Polypeptides Having Endoglucanase Activity And Polynucleotides Encoding Same

Abstract

The present invention relates to isolated polypeptides having endoglucanase activity and isolated polynucleotides encoding the polypeptides. The invention also relates to nucleic acid constructs, vectors, and host cells comprising the polynucleotides as well as methods for producing and using the polypeptides.

1 - 53 . (canceled) 
     
     
         54 . An isolated polypeptide having endoglucanase activity, comprising an amino acid sequence having at least 90% identity with the mature polypeptide of SEQ ID NO: 2, SEQ ID NO: 4, or SEQ ID NO: 6. 
     
     
         55 . The polypeptide of  claim 54 , further having enzyme activity toward one or more substrates selected from the group consisting of xylan, xyloglucan, arabinoxylan. 1,4-beta-D-mannan, and galactomannan. 
     
     
         56 . A method of degrading or converting a cellulosic material, comprising treating the cellulosic material with a composition comprising an effective amount of a polypeptide having endoglucanase activity of  claim 54 . 
     
     
         57 . The method of  claim 56 , wherein the composition further comprises an effective amount of an endo-1,4-beta-glucanase, exo-1,4-beta-D-glucanase, and/or beta-D-glucosidase. 
     
     
         58 . The method of  claim 56 , wherein the composition further comprises an effective amount of one or more enzymes selected from the group consisting of a hemicellulase, esterase, protease, laccase, and peroxidase. 
     
     
         59 . The method of  claim 56 , wherein the method is a pretreatment process; a step in a simultaneous saccharification and fermentation process (SSF); or a step in a hybrid hydrolysis and fermentation process (HHF). 
     
     
         60 . The method of  claim 56 , further comprising recovering the degraded or converted cellulosic material. 
     
     
         61 . A method of producing a substance, comprising:
 (a) saccharifying a cellulosic material with a composition comprising an effective amount of a polypeptide having endoglucanase activity of  claim 54 ,   (b) fermenting the saccharified cellulosic material of step (a) with one or more fermentating microorganisms; and   (c) recovering the substance from the fermentation.   
     
     
         62 . The method of  claim 61 , wherein the composition further comprises an effective amount of endo-1,4-beta-glucanase, exo-1,4-beta-D-glucanase, and/or beta-D-glucosidase. 
     
     
         63 . The method of  claim 61 , wherein the composition further comprises an effective amount of one or more enzymes selected from the group consisting of a hemicellulase, esterase, protease, laccase, and peroxidase. 
     
     
         64 . The method of  claim 61 , wherein steps (a) and (b) are performed simultaneously in a simultaneous saccharification and fermentation. 
     
     
         65 . The method of  claim 61 , wherein the substance is an alcohol, organic acid, ketone, amino acid, or gas. 
     
     
         66 . An isolated polynucleotide comprising a nucleotide sequence which encodes the polypeptide of  claim 54 . 
     
     
         67 . A nucleic acid construct comprising the polynucleotide of  claim 66 , wherein the polynucleotide is operably linked to one or more control sequences that direct the production of the polypeptide in an expression host. 
     
     
         68 . A recombinant expression vector comprising the nucleic acid construct of  claim 67 . 
     
     
         69 . A recombinant host cell comprising the nucleic acid construct of  claim 67 . 
     
     
         70 . A method for producing a polypeptide having endoglucanase activity, comprising:
 (a) cultivating a host cell of  claim 69  under conditions conducive for production of the polypeptide; and   (b) recovering the polypeptide.