Beta-glucosidase i variants with improved properties

Abstract

The present disclosure is generally directed to enzymes and in particular beta-glucosidase variants. Also described are nucleic acids encoding beta-glucosidase variants, compositions comprising beta-glucosidase variants, methods of using beta-glucosidase variants, and methods of identifying additional useful beta-glucosidase variants.

1 . A beta-glucosidase 1 (BGL1) variant having at least two improved activities over wild type BGL1 selected from the group consisting of:
 (a) pre-treated corn stover (PCS) hydrolysis activity,   (b) cellobiase activity,   (c) protein expression,   (d) beta-glucosidase activity measured by a cellobiase activity in the presence of ammonia pretreated corncob (CC) or by a CC hydrolysis activity,   (e) thermostability,   (f) phosphoric acid swollen cellulose (PASO) hydrolysis activity, and   (g) hydrolytic activity in the presence of glucose,   wherein the BGL1 variant is any variant as shown in Tables 4-8, 3-2, 4-2 and 4-3.   
     
     
         2 . A BGL1 variant according to  claim 1  having improved (b) and (d) activities over wild type BGL1, wherein the BGL1 variant is L266A, I567E, S283F, S283P, T258E, T258I, T258K, T258Q, P536T, P536W, I532Y, Y530T, P607D, Q406M, Q406S, V602T, G300M, A630S, A630T, T180H, T180M, A450M, I444E, I444F, I444N, I444W, I444Y, V500Q, A633I, S482P, A667V, A485L, A485W, Y678R, V603G, L266C, I567F, S624P, P607L, G606I, G606K, G606L, G606M, G606Q, G606V, G605E, I444V, A633V, A655W, Y678H, V522Y, G554F, L266N, F556L, S550I, S550T, S550V, T258L, P536I, P536V, F392R, S624G, S624N, S624Q, S624T, A601M, A630V, N463S, A450F, A450T, A450V, A450W, I486V, S482I, Y678I, G427F, D564T, Q684C, Q684G, Y530S, Q684N, A565G, A270C, T258S, T258V, P536D, P536E, S624F, S624I, S624V, A601C, A601Y, S308H, A630C, A630D, N463K, N463R, A450E, S482A, A667F, A667L, A667R, A667Y, A485T, V466S, Y678A, Y678C, Y678Q, A468C, Q226W, Q226Y, N263C, N263S, N278F, S312Y, Q316T, K345E, G427C, P661F, P661L, P661Q, T666C, S683W, F260D, F260G, F260Q, P607G, N400S, F260W, Y530F, Q406D, G605C, N263T, P607I, A450P, T242H, A630Y, P536C, A630Q, D215S, G372A, G547A, F611A, G662C, G662F, F260L, L293F, A633C, S312C, or N455D; or
 having improved (b) and (e) activities over wild type BGL1, wherein the BGL1 variant is P607H, T011E, T011Y, N146E, I567V, N566G, A630K, Y639K, Q245N, K320Y, A347Y, P536Q, N369E, N369W, N369Y, N146A, N146Q, P607K, N369T, A655N, I671K, F260T, P607S, F260D, F260G, F260Q, P607G, N400S, P607F, P607I, A450P, T242H, T568E, A630Y, A655D, F260E, T568K, P536C, A630Q, D215S, G372A, G547A, F611A, G662C, G662F, F260L, or L293F; or 
 having improved (b) and (f) activities over wild type BGL1, wherein the BGL1 variant is N261C, T258C, F392Q, S624E, P607C, P604M, A377Q, N461A, N461F, N461P, T436A, T436C, T436F, T436I, T436M, T436Q, T436Y, Q220C, A655L, T646H, Y678F, A468I, D177M, P661E, L266N, F556L, S550I, S550T, S550V, T258L, P536I, P536V, F392R, S624G, S624N, S624Q, S624T, A601M, A630V, N463S, A450F, A450T, A450V, A450W, I486V, S482I, Y678I, G427F, D564T, Q684C, Q684G, N566H, F556V, P604Y, L293V, A630G, N461C, N463T, D457C, Q220M, T221A, T221G, T221I, A655R, A468F, A468S, Q216I, D564V, P536Q, N369E, N369W, N369Y, T436E, A565G, A270C, T258S, T258V, P536D, P536E, S624F, S624I, S624V, A601C, A601Y, S308H, A630C, A630D, N463K, N463R, A450E, S482A, A667F, A667L, A667R, A667Y, A485T, V466S, Y678A, Y678C, Y678Q, A468C, Q226W, Q226Y, N263C, N263S, N278F, S312Y, Q316T, K345E, G427C, P661F, P661L, P661Q, T666C, S683W, F260W, Y530F, N461V, I671C, K206A, A450P, T242H, E170F, S507G, F260E, T568K, P536C, A630Q, D215S, G372A, G547A, F611A, G662C, G662F, L293F, A633C, S312C or N455D; or 
 having improved (a) and (b) activities over wild type BGL1, wherein the BGL1 variant is I567Q, A565F, A565K, A565Q, A565V, F556E, F260I, P607E, G605R, G300C, A377C, A377D, S308C, N146H, N146S, A655C, A655G, P176L, T209I, L266C, I567F, S624P, P607L, G606I, G606K, G606L, G606M, G606Q, G606V, G605E, I444V, A633V, A655W, Y678H, V522Y, G554F, N566H, F556V, P604Y, L293V, A630G, N461C, N463T, D457C, Q220M, T221A, T221G, T221I, A655R, A468F, A468S, Q216I, D564V, A565C, A655N, I671K, F260T, P607S, Y639V, A565G, A270C, T258S, T258V, P536D, P536E, S624F, S624I, S624V, A601C, A601Y, S308H, A630C, A630D, N463K, N463R, A450E, S482A, A667F, A667L, A667R, A667Y, A485T, V466S, Y678A, Y678C, Y678Q, A468C, Q226W, Q226Y, N263C, N263S, N278F, S312Y, Q316T, K345E, G427C, P661F, P661L, P661Q, T666C, S683W, F260D, F260G, F260Q, P607G, N400S, P607F, Q406D, G605C, N263T, N461V I671C, K206A, T568E, E170F, F260E, T568K, P536C, A630Q, D215S, G372A, G547A, F611A, G662C, G662F, F260L, A633C, S312C, or N455D; or 
 having improved (b) and (c) activities over wild type BGL1, wherein the BGL1 variant is I567K, I567R, A565E, A565S, A565Y, F392Y, Q406H, Q406T, P604C, N038F, T568A, N461G, Y639L, Y639M, T243A, T243C, Q245H, Q245M, Q245T, T646A, T646C, I671F, I671L, I567V, N566G, A630K, Y639K, Q245N, K320Y, A347Y, A565C, Y639G, Y530F, N461V, I671C, K206A, T568E, A630Y, A655D, S507G, F260E, T568K, or F260L. 
 
     
     
         3 - 6 . (canceled) 
     
     
         7 . A BGL1 variant according to  claim 1  having improved (a) and (d) activities over wild type BGL1, wherein the BGL1 variant is I567S, G606E, G606H, G606N, G606S, L293A, S308R, I444C, M201D, R542N, L266C, I567F, S624P, P607L, G606I, G606K, G606L, G606M, G606Q, G606V, G605E, I444V, A633V, A655W, Y678H, V522Y, G554F, N566F, L293M, Q220P, S692L, A565G, A270C, T258S, T258V, P536D, P536E, S624F, S624I, S624V, A601C, A601Y, S308H, A630C, A630D, N463K, N463R, A450E, S482A, A667F, A667L, A667R, A667Y, A485T, V466S, Y678A, Y678C, Y678Q, A468C, Q226W, Q226Y, N263C, N263S, N278F, S312Y, Q316T, K345E, G427C, P661F, P661L, P661Q, T666C, S683W, F260D, F260G, F260Q, P607G, N400S, Q406D, G605C, N263T, S308E, A338D, P536C, A630Q, D215S, G372A, G547A, F611A, G662C, G662F, F260L, A633C, S312C, or N455D; or
 having improved (e) and (q) activities over wild type BGL1, wherein the BGL1 variant is L266F, I567Y, A270R, S384C, A630W, E128R, N146M, N146V, N146W, L181F, V043C, Y639P, S507F, Q245P, G662C, A630H, V466T, N146A, N146Q, P607K, N369T, S384E, L181M, V043A, V043G, V043N, Q060D, A655Y, T242S, S474D, P607F, A630Y, S308E, A655D, or L293F; or 
 having improved (c) and (e) activities over wild type BGL1, wherein the BGL1 variant is selected from the group consisting of: N261E, N261K, N400A, V602K, L293I, N461S, D457A, V043Q, Q303N, K320S, G662D, F260A, S474R, I567V, N566G, A630K, Y639K, Q245N, K320Y, A347Y, A601D, S384E, L181M, V043A, V043G, V043N, Q060D, A655Y, T242S, S474D, D564T, T568E, A655D, A338D, F260E, T568K, or F260L; or 
 having improved (a) and (f) activities over wild type BGL1, wherein the BGL1 variant is N566L, N566P, N566W, A270K, A270N, F556H, F556K, P604N, N461D, N463E, K206G, A468Q, A468Y, N566F, N566H, F556V, P604Y, L293V, A630G, N461C, N463T, D457C, Q220M, T221A, T221G, T221I, A655R, A468F, A468S, Q216I, D564V, A468T, A565G, A270C, T258S, T258V, P536D, P536E, S624F, S624I, S624V, A601C, A601Y, S308H, A630C, A630D, N463K, N463R, A450E, S482A, A667F, A667L, A667R, A667Y, A485T, V466S, Y678A, Y678C, Y678Q, A468C, Q226W, Q226Y, N263C, N263S, N278F, S312Y, Q316T, K345E, G427C, P661F, P661L, P661Q, T666C, S683W, N461V I671C, K206A, E170F, F260E, T568K, P536C, A630Q, D215S, G372A, G547A, F611A, G662C, G662F, A633C, S312C, or N455D. 
 
     
     
         8 - 10 . (canceled) 
     
     
         11 . A BGL1 variant according to  claim 1  having improved (a) and (c) activities over wild type BGL1, wherein the BGL1 variant is S283D, A270D, N146Y, F260A, S474R, A565C, K206S, D564T, N461V|I671C, K206A, T568E, A338D, F260E, T568K, or F260L; or
 having improved (a) and (e) activities over wild type BGL1, wherein the BGL1 variant is F556G, F260S, P604E, P604V, N146D, Y639T, T221C, N473S, N583R, R645G, G662Y, F260A, S474R, A655N, I671K, F260T, P607S, S692L, D564T, F260D, F260G, F260Q, P607G, N400S, P607F, T568E, S308E, A338D, F260E, T568K, P536C, A630Q, D215S, G372A, G547A, F611A, G662C, G662F, or F260L; or 
 having improved (c) and (d) activities over wild type BGL1, wherein the BGL1 variant is D259S, T243V, Y530F, A338D, or F260L; or 
 having improved (d) and (e) activities over wild type BGL1, wherein the BGL1 variant is S550Q, P607R, N400Q, V602F, A601G, A601L, L293K, Y575C, Y575R, A450Q, I486C, I486Y, A655S, Q245F, D329A, P536G, P607Q, A655Q, Y575A, Y575K, A630H, V466T, S692L, F260D, F260G, F260Q, P607G, N400S, P607I, A450P, T242H, S308E, A630Y, A338D, P536C, A630Q, D215S, G372A, G547A, F611A, G662C, G662F, F260L, or L293F; or 
 having improved (d) and (f) activities over wild type BGL1, wherein the BGL1 variant is P536F, F392C, S624L, S624R, S624W, I486F, I486W, A667G, A667S, L266N, F556L, S550I, S550T, S550V, T258L, P536I, P536V, F392R, S624G, S624N, S624Q, S624T, A601M, A630V, N463S, A450F, A450T, A450V, A450W, I486V, S482I, Y678I, G427F, D564T, Q684C, Q684G, N566F, Y575A, Y575K, A565G, A270C, T258S, T258V, P536D, P536E, S624F, S624I, S624V, A601C, A601Y, S308H, A630C, A630D, N463K, N463R, A450E, S482A, A667F, A667L, A667R, A667Y, A485T, V466S, Y678A, Y678C, Y678Q, A468C, Q226W, Q226Y, N263C, N263S, N278F, S312Y, Q316T, K345E, G427C, P661F, P661L, P661Q, T666C, S683W, F260W, P607I, A450P, T242H, P536C, A630Q, D215S, G372A, G547A, F611A, G662C, G662F, L293F, A633C, S312C, or N455D. 
 
     
     
         12 - 15 . (canceled) 
     
     
         16 . A BGL1 variant according to  claim 1  having improved (c) and (g) activities over wild type BGL1, wherein the BGL1 variant is S384G, S384W, N038E, N038M, N038P, V043H, V043W, Y068E, Y068G, Y068M, L110C, L110G, L110Q, L110W, A655H, N264L, S384E, L181M, V043A, V043G, V043N, Q060D, A655Y, T242S, S474D, Y639G, K206S, A655D, or S507G; or
 having improved (d) and (q) activities over wild type BGL1, wherein the BGL1 variant is G606D, Y068V, L293M, Q220P, A630H, V466T, Y530S, Q684N, F260W, Q406D, G605C, N263T, S308E, A630Y, L293F, A633C, S312C, or N455D; or 
 having improved (b) and (g) activities over wild type BGL1, wherein the BGL1 variant is A377I, N461Y, N146A, N146Q, P607K, N369T, T436E, Y639G, Y530S, Q684N, Y639V, F260W, P607F, Q406D, G605C, N263T, A630Y, A655D, E170F, S507G, L293F, A633C, S312C, or N455D; or 
 having improved (c) and (f) activities over wild type BGL1, wherein the BGL1 variant is K206D, A601D, Y530F, N461V I671C, K206A, S507G, F260E, or T568K; or 
 having improved (e) and (f) activities over wild type BGL1, wherein the BGL1 variant is A468G, P536Q, N369E, N369W, N369Y, A601D, Y575A, Y575K, P607I, A450P, T242H, F260E, T568K, P536C, A630Q, D215S, G372A, G547A, F611A, G662C, G662F, or L293F; or 
 having improved (a) and (a) activities over wild type BGL1, wherein the BGL1 variant is R179V, L293M, Q220P, K206S, A468T, Y639V, P607F, Q406D, G605C, N263T, S308E, E170F, A633C, S312C, or N455D. 
 
     
     
         17 - 21 . (canceled) 
     
     
         22 . A BGL1 variant according to  claim 1  having improved activities selected from any two or all three of (a), (b), and (d) over wild type BGL1, wherein the BGL1 variant is L266C, I567F, S624P, P607L, G606I, G606K, G606L, G606M, G606Q, G606V, G605E, I444V, A633V, A655W, Y678H, V522Y, G554F, A565G, A270C, T258S, T258V, P536D, P536E, S624F, S624I, S624V, A601C, A601Y, S308H, A630C, A630D, N463K, N463R, A450E, S482A, A667F, A667L, A667R, A667Y, A485T, V466S, Y678A, Y678C, Y678Q, A468G, Q226W, Q226Y, N263C, N263S, N278F, S312Y, Q316T, K345E, G427C, P661F, P661L, P661Q, T666C, S683W, F260D, F260G, F260Q, P607G, N400S, Q406D, G605C, N263T, P536C, A630Q, D215S, G372A, G547A, F611A, G662C, G662F, F260L, A633C, S312C, or N455D; or
 having improved activities selected from any two or all three of (b), (d), and (f) over wild type BGL1, wherein the BGL1 variant is L266N, F556L, S550I, S550T, S550V, T258L, P536I, P536V, F392R, S624G, S624N, S624Q, S624T, A601M, A630V, N463S, A450F, A450T, A450V, A450W, I486V, S482I, Y678I, G427F, D564T, Q684C, Q684G, A565G, A270C, T258S, T258V, P536D, P536E, S624F, S624I, S624V, A601C, A601Y, S308H, A630C, A630D, N463K, N463R, A450E, S482A, A667F, A667L, A667R, A667Y, A485T, V466S, Y678A, Y678C, Y678Q, A468G, Q226W, Q226Y, N263C, N263S, N278F, S312Y, Q316T, K345E, G427C, P661F, P661L, P661Q, T666C, S683W, F260W, Y530F, P607I, A450P, T242H, P536C, A630Q, D215S, G372A, G547A, F611A, G662C, G662F, A633C, S312C, N455D, or L293F; or 
 having improved activities selected from any two or all three of (a), (c), and (e) over wild type BGL1, wherein the BGL1 variant is F260A, S474R, D564T, T568E, A338D, F260E, T568K, or F260L; or 
 having improved activities selected from any two or all three of (b), (c), and (e) over wild type BGL1, wherein the BGL1 variant is I567V, N566G, A630K, Y639K, Q245N, K320Y, A347Y, T568E, A655D, F260E, T568K, or F260L; or 
 having improved activities selected from any two or all three of (a), (d), and (f) over wild type BGL1, wherein the BGL1 variant is N566F, A565G, A270C, T258S, T258V, P536D, P536E, S624F, S624I, S624V, A601C, A601Y, S308H, A630C, A630D, N463K, N463R, A450E, S482A, A667F, A667L, A667R, A667Y, A485T, V466S, Y678A, Y678C, Y678Q, A468C, Q226W, Q226Y, N263C, N263S, N278F, S312Y, Q316T, K345E, G427C, P661F, P661L, P661Q, T666C, S683W, P536C, A630Q, D215S, G372A, G547A, F611A, G662C, G662F, A633C, S312C, or N455D. 
 
     
     
         23 - 26 . (canceled) 
     
     
         27 . A BGL1 variant according to  claim 1  having improved activities selected from any two or all three of (a), (b), and (f) over wild type BGL1, wherein the BGL1 variant is N566H, F556V, P604Y, L293V, A630G, N461C, N463T, D457C, Q220M, T221A, T221G, T221I, A655R, A468F, A468S, Q216I, D564V, A565G, A270C, T258S, T258V, P536D, P536E, S624F, S624I, S624V, A601C, A601Y, S308H, A630C, A630D, N463K, N463R, A450E, S482A, A667F, A667L, A667R, A667Y, A485T, V466S, Y678A, Y678C, Y678Q, A468C, Q226W, Q226Y, N263C, N263S, N278F, S312Y, Q316T, K345E, G427C, P661F, P661L, P661Q, T666C, S683W, N461V, I671C, K206A, E170F, F260E, T568K, P536C, A630Q, D215S, G372A, G547A, F611A, G662C, G662F, A633C, S312C, or N455D; or
 having improved activities selected from any two or all three of (a), (b), and (c) over wild type BGL1, wherein the BGL1 variant is A565C, N461V, I671C, K206A, T568E, F260E, T568K, or F260L; or 
 having improved activities selected from any two or all three of (b), (d), and (e) over wild type BGL1, wherein the BGL1 variant is P536G, P607Q, A655Q, F260D, F260G, F260Q, P607G, N400S, P607I, A450P, T242H, A630Y, P536C, A630Q, D215S, G372A, G547A, F611A, G662C, G662F, F260L, or L293F; or 
 having improved activities selected from any two or all three of (b), (e), and (f) over wild type BGL1, wherein the BGL1 variant is P536Q, N369E, N369W, N369Y, P607I, A450P, T242H, F260E, T568K, P536C, A630Q, D215S, G372A, G547A, F611A, G662C, G662F, or L293F; or 
 having improved activities selected from any two or all three of (c), (e), and (f) over wild type BGL1, wherein the BGL1 variant is A601D, F260E or T568K. 
 
     
     
         28 - 31 . (canceled) 
     
     
         32 . A BGL1 variant according to  claim 1  having improved activities selected from any two or all three of (a), (d), and (g) over wild type BGL1, wherein the BGL1 variant is L293M, Q220P, Q406D, G605C, N263T, S308E, A633C, S312C, or N455D; or
 having improved activities selected from any two or all three of (d), (e), and (f) over wild type BGL1, wherein the BGL1 variant is Y575A, Y575K, P607I, A450P, T242H, P536C, A630Q, D215S, G372A, G547A, F611A, G662C, G662F, or L293F; or 
 having improved activities selected from any two or all three of (d), (e), and (g) over wild type BGL1, wherein the BGL1 variant is A630H, V466T, S308E, A630Y, or L293F; or 
 having improved activities selected from any two or all three of (b), (e), and (g) over wild type BGL1, wherein the BGL1 variant is N146A, N146Q, P607K, N369T, P607F, A630Y, A655D, or L293F; or 
 having improved activities selected from any two or all three of (c), (e), and (g) over wild type BGL1, wherein the BGL1 variant is S384E, L181M, V043A, V043G, V043N, Q060D, A655Y, T242S, S474D, or A655D; or 
 having improved activities selected from any two or all three of (b), (f), and (g) over wild type BGL1, wherein the BGL1 variant is T436E, F260W, E170F, S507G, L293F, A633C, S312C, or N455D; or 
 having improved activities selected from any two or all three of (b), (c), and (g) over wild type BGL1, wherein the BGL1 variant is Y639G, P607F, A655D, or S507G. 
 
     
     
         33 - 38 . (canceled) 
     
     
         39 . A BGL1 variant according to  claim 1  having improved activities selected from any two or all three of (a), (b), and (e) over wild type BGL1, wherein the BGL1 variant is A655N, I671K, F260T, P607S, F260D, F260G, F260Q, P607G, N400S, P607F, T568E, F260E, T568K, P536C, A630Q, D215S, G372A, G547A, F611A, G662C, G662F, or F260L; or
 having improved activities selected from any two or all three of (a), (c), and (g) over wild type BGL1, wherein the BGL1 variant is K206S or P607F; or 
 having improved activities selected from any two or all three of (b), (d), and (g) over wild type BGL1, wherein the BGL1 variant is Y530S, Q684N, F260W, Q406D, G605C, N263T, A630Y, L293F, A633C, S312C, or N455D; or 
 having improved activities selected from any two or all three of (a), (f), and (g) over wild type BGL1, wherein the BGL1 variant is A468T, E170F, A633C, S312C, or N455D; or 
 having improved activities selected from any two or all three of (a), (d), and (e) over wild type BGL1, wherein the BGL1 variant is S692L, F260D, F260G, F260Q, P607G, N400S, S308E, A338D, P536C, A630Q, D215S, G372A, G547A, F611A, G662C, G662F, or F260L; or 
 having improved activities selected from any two or all three of (a), (b), and (q) over wild type BGL1, wherein the BGL1 variant is Y639V; or 
 having improved activities selected from any two, any three, or all four of (a), (b), (d) and (f) over wild type BGL1, wherein the BGL1 variant is A565G, A270C, T258S, T258V, P536D, P536E, S624F, S624I, S624V, A601C, A601Y, S308H, A630C, A630D, N463K, N463R, A450E, S482A, A667F, A667L, A667R, A667Y, A485T, V466S, Y678A, Y678C, Y678Q, A468C, Q226W, Q226Y, N263C, N263S, N278F, S312Y, Q316T, K345E, G427C, P661F, P661L, P661Q, T666C, or S683W; or 
 having improved activities selected from any two, any three, or all four of (a), (b), (d) and (e) over wild type BGL1, wherein the BGL1 variant is F260D, F260G, F260Q, P607G, or N400S. 
 
     
     
         40 - 46 . (canceled) 
     
     
         47 . A BGL1 variant according to  claim 1  having improved activities selected from any two, any three, or all four of (b), (d), (f) and (g) over wild type BGL1, wherein the BGL1 variant is F260W, L293F, A633C, S312C, or N455D; or
 having improved activities selected from any two, any three, or all four of (b), (c), (d) and (f) over wild type BGL1, wherein the BGL1 variant is Y530F; or 
 having improved activities selected from any two, any three, or all four of (a), (b), (e) and (q) over wild type BGL1, wherein the BGL1 variant is P607F; or 
 having improved activities selected from any two, any three, or all four of (a), (b), (d) and (q) over wild type BGL1, wherein the BGL1 variant is Q406D, G605C, N263T, A633C, S312C, or N455D; or 
 having improved activities selected from any two, any three, or all four of (a), (b), (c) and (f) over wild type BGL1, wherein the BGL1 variant is N461V, I671C, K206A, F260E or T568K. 
 
     
     
         48 - 51 . (canceled) 
     
     
         52 . A BGL1 variant according to  claim 1  having improved activities selected from any two, any three, or all four of (b), (d), (e) and (f) over wild type BGL1, wherein the BGL1 variant is P607I, A450P, T242H, P536C, A630Q, D215S, G372A, G547A, F611A, G662C, G662F, or L293F; or
 having improved activities selected from any two, any three, or all four of (a), (b), (c) and (e) over wild type BGL1, wherein the BGL1 variant is T568E, F260E, T568K, or F260L; or 
 having improved activities selected from any two, any three, or all four of (a), (d), (e) and (a) over wild type BGL1, wherein the BGL1 variant is S308E; or 
 having improved activities selected from any two, any three, or all four of (b), (d), (e) and (q) over wild type BGL1, wherein the BGL1 variant is A630Y or L293F; or 
 having improved activities selected from any two, any three, or all four of (b), (c), (e) and (q) over wild type BGL1, wherein the BGL1 variant is A655D; or having improved activities selected from any two, any three, or all four of (a), (b), (f) and (g) over wild type BGL1, wherein the BGL1 variant is E170F, A633C, S312C, or N455D. 
 
     
     
         53 - 57 . (canceled) 
     
     
         58 . A BGL1 variant according to  claim 1  having improved activities selected from any two, any three, or all four of (a), (c), (d) and (e) over wild type BGL1, wherein the BGL1 variant is A338D or F260L; or
 having improved activities selected from any two, any three, or all four of (b), (c), (f) and (a) over wild type BGL1, wherein the BGL1 variant is S507G; or 
 having improved activities selected from any two, any three, any four, or all five of (a), (b), (c), (e) and (f) over wild type BGL1, wherein the BGL1 variant is F260E or T568K; or 
 having improved activities selected from any two, any three, any four, or all five of (a), (b), (d), (e) and (f) over wild type BGL1, wherein the BGL1 variant is P536C, A630Q, D215S, G372A, G547A, F611A, G662C, or G662F. 
 
     
     
         59 - 61 . (canceled) 
     
     
         62 . A BGL1 variant according to  claim 1  having improved activities selected from any two, any three, any four, or all five of (a), (b), (c), (d) and (e) over wild type BGL1, wherein the BGL1 variant is F260L; or
 having improved activities selected from any two, any three, any four, or all five of (b), (d), (e), (f) and (g) over wild type BGL1, wherein the BGL1 variant is L293F; or 
 having improved activities selected from any two, any three, any four, or all five of (a), (b), (d), (f) and (g) over wild type BGL1, wherein the BGL1 variant is A633C, S312C, or N455D. 
 
     
     
         65 - 100 . (canceled) 
     
     
         101 . A composition comprising a BGL1 variant of  claim 1 . 
     
     
         102 . The composition of  claim 101  wherein the composition is enriched in the BGL1 variant. 
     
     
         103 - 105 . (canceled) 
     
     
         106 . A host cell comprising a nucleic acid encoding the BGL1 variant of  claim 1 . 
     
     
         107 . A method for producing a BGL1 variant, comprising culturing the host cell of  claim 106  in a culture medium under suitable conditions to produce the variant. 
     
     
         108 . A method of converting biomass to sugars comprising contacting the biomass with the BGL1 variant of  claim 1 .