a bleach-activating effect.

Lotions according to the invention generally contain one or more builders, in particular zeolites, silicates, carbonates, organic co-builders and-where their use does not have an ecological effect-also phosphates. The latter are preferably used as builders, especially in detergents for machine dishwashing.

Here, crystalline, lamellar NaMSi is to be mentioned_xO_2x+1·yH₂Sodium silicates of O, M furthermore meaning sodium or hydrogen, x is a number from 1.6 to 4, preferably from 1.9 to 4.0 and y is a number from 0 to 20, the preferred value of x being 2, 3 or 4. The crystalline layered silicate is described, for example, in european patent application EP 0164514. Preferred crystalline layered silicates of the formula are those in which M is sodium and x is the number 2 or 3. Particularly preferred are not only beta-but also delta-disodium silicate Na₂Si₂O₅·yH₂And O. Such compounds are for example commercially available under the reference(Clariant Co.). Thereby is paired withMainly relates to a compound with a general formula of Na₂Si₂O₅·yH₂Delta-disodium O silicate, pMainly relates to a beta-disodium silicate. Kanemit NaHSi can be produced from beta-disodium silicate by reaction with an acid (e.g., citric acid or carbonic acid)₂O₅·yH₂O, nominally commerciallyAnd(Clariant Co.). This has the advantage that chemical modifications of the phyllosilicates can be used. Thus, for example, the basicity of the layer silicate can be appropriately influenced. The layered silicate doped with phosphate or carbonate changes the crystal form, dissolves more rapidly and improves the binding ability with calcium compared to delta-disodium silicate. And in patent application DE19601063, a composition containing the general formula xNa₂O·ySiO₂·zP₂O₅Has a corresponding x to y ratio of 0.35 to 0.6, x to z ratio of 1.75 to 1200 and y to z ratio of 4 to 2800. When a finely particulate layered silicate is used in particular, the solubility of the layered silicate can also be improved. Crystalline layered silicate compounds containing other compositions may also be used. Here, in particular, the compounds containing cellulose derivatives have the advantage of integrating their action and, in particular, when used in tablet detergents, and also compounds containing polycarboxylates, such as citric acid, and polymeric polycarboxylates, such as acrylic acid copolymers.

Also employable are compounds having a model Na₂O：SiO₂From 1: 2 to 1: 3.3, preferably from 1: 2 to 1: 2.8 and in particular from 1: 2 to 1: 2.6, which delays dissolution and has secondary washing characteristics. This delayed solubility with respect to conventional non-crystalline sodium silicates can be achieved here in various ways, for example by surfactant treatment, blending, compaction/compression or by overdrying. "amorphous" is also understood to mean "amorphous by X-ray" in accordance with the inventive concept. That is, the silicate has no significant X-ray reflections typical of crystalline materials when tested by X-ray diffraction, at best, one or more peaks of scattered X-rays of multiple unit width at the bend angle. Even good or even particularly good performance builder properties are obtained when the silicate particles give rise to insignificant or even significant bending distortion peaks in electron diffraction tests. This can be explained by the fact that the product has a microcrystalline range of the order of 10 to several hundred nanometers, with values up to 50nm and in particular up to 20nm being preferred here. Particularly preferred is compacted/compacted amorphous siliconAcid salts, blended amorphous silicates and overdried X-ray amorphous silicates.

A further usable, finely crystalline, synthetic and water-binding zeolite is firstly zeolite A and/or zeolite P. Particularly preferred as zeolite P is zeolite MAP(commercial product of Crosfield corporation). However, zeolites X and mixtures of A, X and/or P are also suitable. Commercially available and preferably used according to the invention are, for example, a co-crystal of zeolite X and zeolite A (about 80Gew. -% of zeolite X), which is marketed under the name VEGOBOND by the company CONDEA Augusta S.P.A.Sale and can be represented by the general formula

nNa₂O·(1-n)K₂O·Al₂O₃·(2-2.5)SiO₂·(3.5-5.5)H₂O

A description is given. Suitable zeolites have an average particle size of less than 10 μm (volume distribution; determination method: Coulter Counter) and preferably contain from 18 to 22 Gew-%, in particular from 20 to 22 Gew-%, of bound water.

It is of course also possible to use the commonly known phosphates as builder substances, provided that the use does not present ecological problems. Of the commercially available phosphates, the alkali metal phosphates, which are particularly preferred as pentasodium and pentapotassium phosphates (trisodium polyphosphate and potassium salt), are of greatest interest in the detergent industry.

Alkali metal phosphates are here a generic term for alkali metal (in particular sodium-and potassium-) salts of different phosphoric acids, in which, apart from the macromolecular representation, metaphosphoric acid (HPO) can be distinguished₃) n and orthophosphoric acid H₃PO₄. The phosphate here has a number of advantages: there is the effect of acting as a carrier for the alkali, preventing the formation of calcium salt layers on the machine parts and the formation of calcium salt incrustations in the fabric and furthermore contributing to the washing efficiency.

Sodium dihydrogen phosphate, NaH₂PO₄In the form of dihydrate (density 1.91 gcm)^-3Melting point 60 ℃ C.) and monohydrate (density 1.91gcm^-3) Are present. Both salts are white, highly soluble in water powders which lose crystalline water on heating and become weakly acidic dibasic phosphate (disodium hydrogendiphosphate, Na) at 200 ℃₂H₂P₂O₇) And at higher temperatures to become sodium trimetaphosphate (Na)₃P₃O₉) And long chain high molecular weight sodium metaphosphate (see below). NaH₂PO₄The reaction is acidic; can be prepared by adjusting the pH of phosphoric acid to 4.5 with sodium hydroxide and spray-drying the paste. Monopotassium phosphate (mono-or monobasic potassium phosphate, potassium diphosphate, KDP), KH₂PO₄Is a white color with a density of 2.33gcm^-3Salt having a melting point of 253 [ decomposing to give potassium polyphosphate (KPO)₃)x]And are readily soluble in water.

Disodium hydrogen phosphate (dibasic sodium phosphate), Na₂HPO₄Crystalline salts which are colourless and very soluble in water. It was used as anhydrous and with 2Mol of water (density 2.066 gcm)^-3Water loss at 95 deg.C), 7Mol of water (density 1.68 gcm)^-3Melting point 48 ℃ loss of 5H₂O) and 12Mol of water (density 1.52 gcm)^-3Melting point 35 ℃ loss of 5H₂O), loses all water at 100 ℃ and will convert to the diphosphate Na upon intensive warming₄P₂O₇. Disodium hydrogen phosphate may be prepared by neutralization of phosphoric acid with sodium carbonate solution in the presence of phenolphthalein indicator. Dipotassium hydrogen phosphate (dibasic or dibasic potassium phosphate salt), K₂HPO₄Is an amorphous, white salt, readily soluble in water.

Trisodium phosphate, tribasic sodium phosphate, Na₃PO₄The trisodium phosphate of dodecahydrate is 1.62gcm in the form of colorless crystals^-3And trisodium phosphate (corresponding to 19-20% of P) with a melting point of 73-76 deg.C (decomposed), decahydrated₂O₅) Has a melting point of 100 ℃ and anhydrous trisodium phosphate (corresponding to 39-40%P of₂O₅) Has a density of 2.536gcm^-3. Trisodium phosphate is readily soluble in water in an alkaline reaction and can be prepared by evaporation of a precise 1Mol disodium phosphate and 1Mol NaOH solution. Tripotassium phosphate (tribasic or tribasic potassium phosphate salt), K₃PO₄Is white, molten and granular, and has a density of 2.56gcm^-3Has a melting point of 1340 ℃ and is readily soluble in water in an alkaline reaction. It can be prepared, for example, by heating Thomas slag with carbon and potassium sulfate. Despite the higher price, the detergent industry is favored by the greater solubility over sodium compounds.

Tetrasodium diphosphate (sodium pyrophosphate salt), Na₄P₂O₇In anhydrous form (density 2.534 gcm)^-3Melting point 988 ℃ C., 880 ℃ C. and decahydrate (density 1.815-1.836 gcm)^-3Melting point 95 ℃ water loss). These two substances are colorless and exhibit soluble crystals that react alkaline in water. Na (Na)₄P₂O₇Can be prepared by heating disodium phosphate to>200 ℃ or by converting phosphoric acid to sodium carbonate in a stoichiometric ratio and dehydrating the solution by spraying. The decahydrate forms a complex with heavy metal salts and hardness constituents and thereby reduces the hardness in water. Potassium diphosphate (potassium pyrophosphate salt), K₄P₂O₇In the form of trihydrate and colorless, hygroscopic, having a density of 2.33gcm^-3Is soluble in water, wherein the 1% solution has a pH of 10.4 at 25 ℃.

Through Na₄P₂O₇And K₄P₂O₇The condensation of (a) can produce high molecular sodium-and potassium phosphates, which one can distinguish as cyclic representatives, sodium-and potassium metaphosphates and sodium-and potassium polyphosphates in chain form. In particular, there are a number of names used for the latter: melt-or burned phosphates, grem's salt (soluble sodium metaphosphate), tetrameric metaphosphates and long chain high molecular weight metaphosphates. All high molecular sodium-and potassium phosphates are nominally condensed phosphates.

Technically important pentasodium triphosphate, Na₅P₃O₁₀(sodium tripolyphosphate), is a compound of the general formula NaO- [ P (O) (ONa) -O]n-Na (n-3) with 6H atoms or anhydrous₂Crystalline, white, water-soluble salts of O. A crystalline anhydrous salt soluble in 100g of water at room temperature in about 17g, at 60 ℃ in about 20g, at 100 ℃ in about 32 g; the solution was heated to 100 ℃ in two steps and approximately 8% orthophosphate and 15% diphosphate were produced by hydrolysis. The preparation of pentasodium triphosphate can be carried out by reacting phosphoric acid with sodium carbonate solution or sodium hydroxide in stoichiometric proportions and then spray-dehydrating the solution. Like e.g. the grem salt and sodium diphosphate, pentasodium triphosphate dissolves many insoluble metal compounds (including calcium soaps, etc.). Pentapotassium triphosphate, K₅P₃O₁₀(Potassium tripolyphosphate) is, for example, a commercially available 50% solution (>23% of P₂O₅25% of K₂O) form. The potassium polyphosphates have been used in the detergent industry. In addition, sodium potassium tripolyphosphate is also available, which can likewise be used according to the invention. For example, it can be prepared by hydrolysis of sodium trimetaphosphate with KOH:

(NaPO₃)₃+2KOH→Na₃K₂P₃O₁₀+H₂O

it is likewise used according to the invention as sodium tripolyphosphate, potassium tripolyphosphate or a mixture of the two; also usable according to the invention are mixtures of sodium and sodium potassium tripolyphosphates or mixtures of potassium and sodium potassium tripolyphosphates or mixtures of sodium and potassium tripolyphosphates and sodium potassium tripolyphosphates.

As organic cobuilders, use is made, in particular, in the detergents according to the invention of polycarboxylates or polycarboxylic acids, polymeric polycarboxylates, polyaspartic acid, polyacetals, and sometimes also oxidized dextrins, further organic cobuilders and phosphonates. This class of materials will be described later.

Organic builders thereof which may be used are, for example, polycarboxylic acids which are used in the form of their sodium salts, polycarboxylic acids being understood here as being those carboxylic acids which have a plurality of acid groups. Such as citric acid, adipic acid, succinic acid, glutaric acid, malic acid, tartaric acid, maleic acid, fumaric acid, sugar acids, aminocarboxylic acids, nitrilotriacetic acid (NTA), as long as such use is not prevented for ecological reasons, and mixtures thereof. Preferred salts are salts of polycarboxylic acids such as citric acid, adipic acid, succinic acid, glutaric acid, tartaric acid, sugar acids and mixtures thereof.

Such acids can be used as well. In addition to their synergistic effect, these have the typical characteristics of binary components and thus act as a lower or more gradual pH adjustment in the detergent, if the pH given by the mixing of the remaining components is not desirable. In particular, acids which are beneficial to the system and are environmentally friendly, such as citric acid, acetic acid, tartaric acid, malic acid, lactic acid, glycolic acid, succinic acid, glutaric acid, adipic acid, gluconic acid and mixtures of any of these acids, are used here. However, mineral acids, in particular sulfuric acid, or bases, in particular ammonia or alkaline hydroxides, can also be used as pH regulators. Such regulators are preferably contained in the lotion according to the invention in an amount of not more than 20 gew-%, in particular from 1.2 gew-% to 17 gew-%.

Also suitable as builders are polymeric polycarboxylates, for example alkali metal salts of polyacrylic acids or polymethacrylic acids, for example those having a corresponding molecular weight of from 500 to 70000 g/mol.

For the given molar masses of the polymeric polycarboxylate, the weight average molar mass Mw of the respective acid referred to herein can generally be determined by Gel Permeation Chromatography (GPC), here using a UV-detector. This determination is in contrast to the published polyacrylic acid-standard which gives the actual molar mass values through the structural use properties of the polymers studied. The results deviate significantly from the molar mass results, polystyrene sulfonic acid being used as standard here. The molar mass determined relative to polystyrenesulfonic acid is generally significantly higher than the molar mass given herein.

Suitable polymers are, in particular, polyacrylates, preferably having a molecular weight of 2000 to 20000 g/mol. Preference is given, on account of their excellent solubility, to polyacrylates of short carbon chains from this class which have a molar mass of from 2000 to 10000 g/mol, in particular from 3000 to 5000 g/mol.

Other suitable are copolymerized polycarboxylates, in particular those of acrylic acid containing methacrylic acid and acrylic acid or methacrylic acid containing maleic acid. Acrylic acid copolymers containing maleic acid, which contain from 50 to 90 gew-% of acrylic acid and from 50 to 10 gew-% of maleic acid, are particularly suitable. Their corresponding molecular weights, based on the free acid, are generally from 2000 to 70000g/mol, preferably from 20000 to 50000 g/mol and in particular from 30000 to 40000 g/mol. The (co) polymeric polycarboxylates may be used either as powders or as aqueous solutions. The (co) polymeric polycarboxylate content in the lotion can be 0.5 to 20 gew-%, in particular 1 to 10 gew-%.

To improve its water solubility, the polymer may also contain, as monomers, allylsulfonic acids, such as allyloxybenzenesulfonic acid and methallylsulfonic acid.

Particularly preferred are also biologically degradable polymers having more than two different monomer units, for example salts of acrylic acid and maleic acid and vinyl alcohol or vinyl alcohol derivatives as monomers or salts of acrylic acid and 2-alkylallyl sulfonic acid and sugar derivatives as monomers.

Other preferred copolymers are those of this type as monomers, preferably acrolein and acrylic acid/acrylate salts and acrolein and vinyl acetate salts.

Also preferred as further builders are polymeric aminodicarboxylic acids, their salts or their precursors. Particularly preferred are polyaspartic acids and salts or derivatives thereof.

Further suitable builder substances are polyacetals which are obtainable by conversion of dialdehydes with polyhydric alcohol carboxylic acids having 5 to 7C atoms and at least 3 hydroxyl groups. Preferred polyacetals are, for example, glyoxal, glutaraldehyde, terephthaldehyde and mixtures thereof obtained from dialdehydes and, for example, gluconic acid and/or glucoheptonic acid obtained from polyhydric alcohol carboxylic acids.

Other suitable organic builders are dextrins, such as oligomers and polymers of carbohydrates obtained by partial hydrolysis of starch. The hydrolysis may be carried out according to conventional, e.g. acid or enzyme catalyzed, methods. First of all, hydrolysates with a medium molar mass ranging from 400 to 500000g/mol are concerned. Preference is given here to polysaccharides having a Dextrose Equivalent (DE) in the range from 0.5 to 40, in particular from 2 to 30, where DE is a unit of measure of the reduction of the commonly used polysaccharide compared with glucose, the DE of which is 100. Both maltodextrins having a DE between 3 and 20 and dry glucose syrups having a DE between 20 and 37, so-called yellow dextrins and white dextrins having a higher molar mass of 2000 to 30000 g/mol, can be used.

The oxidized derivatives of dextrins are reaction products of these with oxidizing agents which oxidize at least one alcohol group of the sugar ring to a carboxylic acid group. Particularly preferred organic builders for lotions according to the invention are oxidized starches from EP 472042, WO 97/25399 and EP 755944, and derivatives thereof.

The hydrogen succinate salt and other derivatives of hydrogen succinate salt, in particular ethylene diamine succinate, are also suitable co-builders. Preference is given to using ethylenediamine-N, N' -disuccinate (EDDS) which contains sodium or magnesium salts in the molecule. Further preferred are disuccinates of glycerol and triglycerides. Suitable amounts of use in the zeolite-, carbonate-and/or silicate-containing formulations are between 3 and 15 gew-%.

Other cobuilders which can be used are, for example, acetylated hydroxycarboxylic acids and their salts, which may sometimes also be lactones and their esters which contain at least 4 carbon atoms and at least one hydroxyl group and up to two acid groups.

Another class of materials with co-builder properties is phosphoric acid. This is in particular a hydroxyalkane-and aminoalkane phosphoric acid. 1-hydroxyethyl-1, 1-diphosphonic acid (HEDP) is of particular interest as a cobuilder in hydroxyalkylphosphoric acids. It is used above all as the sodium salt, where the neutral disodium salt is reacted with the basic (pH 9) tetrasodium salt. The aminoalkane phosphoric acids are, in the first place, ethylenediamine tetramethylene phosphoric acid (EDTMP), diethylenetriamine pentamethylene phosphoric acid (DTPMP) and higher homologs thereof. First of all, neutral reactive sodium salts were used, such as the n-hexane sodium salt of EDTMP and the hepta-and octa-sodium salts of DTPMP. Here, HEDP derived from phosphoric acids is preferably used as a builder. In addition, the aminoalkyl phosphoric acid has obvious heavy metal binding property. Especially when the lotion contains a bleaching agent, it is preferred to use an aminoalkyl phosphate, especially DTPMP, or a mixture of said phosphates.

In addition, all compounds which have the ability to combine with alkaline earth metal ions as complexes can be used as coformulants.

Builder substances may sometimes be present in the lotion according to the invention in an amount of up to 90 gew-%. Preferably in an amount of up to 75 gew-%. In particular, in the inventive washing agents for hard surface washing, in particular machine dishwashing, the builder substance content is 5 gew-% to 88 gew-%, in which case no water-insoluble builder material is used in the washing agent. In a preferred embodiment of the washing composition according to the invention for machine washing of special dishes, 20 gew% to 40 gew% of a water-soluble builder, in particular an alkali metal citrate, 5 gew% to 15 gew% of an alkali metal carbonate and 20 gew% to 40 gew% of an alkali metal disilicate are present.

Solvents used in liquid to gel-like detergent compositions may be, for example, those derived from mono-or polyhydric alcohols, alkanolamines or glycol ethers, provided that they are soluble with water in the given concentration range. The first solvents selected are ethanol, n-or i-propanol, butanol, vinyl glycol methyl ether, vinyl glycol ethyl ether, vinyl glycol propyl ether, vinyl glycol mono-n-butyl ether, divinyl glycol methyl ether, divinyl glycol ethyl ether, propylene glycol methyl-, ethyl-or propyl-ether, dipropylene glycol mono-or ethyl ether, di-isopropyl glycol mono-or ethyl ether, methoxy-, ethoxy-or butoxy triethylene glycol, 1-butoxyethoxy-2-propanol, 3-methyl-3-methoxybutanol, propenyl-glycol-t-butyl ether and mixtures of these solvents.

In the liquid to gel-like detergents according to the invention, the solvent can be used in an amount of between 0.1 and 20 gew-%, preferably less than 15 gew-% and in particular less than 10 gew-%.

To adjust the viscosity, the components according to the invention may contain one or more thickeners, as well as a thickening system. The polymeric material, also known as an imbibing agent, generally absorbs liquid and is thereby imbibed to eventually transform into a viscous or colloidal solution.

Suitable thickeners are inorganic or polymeric organic compounds. As thickeners for inorganic compounds, there may be mentioned, for example, polysilicic acids, clay minerals such as montmorillonite, zeolite, silicic acid and bentonite. Organic thickeners may be polymers of natural origin, naturally occurring variants and completely synthetic polymers. Polymers of natural origin are, for example, agar-agar, carrageen, tragacanth, acacia, alginates, pectins, polysaccharides, guar gum powder, carob seed powder, starch, dextrins, gelatin and casein. Naturally occurring modified polymers used as thickeners are derived primarily from destructurized starch and cellulosics. Examples of these are the so-called carboxymethyl celluloses and other cellulose ethers, hydroxyethyl-and propylcelluloses and carob seed kernel powder ethers. Fully synthetic thickeners are polymers such as propionyl-and polymethacrylic-compounds, vinyl polymers, polycarboxylic acids, polyethers, polyimines, polyamides and polyurethanes.

The thickeners can be used in amounts of up to 5 gew-%, preferably from 0.05 to 2 gew-% and particularly preferably from 0.1 to 1.5 gew-%, based on the finished composition.

The detergents according to the invention may sometimes contain, as further constituents, complex formers, electrolytes and further auxiliaries, such as appearance brighteners, anti-redeposition agents, silver corrosion inhibitors, color transfer inhibitors, foam inhibitors, abrasive materials, pigment-and/or perfume materials, and also microbial active ingredients and/or UV absorbers.

The textile detergents according to the invention may contain derivatives of diaminostilbene disulfonic acid and alkali metal salts thereof as appearance brighteners. Suitable are, for example, 4 '-bis (2-anilino-4-morpholino-1, 3, 5-triazy-l-6-amino) stilbene-2, 2' -disulphonic acid or similarly constructed compounds which may contain a diethanolamino group, methylamino group, anilino group or 2-methoxyethylamino group on the morpholino group. The whitening agent may additionally be of the substituted diphenylstyryl type, for example the basic salt of 4, 4 ' -bis (2-thiostyryl) -diphenyl, 4, 4 ' -bis (4-chloro-3-thiostyryl) -diphenyl or 4- (4-chlorostyryl) -4 ' - (2-thiostyryl) -diphenyl. Mixtures of the appearance whiteners may also be used.

The task of the anti-redeposition agent is to keep dirt dissolved from the fabric fibres dispersed in the float. Suitable water-soluble colloids here are of a polygamic nature, for example starch, gum, gelatin, salts of ethercarboxylic acids or ethersulfonic acids of starch or cellulose, or salts of acid sulfuric esters of starch or cellulose. Polyamides containing water-soluble, acidic groups are also suitable for this purpose. Other starch derivatives as described above, such as aldehyde starch, may also be used. Preference is given to cellulose ethers, such as carboxymethylcellulose (Na-salt), methylcellulose, hydroxyalkylcellulose and mixed ethers, such as hydroxymethylethylcellulose, hydroxymethylpropylcellulose, methylcarboxymethylcellulose and mixtures thereof, for example in amounts of from 0.1 to 5gew. -%, based on the lotion.

To achieve the effect of silver corrosion inhibitors, the inventionThe detergent for tableware uses a silver corrosion inhibitor. Which are known in the state of the art, e.g. benzenetrispyrrole, iron (III) chloride or CoSO₄. Silver corrosion inhibitors which are particularly suitable for use with enzymes are, for example, the manganese, titanium, zirconium, hafnium corrosion inhibitors known from European patent EP 0736084B 1_-Vanadium-, cobalt-or cerium salts and/or complexes in which the metal is present in one of the oxidation stages II, III, IV, V and VI. For example, the compound is MnSO₄，V₂O₅，V₂O₅，VO₂，TiOSO₄，K₂TiF₆，K₂ZrF₆，Co(NO₃)₂，Co(NO₃)₃And mixtures thereof.

"soil-removal" — active ingredients or "soil-repellents" are mostly polymers which impart soil-repellent properties to the washed fibers and/or support the ability of the remaining detergent ingredients to cause soil separation in detergent applications. A comparable effect can also be observed in applications for hard surface washing.

Particularly effective and long-known soil-removing active ingredients are copolyesters containing dicarboxylic acid, alkylene glycol and polyalkylene glycol units. For example, copolymers or mixed polymers of polyethylene terephthalate and polyoxyethylene glycol (DT 1617141, and DT 2200911) are suitable for this purpose. In German laid-open specification DT 2253063 acidic lotions are described which contain a copolymer from dicarboxylic acids and a monoalkylene-or cycloalkylene polyethylene glycol. Polymers from ethylene terephthalate and polyethylene oxide terephthalate and their use in detergents are described in german patent specifications DE 2857292 and DE 3324258 and in european patent specification EP 0253567. EP 066944 relates to lotions containing a copolymer derived from ethylene glycol, polyethylene glycol, an aromatic dicarboxylic acid and a sulphonated aromatic dicarboxylic acid in a specific molar ratio. It is known from European patent EP 0185427 to contain vinyl-and/or propenyl-p-phenylenediEster-and polyethylene oxide-terephthalate-units of methyl-or ethyl group-terminated polyesters and detergents containing such soil-removing polymers. European patent EP 0241984 relates to a polyester which, in addition to oxyethylene groups and terephthalic acid units, also contains substituted vinyl units and glycerol units. Polyesters are known from EP 0241985, which contain, in addition to oxyethylene groups and terephthalic acid units, 1, 2-propenyl-, 1, 2-butenyl-, and/or 3-methoxy-1, 2-propenyl groups and glycerol units, and have C₁-to C₄The alkyl groups are terminal group-blocked. In EP 0272033, it is known that at least poly-propylene terephthalate-and polyoxyethylene terephthalate units are contained via C_1-4Polyesters blocked with alkyl-or acyl-terminal groups. European patent EP 0274907 describes sulfonated ethyl terminal group blocked terephthalate-containing soil-removal-polyesters. Preparation of compounds containing terephthalate, alkylene glycol and poly-C by sulfonation of unsaturated end-capping groups according to European patent application EP 0357280_2-4Ethylene glycol-based soil-release-polyester. International patent application WO 95/32232 relates to polyesters having acidic, aromatic dirt separating properties. In international patent application WO 97/31085, non-polymeric soil-repellent agent-active ingredients of cotton materials are known which have a multiplicity of functional units: the first unit, which may be cationic for example, produces adsorption on the cotton surface by electrostatic interaction, and the second unit, which produces hydrophobicity, serves to retain the active ingredient at the water/cotton interface.

As colour transfer inhibitors which can be used in the fabric detergents according to the invention, mention may in particular be made of polyvinylpyrrolidone, polyvinylimidazole, polymeric N-oxides such as poly- (vinylpyridine-N-oxide) and copolymers of vinylpyrrolidone with vinylimidazole.

It is advantageous for the mechanical washing process to add foam inhibitors to the wash. Suitable foam inhibitors are, for example, those of natural or synthetic origin which are mostly C_18-24-estersSoaps of fatty acids. Suitable non-surfactant foam inhibitors are, for example, organopolysiloxanes and mixtures thereof with finely divided, sometimes silanized, silicic acids and also paraffins, waxes, microcrystalline waxes and mixtures thereof with silanized silicic acids or distearylethylenediamides. The use of mixtures of different foam inhibitors, for example from silicones, paraffins or waxes, also has advantages. Firstly, the foam inhibitor, in particular a silicone-and/or paraffin-containing foam inhibitor, is combined with a granulated, water-soluble and dispersible carrier material. Particular preference is given here to mixtures of paraffin and distearylethylenediamide.

In addition to this, the detergents for hard surfaces according to the invention may also contain abrasive ingredients, in particular from the group consisting of quartz flour, wood flour, synthetic material flour, chalk flour and microglass spheres and mixtures thereof. The abrasive material contained in the washing agent according to the invention is preferably not more than 20 gew-%, in particular from 5 gew-% to 15 gew-%.

Color-and perfumes are added to detergents to improve the aesthetic impression of the product and to provide consumers with a visible and perceived "typical and non-confusable" product in addition to washing efficiency. As essential oils and fragrances, use may be made of individual odoriferous compounds, for example synthetic esters, ethers, aldehydes, ketones, alcohols and hydrocarbons. Examples of the olfactory compounds of esters are benzyl acetate, phenoxyethyl isobutyrate, p-tert-butylcyclohexyl acetate, linalyl acetate, dimethylbenzyl-methyl acetate (carbenylacetate), phenylethyl acetate, linalyl benzoate, benzyl formate, ethylmethylphenyl-glyceride, allylcyclohexyl propionate, styrylallyl propionate and benzylsalicylate. Examples of ethers are benzyl ethyl ether, aldehydes such as, for example, alkane-like citral with 8 to 18C atoms, citronellal, citronellyl oxyethylidene aldehyde, cyclamenaldehyde (Cyclamaldehyd), hydroxycitronellal, Lilial (Lilial) and Bourgeonal, ketones such as Jonone, alpha-isomethylionone and methyl cedryl ketone, and alcohols such as anethole, citronellol, eugenol, geraniol, linalool, phenylethyl alcohol and terpineol, and carbohydrates such as limonene and pinene. It is preferred to use a mixture of different smellers so that it gives a suitable flavour. The essential oil may be a mixture of naturally obtained smells, such as those from plant sources, for example pine-, lemon-, jasmine-, green leaf-, rose-or ylang-ylang oils. Also suitable are muscadine, perilla leaf oil, camomile oil, clove oil, negundo cataria oil, peppermint oil, camphor leaf oil, basswood oil, juniper berry oil, vetiver oil, sesame oil, galbanum oil and labdanum oil as well as orange oil, orange flower oil, orange peel oil and sandalwood oil. The content of pigments in the detergent is usually less than 0.01 gew-%, while the perfume may be up to 2 gew-% of the total material.

Perfumes can be processed by direct addition to the detergent, but it is advantageous to add the perfume first to the carrier, which enhances the perfume adhesion to the laundry and thereby produces a long lasting perfume, especially for the treated textiles, through a slow perfume release. Examples of such carrier materials are cyclodextrins, wherein the cyclodextrin-perfume complex can also be coated with further auxiliary materials. Another preferred fragrance carrier is said zeolite X, which itself or together with a surfactant can also absorb fragrance. Preferably, the detergent herein comprises said zeolite and a perfume which has been at least partially absorbed by the zeolite first.

Preferred pigments, which are not difficult for the practitioner to select, should have high storage stability and insensitivity to the composition and light in lotions, and have no significant substantivity, and do not stain textile fibers.

For protection against microorganisms, detergents may contain antimicrobial active ingredients. Here one distinguishes between bacteriostatic and bactericidal, fungistatic and fungicidal in terms of broad spectrum and mode of action of the antimicrobial action. Important substances of this class are, for example, benzylidene-conium chlorides, alkylaryl sulfonates, halophenols and phenol mercuric acetate. In the description according to the invention, the antimicrobial action and the concept of antimicrobial active ingredients are terms of art, which are used, for example, in "germicidal, disinfectant practice-preservation" of k.h. wallhaeusser: pathogen recognition-Industrial hygiene (Praxis der Sterilisation, Desnfection-Konvervierung: Keimmentification-Betriebsyphylene) "(5 th edition-Stuttgart; New York: Thieme, 1995) and all of the antimicrobial substances mentioned here can be used. Suitable antimicrobial active ingredients are selected, above all, from alcohols, amines, aldehydes, antimicrobial acids and their salts, carboxylic esters, acid amides, phenols, phenol derivatives, biphenyls, biphenylalkanes, urea derivatives, oxy-nitrogen-acetals and-formals (formales), benzamidines, isothiazolines, phthalimide derivatives, pyridine derivatives, antimicrobial surface-active compounds. Guanidine, antimicrobial amphoteric compounds, quinoline, 1, 2-dibromo-2, 4-dicyanobutane, iodo-2-propyl-butyl-carbamate, iodine, iodophors, peroxy compounds, halogen compounds and any mixtures of the foregoing.

The antimicrobial active ingredient can here also be selected from ethanol, N-propanol, isopropanol, 1, 3-butanediol, phenoxyethanol, 1, 2-propanediol, glycerol, undecenoic acid, benzoic acid, salicylic acid, acetic acid dihydrate, o-phenylphenol, N-methylmorpholine-acetonitrile (MMA), 2-benzyl-4-chlorophenol, 2, 2 '-methylene-bis- (6-bromo-4-chlorophenol), 4, 4' -dichloro-2 '-hydroxydiphenyl ether (Dichlosan), 2, 4, 4' -trichloro-2 '-hydroxydiphenyl ether (Trichlosan), chlorohexidine (Chlorhexidin), N- (4-chlorophenyl) -N- (3, 4-dichlorophenyl) -urea, N, N' - (1, 10-didecyl-di-1-pyridyl-4-ylium-ium salt) -bis- (1-octylamine) -dihydrochloride, N, N-bis- (4-chlorophenyl) -3, 12-diimine-2, 4, 11, 13-tetraaza-tetradecanediimide-amide, glucoprotamine, antimicrobial surface-active quaternizing compounds, guanidines and di-and polyguanidines, for example 1, 6-bis- (2-ethylhexyl-biguanidino-hexane) -dihydrochloride, 1, 6-bis- (N-octylamine) -dihydrochloride₁，N₁' -phenyl-guanidino-N₅，N₅') -hexane-tetrahydrochloride, 1, 6-bis- (N)₁，N₁' -phenyl-N₁，N₁' -methyldiguanidino-N₅，N₅') -hexane-dihydrochloride, 1, 6-bis- (N)₁，N₁' -2, 6-dichlorophenyldiguanidino-N₅，N₅') -hexane-dihydrochloride, 1, 6-bis- [ N₁，N₁' -beta- (p-methoxyphenyl) -diguanidino-N₅，N₅’]Hexane-dihydrochloride, 1, 6-bis- (N)₁，N₁' -alpha-methyl-beta-methyldiguanidino-N₅，N₅') -hexane-dihydrochloride, 1, 6-bis- (N)₁，N₁' -p-nitrophenyl-guanidino-N₅，N₅') -hexane-dihydrochloride, omega: omega-bis- (N)₁，N₁' -phenyl-guanidino-N₅，N₅') -di-n-propyl ether-dihydrochloride, omega: omega-bis- (N)₁，N₁' -p-chlorophenyldiguanidino-N₅，N₅') -di-N-propyl ether-tetrahydrochloride, 1, 6-di- (N)₁，N₁' -2, 4-dichlorophenyldiguanidino-N₅，N₅') -hexane-tetrahydrochloride, 1, 6-bis- (N)₁，N₁' -p-methylphenyl-guanidino-N₅，N₅') -hexane-dihydrochloride, 1, 6-bis- (N)₁，N₁' -2, 4, 5-trichlorophenyldiguanidino-N₅，N₅') -hexane-tetrahydrochloride, 1, 6-bis- [ N₁，N₁' -alpha- (p-chlorophenyl) ethyldiguanidino-N₅，N₅’]Hexane-dihydrochloride, omega: omega-bis- (N)₁，N₁' -p-chlorophenyldiguanidino-N₅，N₅') m-xylene-dihydrochloride, 1, 12-bis- (N)₁，N₁' -p-chlorophenyldiguanidino-N₅，N₅') -dodecane-dihydrochloride, 1, 10-bis- (N)₁，N₁' -phenyl-guanidino-N₅，N₅') -decane-tetrahydrochloride, 1, 12-bis- (N)₁，N₁' -phenyl-guanidino-N₅，N₅') -dodecane-tetrahydrochloride, 1, 6-bis- (N)₁，N₁' -o-chlorophenyldiguanidino-N₅，N₅') -hexane-dihydrochloride, 1, 6-bis- (N)₁，N₁' -o-chlorophenyldiguanidino-N₅，N₅') -hexane-tetrahydrochloride, vinyl-bis- (1-tolylbiguanide), vinyl-bis- (p-tolylbiguanide), vinyl-bis- (3, 5-dimethylphenylbiguanide), vinyl-bis- (p-tert-pentylphenylbiguanide), vinyl-bis- (nonylphenylbiguanide), vinyl-bis- (phenylbiguanide), vinyl-bis- (N-butylphenyl biguanide), vinyl-bis- (2, 5-tert-diethoxyphenylbiguanide), vinyl-bis- (2, 4-dimethylphenylbiguanide), vinyl-bis- (o-diphenylbiguanide), vinyl-bis- (mixed pentylnaphthylbiguanide), n-butyl-trimethyl-bis- (phenyl biguanide) and corresponding salts such as acetate, gluconate, hydrochloride, hydrobromide, citrate, bisulfite, fluoride, polymaleate, N-cocoalkyl sarcosinate, phosphite, fumarate, vinyl diamine tetraacetate, iminodiacetate, cinnamate, thiocyanate, arginine, benzenetetraate, tetracarboxylbutyrate, benzoate, glutarate, monofluorophosphate, perfluoropropionate and any mixture thereof. Also suitable are halogenated mixed xylene-and cresol derivatives, such as p-chloro-m-cresol or p-chloro-m-xylene, and antimicrobial active ingredients of natural vegetable origin (e.g. spices or herbs), animal origin and microbial origin. Antimicrobial surface-active quaternized compounds, antimicrobial active ingredients of natural vegetable and/or animal origin, very preferably at least one antimicrobial active ingredient of microbial origin, including caffeine, theobromine and theophylline and etherified oils such as eugenol, thymol and geraniol, and/or at least one antimicrobial active ingredient of natural animal origin, including enzymes such as milk protein, lysozyme and lactoperoxidase, and/or at least one antimicrobial surface-active quaternized compound containing ammonium-, sulfonium-, phosphonium-, iodonium-or arsenium groups, a peroxy compound and a chlorine compound, can be used here first. Substances of biological origin, so-called bacteriostats, can also be used.

Quaternary ammonium compounds (QAVs) suitable as antimicrobial active ingredients have the general formula (R)¹)(R²)(R³)(R⁴)N⁺X^-At R¹To R⁴Having the same or different C₁-C₂₂-alkyl radical, C₇-C₂₈Aralkyl or heterocyclic radicals in which two or even three radicals, when having an aromatic bond, e.g. pyridine, are bonded to the nitrogen atom of the heterocyclic ring, e.g. -pyridinium compounds or-imidazolium compounds, and X^-As halide ions, sulfate ions, hydroxyl ions or similar anions. For an optimal antimicrobial active ingredient, at least one of the radicals has a carbon chain length of 8 to 18, in particular 12 to 16.

QAV can be prepared by reacting a trivalent amine with an alkylating agent, such as methyl chloride, phenyl chloride, dimethyl sulfate, dodecyl bromide, and also ethylene oxide. The alkylation of the trivalent amine with a long-chain alkyl radical and two methyl radicals is particularly easy to carry out, and the quaternization of the trivalent amine with two long-chain alkyl radicals and one methyl radical can also be carried out under mild conditions with the aid of methyl chloride. Less reactive amines having three long alkyl-or hydroxy-substituted alkyl-groups are preferably quaternized with dimethyl sulfate.

Suitable QAVs are, for example, benzylidene-Cicerium chloride (N-alkyl-N, N '-dimethyl-benzyl-ammonium chloride, CAS No.8001-54-5), Benzalkon B (m, p-dichlorobenzyl-dimethyl-C12-alkylammonium chloride, CAS No.58390-78-6), phenyloxy chloride (phenyl-dodecyl-bis- (2-hydroxyethyl) -ammonium chloride, Cetrimoniumbromide (N-hexadecyl-N, N' -trimethyl-ammonium bromide, CAS No.57-09-0), Benzetoniumchloride (N, N-dimethyl-N- [2- [2- [ p- (1, 1, 3, 3-tetramethylbutyl) -phenoxy ] -phenoxy]Ethoxy radical]Ethyl radical]Benzylammonium chloride, CAS No.121-54-0), dialkyldimethylammonium chlorides such as di-n-decyldimethylammonium chloride (CAS No.7173-51-5-5), didecyldimethylammonium bromide (CAS No.2390-68-3), dioctyl-dimethyl-chloro-ammoniumAmmonium chloride, 1-hexadecylpyridinium chloride (CASNO.123-03-5) and thiazoline iodide (CAS No.15764-48-1) and mixtures thereof. Particularly preferred QAVs are those having C₈-C₁₈Alkyl benzylidene conium chlorides, especially C₁₂-C₁₄-alkyl-benzyl-dimethyl-ammonium chloride.

Benzylidene conium halides and/or substituted benzylidene conium halides, for example, are commercially available as ex Lonza， ex Mason， exWitco/Andex Lonza, andex Lonza is available. Other commercially available antimicrobial active ingredients are N- (3-chloroallyl) -ammonium hexachloride such asAndex Dow, Benzenituumchlorid as1622 ex Rohm &Haas, methyl Benzenituumchlorid such as10X ex Rohm &Haas, cetylpyridinium chlorides such as Cepacochlorid exMerrell Labs.

The antimicrobial active ingredient is used in an amount of from 0.0001 to 1 gew-%, preferably from 0.001 to 0.8 gew-%, particularly preferably from 0.005 to 0.3 gew-% and in particular from 0.01 to 0.2 gew-%.

The lotion formulation may contain UV-absorbers which may adhere to the treated textile and improve the light durability of the fibers and/or the light durability of other formulation ingredients. For the UV absorber, organic substances (photoprotective filters) can be used, which have the effect of absorbing UV radiation and of radiating the absorbed energy at a longer amplitude, for example with thermal re-emission.

Compounds having the desired properties are, for example, effective compounds and derivatives which are activated by non-radiative degradation and are substituted by phenones in the 2-and/or 4-position. Additionally suitable are substituted benzotriazoles, acrylates substituted with benzene in the 3-position (cinnamic acid derivatives, sometimes with a cyano group in the 2-position), salicylic acid esters, organic Ni-complexes and natural substances such as 7-hydroxycoumarin and endogenous urocanic acid. Of particular interest are biphenyl and, above all, stilbene derivatives, such as those described in EP 0728749A and commercially available asFD orFR ex Ciba. As so-called UV-B-absorbers: 3-benzylidene-camphene-2-and 3-benzylidene norbornene-2 and derivatives thereof, for example 3- (4-methylbenzylidene) camphene-2, as described in EP 0693471B 1; 4-aminobenzoic acid derivatives, firstly 2-ethylhexyl 4- (dimethylamino) benzoate, 2-octyl 4- (dimethylamino) benzoate and 2-pentyl 4- (dimethylamino) benzoate; esters of cinnamic acid, first 4-methoxycinnamic acid-2-ethylhexyl ester, propyl 4-methoxycinnamate, isoamyl 4-methoxycinnamate, 2-cyano-3, 3-phenylcinnamic acid-2-ethylhexyl ester (Octocrylene); esters of salicylic acid, first 2-ethylhexyl salicylate, 4-isopropylbenzyl salicylate, menthyl salicylate; derivatives of benzophenone, first 2-hydroxy-4-methoxy benzophenone, 2-hydroxy-4-methoxy-4 '-methyl benzophenone, 2, 2' -dihydroxy-4-methoxy benzophenone; esters of benzalmalonic acids, especially 4-methoxybenzalmalonic acidDi-2-ethylhexyl ester; triazine derivatives, for example 2, 4, 6-trianilino- (p-carbon-2 '-ethyl-1' -hexyloxy) -1, 3, 5-triazine and octyltriazone, as described in EP 0818450A 1 or dioctylbutylaminotriazinoneHEB); propane-1, 3-dione; ketotriaryldecane (5.2.1.0) -derivatives, as described in EP 0694521B 1. Also suitable are 2-phenylbenzimidazole-5-sulfonic acid and its alkali metal-, alkaline earth metal-, ammonium-, alkylammonium-, alkanolammonium-and glucammonium salts; the sulfonate of benzophenone is first 2-hydroxy-4-methoxy benzophenone-5-sulfonic acid and its salt; sulfonic acid derivatives of 3-benzylidene camphanone-2, such as 4- (2-oxo-3-bornylidenemethyl) phenol-sulfonic acid and 2-methyl-5- (2-oxo-3-bornylidene) sulfonic acid and salts thereof.

Particularly suitable as typical UV-A filters are derivatives of benzoylmethane, such as 1- (4 '-tert-butylphenyl) -3- (4' -methoxyphenyl) propane-1, 3-dione, 4-tert-butyl-4 '-methoxydibenzoylmethane (Parsol 1789), 1-phenyl-3- (4' -isopropylphenyl) propane-1, 3-dione and enamine compounds, as described in DE 19712033A 1 (BASF). The UV-A and UV-B filters can of course also be used in mixtures. In addition to the soluble substances mentioned, it is also possible to use non-soluble photoprotective pigments, i.e. finely divided, above all nanogram-sized metal oxides and salts. Examples of suitable metal oxides are, in particular, zinc oxide and titanium oxide and furthermore oxides of iron, zirconium, silicon, manganese, aluminum and cerium and mixtures thereof. As the salt, silicate (talc), barium sulfate or zinc stearate can be used. The oxides and salts can be used in the form of pigments in skin care and skin protection emulsions and in decorative cosmetics. The particles should here have an average particle diameter of less than 100nm, above all between 5 and 50nm and in particular between 15 and 30 nm. May have a spherical shape, but elliptical or other shapes deviating from a spherical shape may also be used. The pigments may also be surface-treated, that is to say hydrophilically or hydrophobicized. Typical examples are coated titanium dioxide, e.g. dioxygenTitanium compounds T805(Degussa) orT2000 (Merck): the hydrophobic coating agents used for this purpose are preferably silicones and particularly preferably trialkoxyoctylsilanes or Simethicone. First, a microbially degradable zinc oxide is used. Other suitable UV-photoprotective filters are visible in P.Finkel in SOEFW-Journal122(1996) And S.543.

The UV absorbers are generally used in amounts of from 0.01gew. -% to 5gew. -%, in particular from 0.03gew. -% to 1gew. -%.

For detergent conventional compositions, detergent-active enzymes are also typically included. Simultaneously produced detergents which are characterized by the addition of enzymes other than the proteins according to the invention, preferably according to the invention, include, for example, other proteases, but also oxidoreductases, cutinases, esterases and/or hemicellulases, and particularly preferably lipases, amylases, cellulases and/or β -glucanases.

Enzymes such as proteases, amylases, lipases or cellulases have been used as active ingredients in detergents for decades. Its contribution to the cleaning performance of the detergent and the washing agent is achieved by the decomposition of protein-containing dirt by protease, the decomposition of starch-containing dirt by amylase and the lipolytic activity of lipase. Cellulases are preferably used in detergents by exceeding their efficiency in removing soil, i.e. primary washing, especially their contribution to secondary washing efficiency in detergents and their action on the fabric. The various hydrolysates will be attacked, dissolved, emulsified or suspended by other detergent-ingredients or washed away with the wash float due to their high solubility, thereby producing a synergistic effect between the enzymes and other ingredients under appropriate conditions.

The action of the protease on natural fibers, in particular on cotton or silk, is comparable to the contribution of the secondary washing effect of the lotion by cellulase. The effect thereof on the surface structure of such fabrics has a smooth effect on the material and no wrinkling of the laundry occurs as a result.

The other enzymes can broaden the washing effect of the corresponding lotion through the special enzyme catalysis. Examples of these include hemicellulases such as beta-glucanases (WO 99/06515A 1 and WO 99/06516A 1), oxidoreductases such as laccases (WO 00/39306A 2) or pectin-soluble enzymes (WO 00/42145A 1), which can be used in special detergents.

For use in lotions according to the invention, firstly enzymes derived from microbial organisms, such as bacteria or fungi. They can be prepared by fermentation of suitable organisms according to known methods, as described, for example, in German laid-open patent documents DE 1940488, and DE 2121397, US-US patent documents US 3623957, US 4264738, European patent application EP 006638A2 and International patent application WO 91/02792A 1.

A protein and/or other protein-containing substance according to the invention can be protected against denaturation, disintegration or inactivation, oxidation or proteolytic degradation, in particular during storage by means of stabilizers and by physical influences.

One group of stabilizers are reversible protease inhibitors that disintegrate when the lotion is diluted in the wash float. Benzamidine-hydrogen chloride and Leupeptin were generated for this purpose. Borax, boric acid (boroneseuren) or salts or esters thereof, above all derivatives with aromatic groups, such as ortho-substituted according to WO 95/12655 a1, meta-substituted according to WO92/19707 a1 and para-substituted phenyl boronic acids according to patent US 5972873, and salts or esters thereof, are generally used. In patent applications WO 98/13460A 1 and EP 583534B 1, peptide aldehydes, i.e.oligopeptides with reduced C-terminal (terminius), are disclosed which are composed of 2 to 50 monomers and are used for the reversible inhibition of detergent proteases. Also included for peptidyl reversible protease inhibitors are ovomucoid (WO 93/00418A 1). Specific, reversible peptide inhibitors for subtilisins in protease-containing lotions are disclosed, for example, according to patent application WO 00/01826A 2, and corresponding protein combinations from proteases and inhibitors are disclosed in WO 00/01831A 2.

Further enzyme stabilizers are aminoalcohols such as mono-, di-, triethanol-and-propanolamine and mixtures thereof, aliphatic carboxylic acids up to C₁₂For example as known from patent applications EP 378261B 1 and WO97/05227 a1, such as succinic acid, other dicarboxylic acids or salts of said acids. According to patent application DE 19650537A 1, fatty acid amide alkoxylates blocked at the end groups are disclosed for this purpose. Specific organic acids used as builders can, as a supplement, stabilize the enzymes contained, as disclosed in WO 97/18287A 1.

Low molecular weight aliphatic alcohols, primarily polyols, such as glycerol, ethylene glycol, propylene glycol or sorbitol, are other commonly used enzyme stabilizers. Likewise, calcium salts, such as calcium acetate or calcium formate, which are disclosed for this purpose in patent document EP 028865B 2, and magnesium salts according to EP 378262B 1 are also used.

Polyamide-oligomers (WO 99/43780A 1) or polymeric compounds such as lignin (WO 97/00932A 1), water-soluble vinyl-copolymers (EP 828762B 1) or, as disclosed in EP 702712B 1, cellulose ethers, acryl-polymers and/or polyamides can stabilize the influence on the enzyme preparation-treatment process on account of physical influences or pH fluctuations. Polymers containing polyamine-N-oxides (EP 587550B 1 and EP 581751B 1) act both as enzyme stabilizers and as color transfer inhibitors. Other polymerization stabilizers are linear C-stabilizers disclosed in WO 97/05227A 1, in addition to other components₈-C₁₈The polyoxyalkylene of (1). Like patent applications WO 97/43377A 1 and WO 98/45396A 1, alkyl polyglycosides stabilize the enzyme-catalysed component of the lotion according to the invention and even increase its efficiency. The impregnated nitrogen-containing compound, as disclosed in WO 98/17764 a1, has a dual effect of being both a soil-removing agent and an enzyme-stabilizing agent. According to patent application WO 97/32958A 1, the hydrophobic, nonionic polymer acts to stabilize the cellulase in admixture with other stabilizers, thusSimilar components are also suitable for the enzymes according to the invention.

As disclosed in EP 780466 a1, reducing agents and antioxidants can improve the stability of enzymes against oxidative disintegration. Sulfur-containing reducing agents are known, for example, in patent documents EP 080748 and EO 080223. Other examples are sodium sulfite (EP 533239B 1) and reducing sugars (EP 656058B 1).

The complexing of stabilizers also has numerous applications, for example the complexing of polyols derived from patent application WO 96/31589A 1, boric acid and/or borax, boric acid or borax, reducing salts derived from patent application EP 126505B 1 and succinic acid or other dicarboxylic acids or the complexing of boric acid or borax with polyol or polyamine compounds and with reducing salts as disclosed in EP 080223B 1. The action of the peptide-aldehyde stabilizers can be increased according to WO 98/13462A 1 by complexing boric acid and/or boric acid derivatives with polyols and can be increased again according to WO 98/13459A 1 by supplementary application of calcium ions.

A preferred embodiment of the preparation of a lotion according to the invention containing stabilized enzyme activity is given. Especially preferred are lotions containing enzymes stabilized by various methods.

Since the lotions according to the invention can be provided in all conceivable forms, the enzymes according to the invention, as well as the proteins, are prepared in an additive form which can be satisfactorily used in the respective lotion formulations according to the embodiments of the present invention. Thus for example, liquid formulations, solid granules or capsules are included.

Encapsulation is provided in a form that protects the enzyme or other composition from other ingredients, such as bleach, or achieves a controlled release. Depending on the size of the capsules, they can be divided into millimeter-, micron-and nanocapsules, microcapsules being particularly preferred here for the enzymes. Such capsules are disclosed, for example, in patent applications WO 97/24177 a1 and DE 19918267 a 1. One possible encapsulation method is to encapsulate the protein in a mixture of protein solutions and a solution or suspension of starch or starch derivatives. One such encapsulation method is described in patent application WO 01/38471A 1 under the title "method for producing microencapsulated enzymes".

In solid lotions, the protein can be used, for example, in dry, granular and/or encapsulated form. It can be applied separately, i.e. as a special phase, or in this phase, with or without other ingredients. If the microencapsulated enzyme is processed in a solid, the aqueous solution carried over during the processing according to methods known in the state of the art is removed, for example by spray drying, centrifugation or crystallization by resolubilization. The small particles obtained according to this process generally have a particle size of from 50 to 200. mu.m.

For lotions according to the invention, in the form of liquids, colloidal or pasty enzymes, and also proteins treated according to the invention by extraction and preparation of proteins from the state of the art, concentrated aqueous or non-aqueous solutions, suspensions or emulsions can be used, but also in the form of gels or capsules or as dry powders. Such detergents according to the invention can generally be prepared by simple mixing with the composition, which can be added to an automatic mixer in the form of a material or a solution.

In addition to a washing effect, the proteases contained in the washing agent can have a further action, and other enzyme action components can be activated by proteolysis or deactivated after a corresponding action time. Comparable regulatable functions are also possible for the enzymes according to the invention. In one embodiment of the invention, the material is washed with capsules of protease-sensitive material, e.g., hydrolyzed by a protein according to the invention at a predetermined point in time and the constituents thereof are released. A comparable effect can be obtained in other multi-phase lotions as well.

A further embodiment provides a lotion for the treatment or modification of textile materials, characterized in that it contains, alone or in addition to other active ingredients, a proteolytic enzyme as described above, especially for fibers or textiles containing natural ingredients and especially for cotton or silk.

In particular natural fibres, such as cotton or silk, have a fine-grained surface structure with excellent properties. This structure can produce long-term undesirable effects such as wrinkling, such as described in the article by r.breier in melland textile, 1.4.2000(S263) on cotton fabrics. To prevent this effect, the raw materials which are natural can be treated with the lotion according to the invention, for example to help smooth the surface structure based on scaling on the protein structure and thus to create the opposite effect of wrinkling. In a particularly preferred embodiment, lotions for fibers or textiles of natural composition, particularly preferably for cotton or silk, are produced.

In a preferred embodiment, the lotion containing the protease according to the invention will be designed such that it can be used periodically as a modifier, for example by being added during the washing process, after the washing or independently of the washing. The desired effect is to obtain a smooth fabric surface structure and/or to prevent and/or reduce fabric damage.

A particular object of the invention is a process for providing mechanical washing of textiles or hard surfaces, characterized in that the proteolytic enzyme according to the invention is activated in at least one process step.

The mechanical textile washing process has the advantage that different washing actives are added to the laundry in a multi-step process step and washed off after a certain action time, or the laundry is treated in some other way with a detergent or a solution of the detergent. It is also suitable for the mechanical washing of all materials other than textiles, including the so-called hard-surface concept. The method relates to a protease according to the invention in at least one method step and embodiments of the invention are given.

Preference is given to a process in which an enzyme according to the invention is used in an amount of from 40. mu.g to 4g and more preferably in an amount of from 50. mu.g to 3g, in an amount of from 100. mu.g to 2g, in an amount of from 200. mu.g to 1g, particularly preferably in an amount of from 400. mu.g to 400 mg.

Since the enzymes according to the invention already naturally have a proteolytic activity and can act in media which do not contain washing-active components, for example in pure buffer solutions, a separate partial step of the machine washing process of textiles is that, in addition to the stabilizing compounds, salts or buffers, it is only desired to add the enzymes according to the invention as the only component having washing-active properties. And a particularly preferred embodiment of the invention is given.

A preferred embodiment of the subject of the invention provides a method for the treatment of textile materials or for the modification of textiles, which is characterized in that a proteolytic enzyme according to the invention is activated in at least one step according to the invention. This relates, for example, to the crease-resist calendering of the preliminary steps of processing the material into fabrics, or, for example, to the enrichment of modified components in a process for washing fabrics. Based on the above-mentioned effect of the protease on the particular fabric, in a preferred embodiment it relates to textile raw materials or to fabrics containing natural components, in particular cotton or silk.

A special subject-matter is the use of the proteolytic enzymes according to the invention for textile or hard-surface cleaning. The enzymes according to the invention remove protein-containing soiling on textiles or hard surfaces, in particular by the corresponding above-described methods. The preferred embodiments referred to herein apply, in addition to machine washing methods, for example, to hand washing or manual removal of stains from textiles or hard surfaces.

The enzymes according to the invention are preferably used in an amount of from 40. mu.g to 4g and more preferably from 50. mu.g to 3g, from 100. mu.g to 2g, from 200. mu.g to 1g, particularly preferably from 400. mu.g to 400mg, each time.

A preferred embodiment of the subject invention provides the use according to the invention of a detergent composition for activating or deactivating proteolytic enzymes. As is known, the protein-components of detergents can be inactivated by the action of proteases. The purposeful use of this otherwise undesirable effect is also a subject of the present invention. It is also possible to activate a further component by proteolysis, which can produce a hybrid protein derived from the original enzyme and thereby obtain a suitable inhibitor, as disclosed for example in patent application WO 00/01831A 2. Another example of such a modification is the protection of the active ingredient or the controlled activity achieved by the action of proteases on the capsule material. The proteins according to the invention can thus be used for inactivation, activation or release reactions.

In the following, all other technical processes, applications and various auxiliary substances not to be noticed, which relate to the subject matter of the present invention, except for the detergent problem, will be summarized, as long as they relate to the protein according to the invention. This summary is not to be understood as a final enumeration but, most importantly, is a summary of the use possibilities of the proteases according to the invention known at present. It is indicated that other technical areas can also be developed by using the protease according to the invention and are therefore included in the scope of protection of the present invention.

An embodiment of the subject matter of the invention is the use of the proteolytic enzymes according to the invention in biochemical or molecular biological assays, in particular in enzymatic assays. The enzymatic analysis according to the invention and according to the Roempp "encyclopedia of chemistry" (2 nd edition, Stuttgart/New York: Georg Thieme Verlag, 1999) is understood to be a biochemical analytical technique which can be applied to a particular enzyme or substrate in order to determine, on the one hand, the identity and concentration of the substrate or, on the other hand, the identity and activity of the enzyme. The field of application is all the fields of application work related to biochemistry. A preferred embodiment of the subject matter of the present invention describes the use of defined terminal groups in connection with sequence analysis.

Another subject embodiment of the invention is the use of a proteolytic enzyme according to the invention for the preparation of a treatment, purification or synthesis of natural substances or substances of biological value. For example, it is necessary in the cleaning of natural products or biologically valuable substances to remove protein contaminants therefrom. It is possible here, for example, to use low-molecular compounds, all cellular contents or storage substances or proteins. It is possible to produce valuable substances not only on a laboratory scale but also on a large industrial scale, for example by means of biotechnology.

The use of a proteolytic enzyme according to the invention in the synthesis of proteins or other low molecular weight compounds then effects a reversal of the natural catalytic reaction, for example when protein fragments are bound to one another or when amino acids are bound to compounds which are not predominantly protein. This application possibility is described, for example, in patent application EP380362 a 1.

Another embodiment of the subject invention provides a use of a proteolytic enzyme according to the invention in the treatment of natural raw materials when it is desired to remove protein contaminants. It is firstly to be understood that the feedstock is not obtained by microbiological processes but is of agricultural origin.

A preferred embodiment is described for use in surface treatment, and most particularly in a pair of economically interesting raw belt treatment processes. During the tanning process, in particular during the alkaline softening step (Roempp "encyclopedia of chemistry", 2 nd edition, Stuttgart/New York: Georg Thieme Verlag, 1999), water-soluble proteins are dissolved out of the cortical material by means of proteolytic enzymes. In particular under alkaline conditions and in the presence of denaturing agents, it is suitable to use the proteases according to the invention.

Another subject embodiment of the invention is the use of a proteolytic enzyme according to the invention for the preparation and treatment of raw materials or intermediate products for textile manufacture. Examples of this are the processing of cotton, which must be released from the encapsulated ingredients in a process marked as a finishing process; an additional method of wool treatment; similar occurs for the processing of thick filaments. Enzymatic methods are particularly advantageous over chemical methods based on their environmental resistance.

In a preferred embodiment, the protein according to the invention can be used for removing protective layers or smoothing the surface of textiles, in particular of intermediate products or valuable materials, in particular before they are subjected to further processing in a further processing step.

Another subject-matter of embodiment of the invention is the use of the protein according to the invention for the treatment of textile raw materials or for the modification of textiles, in particular for the surface treatment of wool or silk or wool-or silk-containing blend fabrics. It is suitable both for the manufacture of such fabrics and for care at the time of consumption, for example in connection with the use in the laundering of fabrics (see above).

Another embodiment of the subject matter of the invention is the use of a proteolytic enzyme according to the invention for the treatment of photographic films, in particular for the removal of gelatin-containing or similar protective layers. The use of such protective layers, in particular from gelatin emulsions containing silver salts, for the coating of films, for example X-ray films, makes it possible to dissolve the silver salts from the support after exposure. The proteases according to the invention can be used here in particular under alkaline or slightly denaturing reaction conditions.

A particular subject of the invention is the use of a proteolytic enzyme according to the invention in the manufacture of a food or feed product. Proteases have long been used in food or feed. An example of this is the use of rennet in the maturation of cheese or other milk products. This process can increase the yield of the protein according to the invention or be carried out completely from the protein. Carbohydrate-rich foods or food materials for non-practical purposes, such as flour or dextrins, can also be treated with corresponding proteases in order to remove the proteins contained. The proteases according to the invention are also particularly suitable for use in alkaline or slightly denaturing conditions.

It is accordingly also suitable for the production of feed. In addition to the removal of proteins from the air, it is also advantageous here to treat the protein-containing raw materials or mixtures with proteases for a short time in order to make them more readily digestible by livestock.

In another embodiment of the subject of the invention, the protein according to the invention can be used for cosmetic purposes. Cosmetic preparations containing a proteolytic enzyme according to the invention, cosmetic methods comprising a proteolytic enzyme according to the invention and the use of a proteolytic enzyme according to the invention for cosmetic purposes, in particular in corresponding methods or corresponding preparations, are claimed.

Proteases play a crucial role in the process of cell renewal (exfoliation) in human skin (t. egelrud et al, Acta cerm. venerol., Band)71(1991) S.471-474). Corresponding proteases may also be used as biologically active ingredients in skin care agents to support increased breakdown of desmosomal structures in dry skin, for example according to patent application WO 95/07688A 1 or WO 99/18219A 1. The use of subtilisin proteases, in particular the already mentioned B.lentus alkaline protease variants, in cosmetics is described, for example, in WO 97/07770A 1. The proteases according to the invention, in particular those which have been mutated or whose activity has been controlled by the addition of corresponding substances which interact with them, are suitable as active ingredients in skin-or hair-washing or care agents. It is particularly preferred to subject the enzyme to a treatment which, as described above, for example, stabilizes it by coupling to a macromolecular carrier (cf. US-patent 5230891) and/or renders it more compatible with human skin by derivatization with point mutations in situ which are highly sensitive.

The corresponding use of such proteolytic enzymes in cosmetics is also encompassed by the subject of the present invention, in particular in corresponding formulations, such as shampoos, soaps or washing lotions, or in care products, such as the cream formulations given. Use in a peeling agent is also included in the claims.

Examples

Example 1

Preparation of the proteases according to the invention

All work steps in molecular biology are carried out according to standard methods, for example in the manual "molecular cloning: a Laboratory Manual ", Cold spring Harbour Laboratory Press, New York, 1989, or as given in International patent application WO 92/21760A 1.

Structure of mutational vector

Mutation was performed using protease variant b.lens-alkaline protease M131. The species from which this variant has been described and derived in WO 92/21760A 1 is the strain according to this application designated Bacillus lichenformis ATCC68614 by the company American Type Culture Collection, Rockville, Md., USA. In this strain the plasmid pCB56M131, which replicates in Bacillus, contains the gene in the expression chain, consisting of the promoter, the ribonucleoprotein binding site and the ATG-start-coding and 22 amino-terminal amino acids of the alkaline protease from Bacillus licheniformis ATCC 53926, the pre-pro-protein combined and the Bacillus lentus DSM 5483-alkaline protease mutated sequence. The variant b. lens-alkaline protease M131 has the following mutations compared to the native sequence: S3T, V4I, a188P, V193M, V199I.

For the mutations, the total expression strand can be truncated by means of the restriction enzymes Bam HI and Sac I and cloned in the same vector pUC18(Amersham pharmacia Biotech, Freiburg) truncated by Bam HI and Sac I. The thus obtained vector pUC18M131 was then used for the subsequent mutagenesis step. The vector pUC18M131 is listed in Table 2. The DNA-fragment contained in the expression strand for B.lentus-alkaline protease M131 is represented in SEQ ID NO. 1; the amino acid sequence derived therefrom is given in SEQ ID NO. 2. The Bam HI-Sac I-fragment given in SEQ ID No.1 can be extended in positions 1 to 177I of the vector pUC18M131 given in FIG. 2; the remaining vector region is identical to the starting plasmid pUC18 used.

Mutations

The original sequence of the alkaline protease from Bacillus lentus DSM5483 at positions 188 and 193 was first reconstituted. For this purpose, Strata is used according to the manufacturer's instructionsQuikChange from gene, Inc. (La Jolla, Calif., USA)-a method. According to this system, a mutated plasmid can be produced in a polymerase reaction by using the two complementary, mutation-containing plasmids. By means of Dpn I, e.g. in QuikChangeAfter digestion of the starting plasmid, the reaction will be converted to e.coli XL-1 blue, as described in the method. The gene of interest thus obtained, which contains a clone in a defined position of the plasmid, can likewise be easily identified by means of a restricted cleavage site inserted by mutation, in which case the DNA sequence can be examined by the strand cleavage method with the aid of a conventional kit. The same method is also used for the mutation step described below.

For the migration of triploid (Tripletts) CCA (proline) on GCC (alanine) encoded by amino acid at position 188, two primers 5'-TAC CAGTAT GGC GGG CTT GAC ATT-3' and 5-AAT AAG CCC GGC GCCATA CTG TGA-3 ' may be used. Which, apart from the mutation, directly contains a Nar I-restricted cleavage site whose amino acid sequence is unchanged.

For the migration of triploid ATG (methionine) on ATT (isoleucine) encoded by the amino acid at position 193, two primers 5'-GGG CTT GAC ATT GTGGCA CCC GGG GTA AAC-3' and 5'-GTT TAC CCC GGG TGC CACAAT GTC AAG CCC-3' can be used. Which, apart from the mutation, directly contains an Xma CI-restricted cleavage site with unchanged amino acid sequence.

A clone containing a double mutant plasmid provides a template for the following triploid mutation at GCT (alanine) at 61GGG (p-hydroxyphenylglycine). For this purpose, the two complementary primers comprising sequences 5'-CAA GAT GGG AAT GCT CAT GGCACG CAT-3' and 5'-ATG CGT GCC ATG AGC ATT CCC ATC TTG-3' can be used. Thus, the gene for S3T/V4I/G61A/V199I of the variant B.lentus-alkaline protease has been established.

On the basis of this mutation, a second particularly preferred variant is then prepared in which the leucine in position 211 is mutated to the amino acid aspartic acid. For this purpose, the two complementary primers containing the sequences 5'-ACG TAT GCC AGC GAC AAC GGT ACA TCG-3' and 5'-CGA TGTACC GTT GTC GCT GGC ATA CGT-3' were used. The clones obtained are then examined with the aid of DNA sequences.

The gene encoding the mutation S3T/V4I/G61A/V199I encoded by the total protease DNA-sequence is listed in SEQ ID NO.3 of the sequence Listing. From this, the amino acid sequence given in SEQ ID No.4 of the sequence Listing can be deduced. The DNA-and protein-sequences of this mutant S3T/V4I/G61A/V199I/211D are given in the sequence Listing SEQ ID NO.5, as well as in SEQ ID NO. 6. Since the variants deviate from the position derived from the wild-type enzyme b.lentus DSM5483, these variants can be labeled b.lentus-alkaline protease S3T/V4I/G61A/V199I, and b.lentus-alkaline protease S3T/V4I/G61A/V199I/211D.

Mutant expression and protease preparation treatment

The expression strand containing the mutated sequence was cloned back into the vector pCB56M131 as a Bam HI-Sac I-fragment instead of the newly indicated fragment in SEQ ID NO.1 and converted into Bacillus subtilis DB 104. The strain Bacillus subtilis DB 104 has the gene type his, nprR2, nprE18, aprA3(Kawamura, F. and Doi, R.H. (1984), J.Bacteriol., Band160S.442-444). The DNA was converted into Bacillus in accordance with the variant of the protoplast method developed by Chang and Cohen as described in WO91/02792 (1979; mol. Gen. Gene. et. Band 168, S.111-115).

The protease-positive clones thus obtained can be tested in 500ml MLBSP medium (10g/l Casiton; 20g/l Trypton; 10g/l yeast extract, all from Becton Dickson, Cockeysville; 5g/l NaCl; 27g/l sodium succinate; 100mg/l MgSO)₄·7H₂O；75mg/l CaCl₂·7H₂O；0.5μM MnCl₂；0.5μM FeSO₄(ii) a 2% (w/v) glucose; 50mM PIPES-buffer solution (from a 1M strain solution at pH 7.2); 75mM KPO₄(from a 1.5M strain solution at pH 7.0); PH7.0, adjusted with KOH-and 10 μ g/ml tetracycline) was incubated in a 2000 ml-shaking flask at 37 ℃ and 200 rpm for 72 hours. The supernatant obtained after centrifugation of the cells can be used for subsequent tests after determination of the protease activity (according to the method described in "surfactants", Band7(1970), s.125-132).

Example 2

For the following examples, standard contaminated textiles were used, which were available from the official cooperative materials inspection and testing institute (eidgenoesensischen materials-Pruefungs-und-versuchsalt), st. gallen, switzerland (EMPA), or the washing institute (waescherei for schungsannstalt), Krefeld. The following contaminants/textiles will be used in example 2: a (blood/milk/carbon black on cotton), B (blood/milk/ink on cotton), C (blood/milk/ink on polyester-cotton-blend fabric) and D (egg/carbon black on cotton).

The effect of the test materials on the cleaning performance of different detergent formulations was tested. The ratio for each float was set to 1: 12 and 30 minutes at 40 ℃. The addition amount is 5.88g of relevant lotion per liter of washing float. The hardness of water was 16 ° german hardness.

As control detergent a detergent base formulation (all indicated as weight percent gew%) was used having the following composition: 4% of linear alkylbenzene sulphonate (sodium salt), 4% of C₁₂-C₁₈Fatty alcohol sulfate (sodium salt), 5.5% C with 7EO₁₂-C₁₈-fatty alcohol, 1% sodium soap, 11% sodium carbonate, 2.5% amorphous sodium disilicate, 20% sodium perborate tetrahydrate, 5.5% TAED, 25% zeolite a, 4.5% polycarboxylate, 0.5% phosphate, 2.5% foam inhibitor, 5% sodium sulfate, remainder: water, whitening agent, salt. The following proteases were added to different test seriesEach of which was a final concentration of proteolytic activity in wash float of 2.250 PE: lotus-alkaline protease F49(WO 95/23221; manufacturer: Biozym, Kundl, Austria), Savinase(Novozymes A/S, Baegsvaerd, Denmark) and the protease B.lentus-alkaline protease S3T/V4I/G61A/V199I/211D according to the invention.

After washing, the whiteness of the washed textiles is determined in comparison with barium sulfate, which has a given value of 100%. The measurement can be carried out with the aid of a spectrophotometer Datacolor SF500-2 under conditions 460nm (UV-barrier filter 3), 30mm light barrier (blend), matt, light type D65, 10 DEG, D/8 deg. The results obtained are given in percentages, i.e. in comparison with barium sulphate, the initial values being given in table 2. The average of 4 determinations is given. From which an inference can be made directly on the contribution of the enzymes contained to the washing efficiency of the lotion used.

Table 2:

it can be seen that the B.lentus-alkaline protease S3T/V4I/G61A/V199I/L211D is responsible for all the more contaminating B.lentus-alkaline proteases F49 andcompared with the washing agent, the washing agent has a remarkably improved washing effect.

Example 3

The same tests as in example 2 were carried out using cotton textiles with the same contaminants A, B and C as in example 2. The only difference is that the protease B.lentus-alkaline protease S3T/V4I/G61A/V199I according to the invention and the variant B.lentus-alkaline protease S3T/V4I/V199I and the likewise known protease B.lentus-alkaline protease are used in the same detergent formulation in this exampleProtease F49 anda comparison was made. It was likewise adjusted in concentration so that the proteolytic activity in each liter of wash float was 2.250PE at a final concentration and a temperature of 40 ℃.

The measurement and calculation of the test series are also as described in example 2. The results obtained are given in table 3 below.

Table 3:

from the two variants B.lentus-alkaline protease S3T/V4I/G61A/V199I and B.lentus-alkaline protease S3T/V4I/V199I, it can be seen that the exchange of the amino acid p-hydroxyphenylglycine at position 61 with the aliphatic amino acid alanine results in an improved efficiency of the enzyme in detergent formulations with respect to different stains and different fabrics. And clearly superior to the given protease B. lentus-alkaline protease F49 and

example 4

Standard (A) tender egg and (B) egg/milk contamination treatments were applied to hard, smooth surfaced dishes and a domestic dishwasher type was applied at 45 deg.CWashing is carried out by the conventional procedure of G676. 20g of cleaning agent is used for each washing; the hardness of water was 16 ° german hardness.

As cleaning agent, the following basic formulation (all indicated as weight percent gew-%) was used: 55% sodium tripolyphosphate (calculated as anhydrous), 4% non-crystalline sodium disilicate (calculated as anhydrous), 22% sodium carbonate, 9% sodium perborate, 2% TAED, 2% nonionic surfactant, the remainder: water (W)Pigment and essence. This basic-recipe will address the different proteases tested b. lens-alkaline protease F49,and the same activity of the protease variant B.lentus-alkaline protease S3T/V4I/G61A/V199I/L211D according to the invention were added so that the given activity per washing process was 10.000 PE. Which corresponds to about 0.1mg of protease-protein per g of detergent concentrate.

After washing, the removal of contaminants can be confirmed by weight as a percentage. This can be obtained by comparing the difference in weight when soiled with the weight of the ware after washing and the difference in weight between the starting weight of the ware and the starting weight when the ware is not washed. The comparison may be given in percentage terms. The results obtained are shown in table 4. The average of 9 determinations is given. From which an inference can be directly given about the contribution of the enzymes contained to the washing efficiency of the lotion used.

Table 4:

the results show that the B.lentus-alkaline protease S3T/V4I/G61A/V199I/L211D according to the invention has a washing efficiency in mechanical dishwashing detergents which is superior to the other tested proteases, at least equal; and a relatively low use activity can be used.

Example 5

The ware with a hard, smooth surface was treated with the same contaminants as in the previous example and with an additional contaminant D (noodle marinade) and washed in the same way at 45 ℃. The only difference is that the protease B.lentus-alkaline protease S3T/V4I/G61A/V199I according to the invention and the variant B.lentus-alkaline protease S3T/V4I/V199I and the likewise known proteases B.lentus-alkaline protease F49 and Savinase are used in the same detergent formulation in this exampleA comparison is made. It was also adjusted in concentration so that each was 10.000 PE in proteolytic activity during each wash. The measurements were also as described in the above examples. The results obtained are given in table 5.

Table 5:

it can be seen that the variant B.lentus-alkaline protease S3T/V4I/G61A/V199I of the variant B.lentus-alkaline protease S3T/V4I/V199I has advantages in the washing efficiency of the detergent over different contaminants. This increase in efficiency is attributable only to the change in bit 61. Relative to all contaminants tested, has advantagesThe effect of (1); also has an effect superior to that of B.lentus-alkaline protease F49 with respect to contaminants C and D.

Example 6

As in example 4, the ware was cleaned at 45 ℃ following standard pollutant treatment and following the same procedure using each of the same detergent formulations. The only difference was that 20.000PE was used for each protease. This corresponds to about 0.2mg of protease in the detergent concentrate. The test results obtained in the same manner as in example 5 are given in Table 6 below.

Example 6:

for higher protease activity, the proteases according to the invention were compared with the proteases B.lentus-alkaline protease F49 and B.lentus-alkaline protease already proposed for mechanical dishwashing detergentsCompared with the total washing efficiency of the lotion, has higher contribution.

Example 7

According to the same manner as in the above example, the protease B.lentus-alkaline protease S3T/V4I/G61A/V199I, variant B.lentus-alkaline protease S3T/V4I/V199I, B.lentus-alkaline protease F49 orThe detergent formulations of (1) were tested again on dishes containing contaminants B and C. It was adjusted in concentration so that the proteolytic activity was 20.000PE in each washing. The temperature was 45 ℃. The assay was also as described in example 5. The results obtained are given in table 7.

Table 7:

it can be seen that the variant b.lentus-alkaline protease S3T/V4I/G61A/V199I, which is a variant b.lentus-alkaline protease S3T/V4I/V199I in detergents, has an advantage in its contribution to the washing efficiency in comparison to the same higher concentrations as the different contaminants. This increase in efficiency is attributable only to the change in bit 61. Relative to all contaminants tested, relative toHas obvious improvement effect; compared with the pollutant D, the compound also has improved effect compared with the B.1entus-alkaline protease F49.

Sequence listing

<110> Hangao Bish Co

<120> novel alkaline protease variant and detergent containing the same

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<141>

<150>DE 10153792.1-41

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<222>(233)..(1375)

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<221> peptides

<222>(566)..(1375)

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<213> Bacillus licheniformis ATCC68614

<400>2

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<223> Bacillus lentus alkaline protease

S3T/V4I/G61A/V199I

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<221> peptides

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<220>

<223> Bacillus lentus alkaline protease

S3T/V4I/G61A/V199I/L211D

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S3T/V4I/G61A/V199I/L211D

<400>6

Claims (70)

1. Subtilisin-type alkaline proteases, characterized in that the proteases have substitutions with alanine, valine, leucine or isoleucine at position 61 relative to the original enzyme and isoleucine at position 199 according to the count of subtilisin from Bacillus lentus (Bacillus lentus).

2. The alkaline protease according to claim 1, wherein the amino acid at position 61 of the protease is a substitution with alanine.

3. Subtilisin-type alkaline proteases, characterized in that the proteases have isoleucine at position 199, aspartic acid at position 211 and alanine, valine, leucine or isoleucine at position 61, as counted for subtilisin from Bacillus lentus (Bacillus lentus).

4. The alkaline protease according to claim 3, wherein the 61-position of the protease is alanine.

5. The alkaline protease according to any of claims 1 to 4, characterized in that the protease has at least one stabilizing effect.

6. The alkaline protease according to claim 5, characterized in that the protease has threonine at position 3 as counted as subtilisin from Bacillus lentus (Bacillus lentus).

7. The alkaline protease according to claim 5, characterized in that the protease has isoleucine at position 4 as counted for subtilisin from Bacillus lentus (Bacillus lentus).

8. The alkaline protease according to any of claims 1 to 4, characterized in that the protease has threonine in position 3, isoleucine in position 4, alanine in position 61 and isoleucine in position 199, as counted for subtilisin from Bacillus lentus (Bacillus lentus).

9. The alkaline protease according to any of claims 1 to 4, characterized in that the protease has threonine in position 3, isoleucine in position 4, alanine in position 61, isoleucine in position 199 and aspartic acid in position 211, as counted for subtilisin from Bacillus lentus (Bacillus lentus).

10. The alkaline protease according to any of claims 1 to 4, characterized in that the protease is derived from Bacillus-subtilisin.

11. The alkaline protease according to claim 10, characterized in that the protease is a subtilisin derived from Bacillus lentus (Bacillus lentus) -subtilisin.

12. The alkaline protease according to claim 11, characterized in that the protease is a subtilisin derived from Bacillus lentus (Bacillus lentus) DSM 5483.

13. The alkaline protease according to claim 12, characterized in that the protease is the Bacillus lentus (B.lentus) -alkaline protease S3T/V4I/G61A/V199I having the amino acid sequence given in SEQ ID No. 4.

14. The alkaline protease according to claim 13, characterized in that the protease is the Bacillus lentus (B.lentus) -alkaline protease S3T/V4I/G61A/V199I/L211D with the amino acid sequence given in SEQ ID No. 6.

15. A nucleic acid encoding the protease of any one of claims 1 to 14.

16. Nucleic acid encoding a subtilisin protease having a nucleotide sequence identical to the nucleotide sequence set forth in SEQ ID No.3 or SEQ ID No. 5.

17. Nucleic acid according to claim 16, characterized in that the nucleotide sequence corresponds to the nucleotide sequence given in the region coding for isoleucine at 199, for aspartic acid at 211, for threonine at 3 and/or for isoleucine at 4 or the nucleotide sequence comprising this region according to the amino acid sequence SEQ ID No.4 or SEQ ID No. 6.

18. Nucleic acid according to claim 16 or 17, characterised in that the nucleotide sequence corresponds to the nucleotide sequence given for or including the region coding for alanine at position 61.

19. A vector comprising a nucleic acid according to any one of claims 15 to 18.

20. Vector according to claim 19, characterized in that it contains a nucleic acid encoding a protease according to one of claims 1 to 14.

21. Cloning vector comprising a nucleic acid according to one of claims 15 to 18.

22. Cloning vector according to claim 21, characterized in that it contains a nucleic acid encoding a protease according to one of claims 1 to 14.

23. Expression vector comprising a nucleic acid according to one of claims 15 to 18 and biosynthesizing said nucleic acid.

24. The expression vector according to claim 23, characterized in that it contains a nucleic acid encoding a protease according to one of claims 1 to 14.

25. A cell comprising a vector according to any one of claims 19 to 24.

26. A host cell expressing or induced to express a protease according to any one of claims 1 to 14.

27. Host cell according to claim 26, characterized in that the host cell uses a nucleic acid according to one of claims 15 to 18.

28. A host cell according to claim 27, characterized in that the host cell uses an expression vector according to claim 23 or 24.

29. Host cell according to any of claims 26 to 28, characterized in that the cell is a bacterium.

30. A host cell according to claim 29, wherein the cell is a bacterium which secretes the protein produced into the surrounding medium.

31. A host cell according to claim 29, wherein the bacterium is a gram-positive bacterium.

32. The host cell according to claim 31, wherein the bacterium belongs to the genus Bacillus.

33. A host cell according to claim 32, characterized in that the bacterium is Bacillus lentus (Bacillus lentus), Bacillus licheniformis (Bacillus licheniformis), Bacillus amyloliquefaciens (Bacillus amyloliquefaciens), Bacillus subtilis (Bacillus subtilis) or Bacillus alcalophilus.

34. Host cell according to any of claims 26 to 28, characterized in that the cell is a eukaryotic cell.

35. A host cell according to claim 34, characterized in that the cell is a eukaryotic cell which post-translationally modifies the produced protein.

36. Method for producing a protease according to one of claims 1 to 14 using a nucleic acid according to one of claims 15 to 18 and/or a vector according to one of claims 19 to 24 and/or a host cell according to one of claims 25 to 35.

37. Preparation, characterized in that it contains a protease according to one of claims 1 to 14.

38. The formulation according to claim 37, characterized in that it is a detergent.

39. Preparation according to claim 37, characterized in that the protease is present in an amount of from 2 μ g to 20mg per g of preparation.

40. Preparation according to one of claims 37 to 39, characterized in that the preparation also contains other enzymes.

41. Preparation according to claim 40, characterized in that it contains further proteases, amylases, cellulases, hemicellulases, oxidoreductases and/or lipases.

42. Preparation for the treatment of textile materials or for the modification of textiles, characterized in that it contains a protease according to one of claims 1 to 14 alone or in addition to other active ingredients.

43. Preparation according to claim 42, characterized in that it is applied to fibres or textiles containing natural ingredients.

44. Preparation according to claim 42, characterized in that the preparation is applied to those fibres or textiles which contain wool or silk.

45. Process for the mechanical washing of textiles or hard surfaces, characterized in that the process activates the protease according to one of claims 1 to 14 in at least one step.

46. The method according to claim 45, wherein the protease is used in an amount of from 40. mu.g to 4g per application.

47. The method according to claim 46, wherein the protease is administered in an amount of from 400 μ g to 400mg per application.

48. Process for the treatment of textile materials or for the care of textiles, characterized in that the process activates a protease according to one of claims 1 to 14 in at least one step.

49. A method according to claim 48, characterized in that the method is carried out on textile materials or fabrics containing natural components.

50. A method according to claim 48, characterized in that the method is carried out on a textile or textile fabric comprising wool or silk.

51. Use of a protease according to one of claims 1 to 14 for the washing of textiles or hard surfaces.

52. The use according to claim 51, characterized in that the protease is used in an amount of from 40 μ g to 4g per dose.

53. The use according to claim 52, characterized in that the protease is used in an amount of from 400 μ g to 400mg per dose.

54. Use of a protease according to any of claims 1 to 14 for the activation or deactivation of detergent ingredients.

55. Use of a protease according to one of claims 1 to 14 for biochemical analysis or low molecular compound or protein synthesis.

56. Use of a protease according to one of claims 1 to 14 for the preparation, purification or synthesis of natural substances or bioavailable substances.

57. Use of a protease according to one of claims 1 to 14 for the treatment of natural raw materials.

58. Use according to claim 57, wherein the treatment is a surface treatment.

59. Use according to claim 57, wherein the use is in a leather treatment process.

60. Use of the protease according to one of claims 1 to 14 for obtaining or treating raw materials or intermediate products in the production of textiles.

61. Use according to claim 60, wherein the use is for removing a protective layer from a textile.

62. Use of a protease according to one of claims 1 to 14 for the treatment of textile materials or for the modification of textiles.

63. Use according to claim 62, characterized in that the use is for the treatment of wool or silk or blends containing wool or silk.

64. Use of a protease according to one of claims 1 to 14 for the treatment of photographic film.

65. Use according to claim 64, characterized in that the use is for removing a protective layer containing gelatin.

66. Use of a protease according to one of claims 1 to 14 for the manufacture of food or feed.

67. Cosmetic product comprising a protease according to one of claims 1 to 14.

68. A process for the production of a cosmetic product comprising a protease according to one of claims 1 to 14.

69. Use of a protease according to one of claims 1 to 14 for cosmetic purposes.

70. Use according to claim 69, characterized in that the protease is used in a corresponding method or in a corresponding preparation.