Basf Se Corporation

The University of Edinburgh

Bayer Cropscience Nv

Tom J Simmons

Frank Meulewaeter

Stephen C Fry

Kyle E Mohler

Ilse Van Den Brande

Lenka Frankova

Claire Holland

Andrew Hudson

The present invention relates to a hetero-transglycosylase protein having cellulose:xyloglucan endotransglucosylase (CXE) activity in addition to mixed-linkage beta-glucan:xyloglucan endotransglucosylase (MXE) activity. The protein may comprise the amino acid sequence of any one of SEQ ID NOs: 2, 6 and 8 or a functional fragment thereof; or an amino acid sequence having at least 60% sequence identity to any one of SEQ ID NO: 2, 6 and 8, or to SEQ ID NO: 2 from amino acid 22 to 280, to SEQ ID NO: 6 from amino acid 26 to 283, or to SEQ ID NO: 8 from amino acid 29 to 287. The invention furthermore relates to an isolated nucleic acid encoding the protein described herein, a chimeric gene comprising, inter alia, the nucleic acid described herein, a vector comprising said chimeric gene, a host cell comprising said vector or said chimeric gene and an according transgenic plant. Further disclosed herein in are a method of producing a transgenic plant and a method of improving properties of cellulosic material.

Hetero-transglycosylase and uses thereof

Growing community of inventors

Lancashire, United Kingdom

Tom J Simmons