Glucoamylases and methods of use, thereof

Abstract

Described are methods for saccharifying starch-containing materials using a glucoamylase, methods for producing fermentation products, and fermentation products produced by the method thereof as well as methods for increasing starch digestibility in a ruminant using at least one of the glucoamylases described herein.

1 - 16 . (canceled) 
     
     
         17 . A method for increasing starch digestibility in an animal which comprises adding at least one glucoamylase selected from the group consisting of:
 a) a polypeptide having the amino acid sequence of SEQ ID NO: 8;   b) a polypeptide having at least 83% identity to the amino acid sequence of SEQ ID NO: 8;   c) a polypeptide having at least 83% identity to a catalytic domain of SEQ ID NO: 8;   d) a mature polypeptide produced by the processing of the polypeptide of SEQ ID NO: 2 by a signal peptidase or post translational modification during secretion from an expression host;   
       as a feed additive or premix to feed for an animal wherein said glucoamylase (a) has at least 20% activity or at least 20% greater residual activity at pH less than or equal to 3 in the presence of pepsin or rumin fluid as compared to activity of the glucoamylase at pH 6 alone or in the presence of rumin fluid, and (b) the glucoamylase works with pancreatic amylase to increase glucose yield. 
     
     
         18 . The method of  claim 17 , wherein when the animal is a ruminant and said glucoamylase is active in at least two of three digestive chambers of the ruminant comprising a rumen, an abomasum and a small intestine. 
     
     
         19 . The method of  claim 17 , wherein said at least one glucoamylase is capable of hydrolyzing raw starch as measured in a glucose release assay using raw starch. 
     
     
         20 - 29 . (canceled) 
     
     
         30 . The method of  claim 18 , wherein the ruminant is a cow. 
     
     
         31 . The method of  claim 17 , further comprising admixing the feed additive or premix with a feed component to form a feedstuff. 
     
     
         32 . The method of  claim 31 , further comprising feeding said feedstuff to the animal. 
     
     
         33 . The method of  claim 17 , wherein the feed additive or premix further comprises one or more direct fed microbial. 
     
     
         34 . The method of  claim 33 , wherein said direct fed microbial comprises one or more of  Bacillus , lactic acid bacteria, and/or yeasts. 
     
     
         35 . The method of  claim 17 , wherein the feed additive or premix further comprises one or more enzymes selected from the group consisting of aminopeptidase, amylase, carbohydrase, carboxypeptidase, catalase, cellulase, chitinase, cutinase, cyclodextrin glycosyltransferase, deoxyribonuclease, esterase, alpha-galactosidase, beta-galactosidase, alpha-glucosidase, beta-glucosidase, beta-amylase, isoamylase, haloperoxidase, invertase, laccase, lipase, lysozyme, mannosidase, oxidase, pectinolytic enzyme, peptidoglutaminase, peroxidase, phytase, polyphenoloxidase, proteolytic enzyme, pullulanase, ribonuclease, transglutaminase, and/or xylanase. 
     
     
         36 . The method of  claim 31 , wherein the feed component comprises one or more of cereals, wheat, barley, rye, oats, maize, sorghum, corn gluten meal, Distillers Dried Grains with Solubles (DDGS), corn based Distillers Dried Grains with Solubles (cDDGS), wheat bran, wheat middlings, wheat shorts, rice bran, rice hulls, oat hulls, palm kernel, and/or citrus pulp. 
     
     
         37 . The method of  claim 31 , wherein the feed component comprises one or more protein obtained from soya, sunflower, peanut, lupin, peas, fava beans, cotton, canola, fish meal, dried plasma protein, meat and bone meal, potato protein, whey, copra, and/or sesame. 
     
     
         38 . The method of  claim 31 , the feed component comprises one or more oils and/or fats obtained from vegetable and/or animal sources.