Methods for reducing the harshness of a cotton-containing fabric

• US 5,648,263 A
• Filed: 05/30/1995
• Issued: 07/15/1997
• Est. Priority Date: 03/24/1988
• Status: Expired due to Term

• Current Assignee: Novozymes A/S (Novozymes)
• Original Assignee: Novo Nordisk A/S
• Inventors: Schulein, Martin, Levring, Kirsten B.o slashed.egh
• Primary Examiner(s): HEGGESTAD, HELEN F
• Application Number:
  US08/453,606
• Time in Patent Office: 777 Days
• Field of Search: 435/263, 435/209, 252/174.12, 252/DIG. 12
• US Class Current: 435/263
• CPC Class Codes: C11D 3/38645 containing cellulase
• CPC Class Codes: C12N 9/2437 Cellulases (3.2.1.4; 3.2.1.74; 3.2.1.91; 3.2.1.150)
• CPC Class Codes: C12Y 302/01004 Cellulase (3.2.1.4), i.e. endo-1,4-beta-glucanase
• CPC Class Codes: D06M 16/003 with enzymes or microorganisms
• CPC Class Codes: D06M 2101/06 cellulosic
• CPC Class Codes: D06M 2200/50 Modified hand or grip properties; Softening compositions
• CPC Class Codes: Y10S 435/911 using fungi
• CPC Class Codes: Y10S 435/929 Fusarium

Abstract

The present invention relates to methods of reducing the rate at which a cotton-containing fabric becomes harsh or of reducing the harshness of a cotton-containing fabric, comprising treating the cotton-containing fabric with a cellulase preparation obtained from a fungus, wherein the cellulase preparation comprises a substantially homogeneous endoglucanase component which: (a) has a pH optimum of about 7.5-10.0; (b) exhibits a CMC endoase activity of at least about 10 CMC-endoase units per mg of total protein; (c) exhibits a CAVU activity of at least about 50% at a pH of 7.0-12.0; and (d) has essentially no cellobiohydrolase activity; wherein at least about 50% by weight of the total cellulase content of the cellulase preparation is the endoglucanase component.

Claims

1. A method of reducing the rate at which a cotton-containing fabric becomes harsh or of reducing the harshness of a cotton-containing fabric, comprising treating the cotton-containing fabric with an effective amount of a cellulase preparation obtained from a fungus, wherein the cellulase preparation comprises a substantially homogeneous endoglucanase component which:

(a) has a pH optimum of about 7.5-10.0;

(b) exhibits a CMC endoase activity of at least about 10 CMC-endoase units per mg of total protein;

(c) exhibits a CAVU activity of at least about 50% at a pH of 7.0-12.0; and

(d) has essentially no cellobiohydrolase activity;

wherein at least about 50% by weight of the total cellulase content of the cellulase preparation is the endoglucanase component.

2. The method according to claim 1, wherein at least about 90% by weight of the total cellulase content of the cellulase preparation is the endoglucanase component.

3. The method according to claim 1, wherein the endoglucanase component exhibits a CMC-endoase activity of at least about 15 CMC-endoase units per mg of total protein.

4. The method according to claim 3, wherein the endoglucanase component exhibits a CMC-endoase activity of at least about 50 CMC-endoase units per mg of total protein.

5. The method according to claim 1, wherein the endoglucanase component exhibits a CAVU activity in excess of about 65%.

6. The method according to claim 5, wherein the endoglucanase component exhibits a CAVU activity in excess of about 75%.

7. The method according to claim 1, wherein the fungus is Humicola.

8. The method according to claim 7, wherein the fungus is Humicola insolens.

9. The method according to claim 1, wherein the fungus is Fusarium.

10. The method according to claim 9, wherein the fungus is Fusarium oxysporum.

11. The method according to claim 1, wherein the fungus is Myceliopthora.

12. The method according to claim 1, wherein the endoglucanase component has a molecular weight of about 65 kilodaltons as determined by denaturing gel electrophoresis.

13. The method according to claim 12, wherein the fungus is Humicola.

14. The method according to claim 13, wherein the fungus is Humicola insolens.

15. The method according to claim 1, wherein the endoglucanase component has

(e) an isoelectric point of about 8.5-9.5;

and

(f) an immunological reaction with a polyspecific antibody raised against cellulase derived from Humicola insolens DSM 1800.

16. The method according to claim 1, wherein the endoglucanase component has a molecular weight of about 80 kilodaltons as determined by denaturing gel electrophoresis.

17. The method according to claim 16, wherein the fungus is Fusarium.

18. The method according to claim 17, wherein the fungus is Fusarium oxysporum.

19. The method according to claim 1 wherein the fabric is treated with the cellulase preparation during soaking, washing or rinsing.