Unilever Home and Personal Care Usa, Division of Conopco, Inc.

Lever Brothers Company, Division of Conopco, Inc.

Michael John Gidley

Paul James Davis

Mark John Berry

Daniel Convents

Cornelis Paul Van Der Logt

There is provided a bleaching enzyme capable of generating a bleaching chemical and having a high binding affinity for non-colored compounds present in stains on fabrics, said non-colored compounds having a molecular weight of at least 100, preferably of at least 1,000 and more preferably of at least 5,000. Furthermore, there is provided an enzymatic bleaching composition comprising said bleaching enzyme and a surfactant and a process for bleaching stains present of fabrics.

Bleaching enzymes and detergent compositions comprising them

A polysaccharide conjugate comprises a polysaccharide with an attached entity having a molecular weight of at least 5000, the polysaccharide conjugate being capable of binding to cellulose. Preferred polysaccharides include tamarind seed xyloglucan, locust bean gum and enzyme modified guar. The attached entity is suitably a protein such as an enzyme, antibody or antibody fragment, or a particle possibly having a benefit agent such as a fragrance associated therewith. Because the polysaccharide conjugate binds to cellulose, which is present in cotton and other fabrics, paper, etc., binding of the conjugate to cellulose brings the attached entity into close proximity to a surface of or containing cellulose. The invention thus enables targeting of attached entities to such surfaces. The invention also provides a product incorporating the polysaccharide conjugate of the invention. The product is conveniently a laundry product such as a fabric washing product, e.g. a detergent product, or a fabric conditioning product. In this case the attached entity may be an enzyme, a particle bearing fragrance, etc. The invention also provides a method of targeting binding of an entity to cellulose by use of the polysaccharide conjugate of the invention.

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Sharnbrook, United Kingdom

Michael John Gidley