Verenium Corporation

Basf Enzymes LLC

Axel Trefzer

Gerhard Johann Frey

Katie Kline

Brian Steer

Alberto Alvarado

Arne Solbak

Mark Dycaico

Thomas Todaro

Fatima El-Farrah

Tom Todaro

This invention relates to phytases, polynucleotides encoding them, uses of the polynucleotides and polypeptides of the invention, as well as the production and isolation of such polynucleotides and polypeptides. In particular, the invention provides polypeptides having phytase activity under high temperature conditions, and phytases that retain activity after exposure to high temperatures. The phytases of the invention can be thermotolerant and/or thermostable at low temperatures, in addition to higher temperatures. The phytases of the invention can be used in foodstuffs to improve the feeding value of phytate rich ingredients. The phytases of the invention can be formulated as foods or feeds or supplements for either to, e.g., aid in the digestion of phytate. The foods or feeds of the invention can be in the form of pellets, liquids, powders and the like. In one aspect, phytases of the invention are stabile against thermal denaturation during pelleting; and this decreases the cost of the phytase product while maintaining in vivo efficacy and detection of activity in feed.

Phytases, nucleic acids encoding them and methods for making and using them

A method for using a thermostable phytase for eliminating or reducing phytic acid or salts of phytic acid in an alcohol production process is disclosed. The phytase can be added anywhere in the alcohol production process including a feedstock, a hammer mill, a slurry tank, a jet cooker, a liquefaction, a mash cooker, a fermentation, a beer, a distillation system, a whole stillage, a centrifuge, a thin stillage, an evaporator, a condensate, a syrup, a wet grain, a drum dryer, a distillers dried grain, distillers solubles, distillers wet grain, condensed distillers solubles distillers dried grains with solubles a molecular sieves, or any combination thereof. The alcohol production process can be in an ethanol production plant; a spirit or a drinkable alcohol production plant; or a fuel ethanol plant.

Methods for using a thermostable phytase in ethanol production

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San Diego, CA, United States of America

Axel Trefzer