TECHNICAU FIEUD

The present invention relates to endoproteases. More particularly, the present invention relates to the use of endoproteases for reduction or elimination of beer haze, and stabilization of beer foam.

BACKGROUND

Beer-haze, a cloudy appearance in beer, is caused by the aggregation of hydrophobic proteins, e.g., hordeins, from barley, and polyphenols, resulting in a beer with an undesirable cloudy or hazy appearance. The appearance of haze in beer is most often seen when beer is chilled for storage. This phenomenon is sometimes called chill-haze. Haze formation can also occur in wine and fruit juices.

It is known to use acid proteases such as papain to proteolyze the hydrophobic proteins and hence prevent haze formation. However, broad spectrum proteases such as papain have been found to impair beer foam formation. More selective proteases such as proline specific endoproteases have also been employed to reduce beer haze. However, present commercial offerings are overly expensive and do not provide complete beer-haze removal. In this regard, current beer haze proteases are not sufficiently specific to enable complete hydrolysis and require additional steps such as filtration assisted by e.g., PVPP (polyvinylpolypyrrolidone) or silica gel. Hence, there is continuing need for proteases that can be used to prevent chill haze more thoroughly at a reasonable cost, with increased specificity and which do not survive the brewing process.

Furthermore, there is a need for endoproteases that can reduce beer haze, but which do not have an adverse effect on foam formation and stability.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

In accordance with an aspect of the present invention, a method for the reduction or prevention of haze in a beverage is presented having the step of adding an endoprotease to the beverage, wherein the endoprotease is an enzyme having at least 75, 80, 85, 90, 95, 98, 99 or 100% sequence identity to SEQ ID NO:l, SEQ ID NO:2, SEQ ID NO:3, SEQ ID NO:4 or SEQ ID NO: 16 or an endoprotease active fragment thereof such as a mature protein.

Optionally, the endoprotease active fragment is a mature protein. Optionally, the beverage contains proteins. Optionally, the beverage contains polyphenols. Optionally, the beverage is a beer. Optionally, the beverage is a wine. Optionally, the beverage is a fruit juice.

Optionally, the endoprotease is added to a wort. Optionally, the endoprotease is added to a beer after haze has been formed. Optionally, the endoprotease is added to a beer before haze has been formed.

Optionally, the beer has an increased relative foam stability and an increased relative haze reduction. Optionally, the increased relative foam stability is above 100, 101, 102, 103, 104, 105, 106, 107, 108, 109 or 110%. Optionally, the increased relative haze reduction is above 73%, 74%, 75%, 76%, 77%, 78%, 79%, 80% as measured by 90° scattering.

Optionally, the endoprotease is present in the wort in an amount of 4 to 300 mg protease/ hL wort, optionally 10 to 250 mg protease/ hL wort, optionally 20 to 200 mg protease/ hL wort, optionally 30 to 150 mg protease/ hL wort or optionally 40 to 100 mg protease/ hL wort.

Optionally, the method has the further step of adding one or more of an ALDC enzyme, a glucoamylase, a maltogenic alpha-amylase, a pullulanase, a catalase or a transglucosidase.

Optionally, the ALDC enzyme is an acetolactate decarboxylase as set forth in EC 4.1.1.5. Optionally, the glucoamylase is a 1,4-alpha-glucosidase as set forth in EC 3.2.1.3. Optionally, the maltogenic alpha amylase is a glucan 1, 4-alpha- maltohydrolase as set forth in EC 3.3.1.133. Optionally, the pullulanase is an alpha-dextrin endo-l,6-alpha-glucosidase, limit dextrinase, amylopectin 6-glucanohydrolase, debranching enzyme as set forth in EC 3.2.1.41. Optionally, the transglucosidase is 1,4-alpha-glucan-branching enzyme, Oligoglucan-branching glucosyltransferse as set forth in EC 2.4.1.24.

In another aspect of the present invention, a method is presented for increasing relative foam stability in a beer having the step of adding an endoprotease to the beverage, wherein the endoprotease is an enzyme having at least 75, 80, 85, 90, 95, 98, 99 or 100% sequence identity to SEQ ID NO:l, SEQ ID NO:2, SEQ ID NO:3, SEQ ID NO:4 or SEQ ID NO: 16 or an endoprotease active fragment thereof such as a mature protein.

Optionally, the increased relative foam stability is above 100, 101, 102, 103, 104, 105, 106, 107, 108, 109 or 110%. Optionally, the endoprotease active fragment is a mature protein.

Optionally, the endoprotease is added to a wort. Optionally, the endoprotease is added to a beer after haze has been formed. Optionally, the endoprotease is added to a beer before haze has been formed. .

Optionally, the endoprotease is present in the wort in an amount of 4 to 300 mg protease/ hL wort, optionally 10 to 250 mg protease/ hL wort, optionally 20 to 200 mg protease/ hL wort, optionally 30 to 150 mg protease/ hL wort or optionally 40 to 100 mg protease/ hL wort.

Optionally, the method has the further step of adding one or more of an ALDC enzyme, a glucoamylase, a maltogenic alpha-amylase, a pullulanase, a catalase or a transglucosidase.

Optionally, the ALDC enzyme is an acetolactate decarboxylase as set forth in EC 4.1.1.5. Optionally, the glucoamylase is a 1,4-alpha-glucosidase as set forth in EC 3.2.1.3. Optionally, the maltogenic alpha amylase is a glucan 1, 4-alpha- maltohydrolase as set forth in EC 3.3.1.133. Optionally, the pullulanase is an alpha-dextrin endo-l,6-alpha-glucosidase, limit dextrinase, amylopectin 6-glucanohydrolase, debranching enzyme as set forth in EC 3.2.1.41. Optionally, the transglucosidase is 1,4-alpha-glucan-branching enzyme, Oligoglucan-branching glucosyltransferse as set forth in EC 2.4.1.24.

Optionally, the beer has an increased relative foam stability and an increased relative haze reduction. Optionally, the increased relative haze reduction is above 73%, 74%, 75%, 76%, 77%, 78%, 79%, 80% as measured by 90° scattering.

In another aspect of the present invention, an isolated polypeptide is presented comprising an endoprotease wherein said endoprotease is an enzyme having at least 75, 80, 85, 90, 95, 98, 99 or 100% sequence identity to SEQ ID NO:l, SEQ ID NO:2, SEQ ID NO:3, SEQ ID NO:4 or SEQ ID NO: 16 or an endoprotease active fragment thereof.

In another aspect of the present invention, an isolated polynucleotide is presented having a nucleic acid sequence which encodes the above polypeptide.

In another aspect of the present invention, a nucleic acid construct is presented having the above polynucleotide operably linked to one or more control sequences that direct the production of the polypeptide in a suitable expression host.

In another aspect of the present invention, a recombinant expression vector is presented having the above nucleic acid construct. In another aspect of the present invention, a recombinant host cell is presented having the above nucleic acid construct or the above vector.

In another aspect of the present invention, a method for producing the above polypeptide is presented having the step of cultivating of the above recombinant host cell, to produce a supernatant and/or cells having the polypeptide; and recovering the polypeptide.

In another aspect of the present invention, a polypeptide is presented produced by the above method.

In another aspect of the present invention, use of a filtrate obtained from a fermentation broth obtained by the above method in the prevention or reduction of haze in a beverage is presented.

In another aspect of the present invention, a composition having a polypeptide, isolated polynucleotide, nucleic acid construct, recombinant expression vector, or recombinant host cell as described above is presented.

In another aspect of the present invention, use of a polypeptide, isolated polynucleotide, nucleic acid construct, recombinant expression vector, or recombinant host cell as described above for increasing relative foam stability in a beverage is presented.

In another aspect of the present invention, use of a polypeptide, isolated polynucleotide, nucleic acid construct, recombinant expression vector, or recombinant host cell as described above for increasing relative haze reduction in a beverage is presented.

In another aspect of the present invention, a method for reducing haze in a beverage having the step of adding to the beverage a glutamine endoprotease wherein the beverage has a protein or peptide having a glutamine residue which is cut by the protease thereby reducing haze is presented. Optionally, the glutamine endoprotease also cuts at proline residues. Optionally, the beverage is fruit juice, wine, or beer. Optionally, the beverage is beer.

Optionally, the glutamine endoprotease comprises a polypeptide having at least 80, 85, 90, 95, 98, or 99% homology to SEQ ID NO:2 or SEQ ID NO: 16 or an endoprotease active fragment thereof such as a mature protein lacking the signal sequence. Optionally, the glutamine endoprotease comprises a polypeptide according to SEQ ID NO: 16. BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE BIOLOGICAL SEQUENCES

SEQ ID NO:l is the AbePro2 precursor protein.

SEQ ID NO:2 is the AniPro_2 precursor protein.

SEQ ID NO:3 is the AtrProl precursor protein.

SEQ ID NO:4 is the AhoPro3 precursor protein.

SEQ ID NO:5 is the ApsProl precursor protein.

SEQ ID NO:6 is the AnePro2 precursor protein.

SEQ ID NO:7 is the AalPro2 precursor protein.

SEQ ID NO:8 is the AcoPro2 precursor protein.

SEQ ID NO:9 is the AwePro2 precursor protein.

SEQ ID NO: 10 is the AbrProl precursor protein.

SEQ ID NO: 11 is the AscPro5 precursor protein.

SEQ ID NO: 12 is the full length MorProl DNA.

SEQ ID NO: 13 is full length MorProl precursor.

SEQ ID NO: 14 is MorProl predicted mature enzyme.

SEQ ID NO:15 is a synthesized nucleotide sequence encoding full-length MorProl. SEQ ID NO: 16 is AniPro_2 mature protein.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

FIG. 1 is the AbePro2 precursor protein.

FIG. 2 is the AniPro_2 precursor protein.

FIG. 3 is the AtrProl precursor protein.

FIG. 4 is the AhoPro3 precursor protein.

FIG 5. shows haze reduction performance of purified AhoPro3 and AnPro shown as OD600 in response to enzyme concentrations of 3 to 190 ppm.

FIG. 6 shows haze reduction performance of purified AtrProl, AbePro2 and AnPro shown as OD600 in response to enzyme concentrations of 3 to 190 ppm.

FIG. 7 shows haze reduction performance of purified AniPro_2 and AnPro shown as OD600 in response to enzyme concentrations of 0.625 to 20 ppm.

FIG. 8 is the ApsProl precursor protein. FIG. 9 is the AnePro2 precursor protein.

FIG. 10 is the AalPro2 precursor protein.

FIG. 11 is the AcoPro2 precursor protein.

FIG. 12 is the AwePro2 precursor protein.

FIG. 13 is the AbrProl precursor protein.

FIG. 14 is the AscPro5 precursor protein.

FIG. 15 shows the haze reduction performance of purified ApsProl, AnePro2, AalPro2, AcoPro2, AwePro2, AbrProl, AscPro5 and AnPro shown as A600 in response to enzyme concentrations of 3 to 200 ppm.

FIG. 16 shows the proteolytic activity of AhoPro3, ApsProl, AnePro2, AalPro2, AcoPro2, AwePro2, AbrProl, AscPro5 and AnPro shown as A405 in response to enzyme concentrations of 0 to 10 ppm.

FIG. 17 shows full length MorProl DNA.

FIG. 18 shows full length MorProl precursor.

FIG. 19 shows MorProl predicted mature enzyme.

FIG. 20 shows a synthesized nucleotide sequence encoding full-length MorProl.

FIG. 21 A shows the nomenclature of protease substrate specificity. Amino acid residues in the substrate are numbered outward from the protease cleavage site as: P3, P2, PI, PI ‘,P2‘,

P3 ‘ and the cleavage site is highlighted by the black arrow, between PI and RG.

FIG. 2 IB depicts peptides generated from malt beers produced at 1 hL scale with or without endoproteases and the relative amino acid content at the peptide termini positions corresponding to P3‘-P3 by protease cleavage. The relative amino acid content of peptides in the PI position is shown in graphs to the left for control (no enzyme), MorProl, AnPro and AniPro2. The relative amino acid content at the peptide position corresponding to P3-P3’ are shown to the right with graphs displaying the cumulative content of each amino acid at given positions and hereby the detailed protease specificity preferences.

FIG. 22 shows peptides from malt beers produced at 1 hL scale with or without endoproteases was analyzed by LC-MS and the average peptide length (number of amino acid residues) was calculated from more than 300 unique peptides identified as described in example 31. Average peptide length is calculated for beer produced with AniPro2, AnPro, MorProl and Control (no enzyme).

FIG. 23 shows AniPro_2 mature protein.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

The practice of the present teachings will employ, unless otherwise indicated, conventional techniques of molecular biology (including recombinant techniques), microbiology, cell biology, and biochemistry, which are within the skill of the art. Such techniques are explained fully in the literature, for example, Molecular Cloning: A Laboratory Manual, second edition (Sambrook et ak, 1989); Oligonucleotide Synthesis (M. J. Gait, ed., 1984; Current Protocols in Molecular Biology (F. M. Ausubel et ak, eds., 1994); PCR: The Polymerase Chain Reaction (Mullis et ak, eds., 1994); Gene Transfer and Expression: A Laboratory Manual (Kriegler, 1990), and The Alcohol Textbook (Ingledew et ak, eds., Fifth Edition, 2009), and Essentials of Carbohydrate Chemistry and Biochemistry (Lindhorste, 2007).

Unless defined otherwise herein, all technical and scientific terms used herein have the same meaning as commonly understood by one of ordinary skill in the art to which the present teachings belong. Singleton, et ak, Dictionary of Microbiology and Molecular Biology, second ed., John Wiley and Sons, New York (1994), and Hale & Markham, The Harper Collins Dictionary of Biology, Harper Perennial, NY (1991) provide one of skill with a general dictionary of many of the terms used in this invention. Any methods and materials similar or equivalent to those described herein can be used in the practice or testing of the present teachings.

Numeric ranges provided herein are inclusive of the numbers defining the range. Definitions and Abbreviations

The terms, “wild-type,” “parental,” or “reference,” with respect to a polypeptide, refer to a naturally-occurring polypeptide that does not include a man-made substitution, insertion, or deletion at one or more amino acid positions. Similarly, the terms “wild-type,” “parental,” or “reference,” with respect to a polynucleotide, refer to a naturally-occurring polynucleotide that does not include a man-made nucleoside change. However, note that a polynucleotide encoding a wild-type, parental, or reference polypeptide is not limited to a naturally-occurring polynucleotide, and encompasses any polynucleotide encoding the wild-type, parental, or reference polypeptide.

The term “variant,” with respect to a polypeptide, refers to a polypeptide that differs from a specified wild-type, parental, or reference polypeptide in that it includes one or more naturally- occurring or man-made substitutions, insertions, or deletions of an amino acid. Similarly, the term “variant,” with respect to a polynucleotide, refers to a polynucleotide that differs in nucleotide sequence from a specified wild-type, parental, or reference polynucleotide. The identity of the wild-type, parental, or reference polypeptide or polynucleotide will be apparent from context.

The term “recombinant,” when used in reference to a subject cell, nucleic acid, protein or vector, indicates that the subject has been modified from its native state. Thus, for example, recombinant cells express genes that are not found within the native (non-recombinant) form of the cell, or express native genes at different levels or under different conditions than found in nature. Recombinant nucleic acids differ from a native sequence by one or more nucleotides and/or are operably linked to heterologous sequences, e.g., a heterologous promoter in an expression vector. Recombinant proteins may differ from a native sequence by one or more amino acids and/or are fused with heterologous sequences. A vector comprising a nucleic acid encoding an endoprotease is a recombinant vector.

The terms “recovered,” “isolated,” and “separated,” refer to a compound, protein (polypeptides), cell, nucleic acid, amino acid, or other specified material or component that is removed from at least one other material or component with which it is naturally associated as found in nature. An “isolated” polypeptides, thereof, includes, but is not limited to, a culture broth containing secreted polypeptide expressed in a heterologous host cell.

The term “purified” refers to material (e.g., an isolated polypeptide or polynucleotide) that is in a relatively pure state, e.g., at least about 90% pure, at least about 95% pure, at least about

The term “amino acid sequence” is synonymous with the terms “polypeptide,” “protein,” and “peptide,” and are used interchangeably. Where such amino acid sequences exhibit activity, they may be referred to as an “enzyme.” The conventional one-letter or three-letter codes for amino acid residues are used, with amino acid sequences being presented in the standard amino- to-carboxy terminal orientation (i.e., N C). The term “nucleic acid” encompasses DNA, RNA, heteroduplexes, and synthetic molecules capable of encoding a polypeptide. Nucleic acids may be single stranded or double stranded, and may be chemical modifications. The terms “nucleic acid” and “polynucleotide” are used interchangeably. Because the genetic code is degenerate, more than one codon may be used to encode a particular amino acid, and the present compositions and methods encompass nucleotide sequences that encode a particular amino acid sequence. Unless otherwise indicated, nucleic acid sequences are presented in 5 '-to-3 ' orientation.

The terms “transformed,” “stably transformed,” and “transgenic,” used with reference to a cell means that the cell contains a non-native ( e.g ., heterologous) nucleic acid sequence integrated into its genome or carried as an episome that is maintained through multiple generations.

The term “introduced” in the context of inserting a nucleic acid sequence into a cell, means “transfection”, “transformation” or “transduction,” as known in the art.

A “host strain” or “host cell” is an organism into which an expression vector, phage, vims, or other DNA construct, including a polynucleotide encoding a polypeptide of interest (e.g., an endoprotease) has been introduced. Exemplary host strains are microorganism cells (e.g., bacteria, filamentous fungi, and yeast) capable of expressing the polypeptide of interest. The term “host cell” includes protoplasts created from cells.

The term “heterologous” with reference to a polynucleotide or protein refers to a polynucleotide or protein that does not naturally occur in a host cell.

The term “endogenous” with reference to a polynucleotide or protein refers to a polynucleotide or protein that occurs naturally in the host cell.

The term “expression” refers to the process by which a polypeptide is produced based on a nucleic acid sequence. The process includes both transcription and translation.

A “vector” refers to a polynucleotide sequence designed to introduce nucleic acids into one or more cell types. Vectors include cloning vectors, expression vectors, shuttle vectors, plasmids, phage particles, cassettes and the like.

An “expression vector” refers to a DNA construct comprising a DNA sequence encoding a polypeptide of interest, which coding sequence is operably linked to a suitable control sequence capable of effecting expression of the DNA in a suitable host. Such control sequences may include a promoter to effect transcription, an optional operator sequence to control transcription, a sequence encoding suitable ribosome binding sites on the mRNA, enhancers and sequences which control termination of transcription and translation.

As used herein, “percent sequence identity” means that a particular sequence has at least a certain percentage of amino acid residues identical to those in a specified reference sequence, when aligned using the CLUSTAL W algorithm with default parameters. See Thompson et al. (1994) Nucleic Acids Res. 22:4673-4680. Default parameters for the CLUSTAL W algorithm are:

Gap opening penalty: 10.0

Gap extension penalty: 0.05

Protein weight matrix: BLOSUM series

DNA weight matrix: IUB

Delay divergent sequences %: 40

Gap separation distance: 8

DNA transitions weight: 0.50

List hydrophilic residues: GPSNDQEKR

Use negative matrix: OFF

Toggle Residue specific penalties: ON Toggle hydrophilic penalties: ON Toggle end gap separation penalty OFF.

Deletions are counted as non-identical residues, compared to a reference sequence. Deletions occurring at either terminus are included.

The term “about” refers to ± 5% to the referenced value.

As used herein, the term “beer” traditionally refers to an alcoholic beverage derived from malt, which is derived from barley, and optionally adjuncts, such as cereal grains, and flavored with hops. However, “beer” can also be derived from adjuncts such as rice, sorghum, etc. Beer can be made from a variety of grains by essentially the same process. All grain starches are glucose homopolymers in which the glucose residues are linked by either alpha- 1,4- or alpha- 1, 6-bonds, with the former predominating. The process of making fermented malt beverages is commonly referred to as brewing. The principal raw materials used in making these beverages are water, hops and malt. In addition, adjuncts such as common com grits, refined corn grits, rice, sorghum, refined com starch, barley, barley starch, dehusked barley, wheat, wheat starch, torrefied cereal, cereal flakes, rye, oats, potato, tapioca, and symps, such as com syrup, sugar cane symp, inverted sugar syrup, barley and/or wheat symps, and the like may be used as a source of starch or fermentable sugar types. The starch will eventually be converted into dextrins and fermentable sugars. For a number of reasons, the malt, which is produced principally from selected varieties of barley, has the greatest effect on the overall character and quality of the beer. First, the malt is the primary flavoring agent in beer. Second, the malt provides the major portion of the fermentable sugar. Third, the malt provides the proteins, which will contribute to the body and foam character of the beer. Fourth, the malt provides the necessary enzymatic activity during mashing.

The process for making beer is one that is well known in the art, but briefly, it involves five steps: (a) adjunct cooking and/or mashing (b) wort separation and extraction (c) boiling and hopping of wort (d) cooling, fermentation and storage, and (e) maturation, processing and packaging. In the first step, milled or crushed malt is mixed with water and held for a period of time under controlled temperatures to permit the enzymes present in the malt to, for example, convert the starch present in the malt into fermentable sugars. In the second step, the mash is transferred to a "lauter tun" or mash filter where the liquid is separated from the grain residue. This sweet liquid is called "wort" and the left-over grain residue is called “spent grain”. The mash is typically subjected to an extraction during mash separation, which involves adding water to the mash in order to recover the residual soluble extract from the spent grain. In the third step, the wort is boiled vigorously. This sterilizes the wort and helps to develop the color, flavor, and odor. Hops are added at some point during the boiling. In the fourth step, the wort is cooled and transferred to a fermenter, which either contains the yeast or to which yeast is added. The yeast converts the sugars by fermentation into alcohol and carbon dioxide gas; at the end of fermentation the fermenter is chilled or the fermenter may be chilled to stop fermentation. The yeast flocculates and is removed. In the last step, the beer is cooled and stored for a period of time, during which the beer clarifies, and its flavor develops, and any material that might impair the appearance, flavor and shelf life of the beer settles out. Prior to packaging, the beer is carbonated and, optionally, filtered and pasteurized. After fermentation, a beverage is obtained which usually contains from about 2% to about 10% alcohol by weight. The non-fermentable carbohydrates are not converted during fermentation and form the majority of the dissolved solids in the final beer. This residue remains because of the inability of malt enzymes to hydrolyze the alpha- 1,6-linkages of the starch and fully degrade the non-starch polysaccharides.

As used herein “haze” refers to the appearance of insoluble materials in beverages such as fruit juice, wine and beer. Haze is understood to occur when proteins (typically proline and glutamine rich proteins) interact with polyphenols to form insoluble complexes. Such complexes are well known in beer brewing, particularly where beer is chilled for storage. This phenomenon is sometimes also called chill haze.

The term “glutamine endoprotease” refers to an endoprotease that preferentially cuts a substrate protein or peptide at one or more glutamine residues.

As used herein, “increased relative foam stability” means an increased foam stability of the final beer achieved by the presence of an endoprotease in the fermenting wort as compared to fermenting the same wort without an endoprotease.

Foam stability can be measured by the NIB EM foam stability test as described in example 15. Relative foam stability may be calculated by measuring the NIBEM foam test collapse time (30mm) from a beer produced by the presence of an endoprotease in the fermenting wort and measuring the NIBEM foam test collapse time (30mm) of the beer produced by fermenting the same wort but without an endoprotease. The relative foam stability may be calculated as follows: (Collapse time NIBEM 30mm with PEP enzyme) / (Collapse time NIBEM 30mm without PEP enzyme) x 100%.

An increased relative foam stability above 100, 101, 102, 103, 104, 105, 106, 107, 108, 109, and 110 % is preferred.

As used herein “increased relative haze reduction” means an increased haze reduction measured in the final beer achieved by the presence of an endoprotease in the fermenting wort as compared to fermenting the same wort without an endoprotease.

Relative haze reduction can be measured by the EBC TOHA forced haze method as described in example 13. The relative haze reduction may be calculated by measuring the EBC TOHA forced haze 90° EBC scattering from a beer produced by the presence of an endoprotease in the fermenting wort and measuring the EBC TOHA forced haze 90° EBC scattering of the beer produced by fermenting the same wort however without an endoprotease. The relative haze reduction using endoprotease may be calculated against the beer without any PEP enzyme as follows: (EBC Turbidity 90° no enzyme - EBC Turbidity 90° with PEP enzyme) / EBC Turbidity 90° no enzyme X 100%.

Similarly, the relative haze reduction may be calculated by measuring the EBC TOHA forced haze using 25° EBC scattering from a beer produced by the presence of an endoprotease in the fermenting wort and measuring the EBC TOHA forced haze 25° EBC scattering of the beer produced by fermenting the same wort but without an endoprotease. The relative haze reduction using endoprotease may be calculated against the beer without any PEP enzyme as follows:

(EBC Turbidity 25° no enzyme - EBC Turbidity 25° with PEP enzyme) / EBC Turbidity 25° no enzyme X 100%.

An increased relative haze reduction (90°) above 67, 68, 69, 70, 71, 72, 73, 74, 75, 76,

77, 78, 79, 80, 81, 82, or 83% is preferred.

The present endoprotease may be “precursor,” “immature,” or “full-length,” in which case they include a signal sequence, or “mature,” in which case they lack a signal sequence. Mature forms of the polypeptides are generally the most useful. The present endoprotease polypeptides may also be truncated to remove the N or C-termini, so long as the resulting polypeptides retain endoprotease activity. In addition, endoprotease enzymes may be active fragments derived from a longer amino acid sequence. Active fragments are characterized by retaining some or all of the activity of the full-length enzyme but have deletions from the N- terminus, from the C-terminus or internally or combinations thereof. A mature protein may be considered an active fragment of a precursor, immature or full-length protein.

The present endoprotease may be a “chimeric” or “hybrid” polypeptide, in that it includes at least a portion of a first endoprotease polypeptide, and at least a portion of a second endoprotease polypeptide. The present endoprotease may further include heterologous signal sequence, an epitope to allow tracking or purification, or the like. Exemplary heterologous signal sequences are from B. licheniformis amylase (LAT), B. subtilis (AmyE or AprE), and Streptomyces CelA.

Production of endoproteases

The present endoprotease can be produced in host cells, for example, by secretion, by surface display, or by intracellular expression. A cultured cell material (e.g., a whole-cell broth) comprising an endoprotease can be obtained following secretion of the endoprotease into the cell medium. Optionally, the endoprotease can be isolated from the host cells, or even isolated from the cell broth, depending on the desired purity of the final endoprotease. Alternatively, an endoprotease can be expressed on the host cell surface.

A gene encoding an endoprotease can be cloned and expressed according to methods well known in the art. Suitable host cells include bacterial, fungal (including yeast and filamentous fungi), and plant cells (including algae). Particularly useful host cells include Saccharomyces cerevisiae, Saccharomyces pastorianus, Brettanomyces, Aspergillus niger, Aspergillus oryzae or Trichoderma reesei. Other host cells include bacterial cells, e.g., Bacillus subtilis or B. licheniformis , as well as Streptomyces, E. Coli.

In an aspect of the present invention, yeast cells expressing the endoprotease could be used directly in beer production for fermentation. In this aspect of the present invention, exogenous endoprotease would not have to be added. Haze reduction would be provided by the yeast expressed endoprotease.

The host cell further may express a nucleic acid encoding a homologous or heterologous endoprotease, i.e., an endoprotease that is not the same species as the host cell, or one or more other enzymes. The endoprotease may be a variant endoprotease. Additionally, the host may express one or more accessory enzymes, proteins, peptides.

Vectors

A DNA construct comprising a nucleic acid encoding an endoprotease can be constructed to be expressed in a host cell. Because of the well-known degeneracy in the genetic code, variant polynucleotides that encode an identical amino acid sequence can be designed and made with routine skill. It is also well-known in the art to optimize codon use for a particular host cell. Nucleic acids encoding endoprotease can be incorporated into a vector. Vectors can be transferred to a host cell using well-known transformation techniques, such as those disclosed below.

The vector may be any vector that can be transformed into and replicated within a host cell. For example, a vector comprising a nucleic acid encoding an endoprotease can be transformed and replicated in a bacterial host cell as a means of propagating and amplifying the vector. The vector also may be transformed into an expression host, so that the encoding nucleic acids can be expressed as a functional endoprotease. Host cells that serve as expression hosts can include filamentous fungi, for example. The Fungal Genetics Stock Center (FGSC) Catalogue of Strains lists suitable vectors for expression in fungal host cells. See FGSC, Catalogue of Strains, University of Missouri, at www.fgsc.net (last modified January 17, 2007). A representative vector is pJG153, a promoter less Cre expression vector that can be replicated in a bacterial host. See Harrison et al. (June 2011) Applied Environ. Microbiol. 77: 3916-22. pJG153can be modified with routine skill to comprise and express a nucleic acid encoding an endoprotease.

A nucleic acid encoding an endoprotease can be operably linked to a suitable promoter, which allows transcription in the host cell. The promoter may be any DNA sequence that shows transcriptional activity in the host cell of choice and may be derived from genes encoding proteins either homologous or heterologous to the host cell. Exemplary promoters for directing the transcription of the DNA sequence encoding an endoprotease, especially in a bacterial host, are the promoter of the lac operon of E. coli, the Streptomyces coelicolor agarase gene dagA or celA promoters, the promoters of the Bacillus licheniformis a-amylase gene (amyL), the promoters of the Bacillus stearothermophilus maltogenic amylase gene (amyM), the promoters of the Bacillus amyloliquefaciens a-amylase (amyQ), the promoters of the Bacillus subtilis xylA and xylB genes etc. For transcription in a fungal host, examples of useful promoters are those derived from the gene encoding Aspergillus oryzae TAKA amylase, Rhizomucor miehei aspartic proteinase, Aspergillus niger neutral a-amylase, A. niger acid stable a-amylase, A. niger glucoamylase, Rhizomucor miehei lipase, A. oryzae alkaline protease, A. oryzae triose phosphate isomerase, or A. nidulans acetamidase. When a gene encoding an endoprotease is expressed in a bacterial species such as E. coli, a suitable promoter can be selected, for example, from a bacteriophage promoter including a T7 promoter and a phage lambda promoter. Examples of suitable promoters for the expression in a yeast species include but are not limited to the Gal 1 and Gal 10 promoters of Saccharomyces cerevisiae and the Pichia pastoris AOX1 or AOX2 promoters cbhl is an endogenous, inducible promoter from T. reesei. See Liu et al. (2008) “Improved heterologous gene expression in Trichoderma reesei by cellobiohydrolase I gene (cbhl) promoter optimization,” Acta Biochim. Biophys. Sin (Shanghai) 40(2): 158-65.

The coding sequence can be operably linked to a signal sequence. The DNA encoding the signal sequence may be the DNA sequence naturally associated with the endoprotease gene to be expressed or from a different Genus or species. A signal sequence and a promoter sequence comprising a DNA construct or vector can be introduced into a fungal host cell and can be derived from the same source. For example, the signal sequence is the cbhl signal sequence that is operably linked to a cbhl promoter.

An expression vector may also comprise a suitable transcription terminator and, in eukaryotes, polyadenylation sequences operably linked to the DNA sequence encoding a variant endoprotease. Termination and polyadenylation sequences may suitably be derived from the same sources as the promoter.

The vector may further comprise a DNA sequence enabling the vector to replicate in the host cell. Examples of such sequences are the origins of replication of plasmids pUC19, pACYClW, pUBllO, pE194, pAMBl, and pIJ702.

The vector may also comprise a selectable marker, e.g., a gene the product of which complements a defect in the isolated host cell, such as the dal genes from B. subtilis or B. licheniformis, or a gene that confers antibiotic resistance such as, e.g., ampicillin, kanamycin, chloramphenicol or tetracycline resistance. Furthermore, the vector may comprise Aspergillus selection markers such as amdS, argB , niaD and xxsC, a marker giving rise to hygromycin resistance, or the selection may be accomplished by co-transformation, such as known in the art.

Transformation and Culture of Host Cells

An isolated cell, either comprising a DNA construct or an expression vector, is advantageously used as a host cell in the recombinant production of an endoprotease. The cell may be transformed with the DNA construct encoding the enzyme, conveniently by integrating the DNA construct (in one or more copies) in the host chromosome. This integration is generally considered to be an advantage, as the DNA sequence is more likely to be stably maintained in the cell. Integration of the DNA constructs into the host chromosome may be performed according to conventional methods, e.g., by homologous or heterologous recombination. Alternatively, the cell may be transformed with an expression vector as described above in connection with the different types of host cells. A suitable yeast host organism can be selected from the biotechnologically relevant yeasts species such as but not limited to yeast species such as Pichia sp., Hansenula sp., or Kluyveromyces, Yarrowinia, Schizosaccharomyces species or a species of Saccharomyces, including Saccharomyces cerevisiae or a species belonging to Schizosaccharomyces such as, for example, S. pombe species. A strain of the methylotrophic yeast species, Pichia pastoris, can be used as the host organism. Alternatively, the host organism can be a Hansenula species.

Suitable host organisms among filamentous fungi include species of Aspergillus, e.g.,

Aspergillus niger, Aspergillus oryzae, Aspergillus tubigensis, Aspergillus awamori, or Aspergillus nidulans. Alternatively, strains of a Fusarium species, e.g., Fusarium oxysporum or of a Rhizomucor species such as Rhizomucor miehei can be used as the host organism. Other suitable strains include Thermomyces and Mucor species. In addition, Trichoderma sp. can be used as a host. A suitable procedure for transformation of Aspergillus host cells includes, for example, that described in EP 238023. An endoprotease expressed by a fungal host cell can be glycosylated, i.e., will comprise a glycosyl moiety. The glycosylation pattern can be the same or different as present in the wild type endoprotease. The type and/or degree of glycosylation may impart changes in enzymatic and/or biochemical properties.

It is advantageous to delete genes from expression hosts, where the gene deficiency can be cured by the transformed expression vector. Known methods may be used to obtain a fungal host cell having one or more inactivated genes. Gene inactivation may be accomplished by complete or partial deletion, by insertional inactivation or by any other means that renders a gene nonfunctional for its intended purpose, such that the gene is prevented from expression of a functional protein. Any gene from a Trichoderma sp. or other filamentous fungal host that has been cloned can be deleted, for example, cbhl, cbh2, egll, and egl2 genes. Gene deletion may be accomplished by inserting a form of the desired gene to be inactivated into a plasmid by methods known in the art.

Introduction of a DNA construct or vector into a host cell includes techniques such as transformation; electroporation; nuclear microinjection; transduction; transfection, e.g., lipofection mediated and DEAE-Dextrin mediated transfection; incubation with calcium phosphate DNA precipitate; high velocity bombardment with DNA-coated microprojectiles; and protoplast fusion. General transformation techniques are known in the art. See, e.g., Sambrook et al. (2001), supra. The expression of heterologous protein in Trichoderma is described, for example, in U.S. Patent No. 6,022,725. Reference is also made to Cao et al. (2000) Science 9:991-1001 for transformation of Aspergillus strains. Genetically stable transformants can be constructed with vector systems whereby the nucleic acid encoding an endoprotease is stably integrated into a host cell chromosome. Transformants are then selected and purified by known techniques.

The preparation of Trichoderma sp. for transformation, for example, may involve the preparation of protoplasts from fungal mycelia. See Campbell et al. (1989) Curr. Genet. 16: 53- 56. The mycelia can be obtained from germinated vegetative spores. The mycelia are treated with an enzyme that digests the cell wall, resulting in protoplasts. The protoplasts are protected by the presence of an osmotic stabilizer in the suspending medium. These stabilizers include sorbitol, mannitol, potassium chloride, magnesium sulfate, and the like. Usually, the concentration of these stabilizers varies between 0.8 M and 1.2 M, e.g., a 1.2 M solution of sorbitol can be used in the suspension medium.

Uptake of DNA into the host Trichoderma sp. strain depends upon the calcium ion concentration. Generally, between about 10-50 mM CaCh is used in an uptake solution. Additional suitable compounds include a buffering system, such as TE buffer (10 mM Tris, pH 7.4; 1 mM EDTA) or 10 mM MOPS, pH 6.0 and polyethylene glycol. The polyethylene glycol is believed to fuse the cell membranes, thus permitting the contents of the medium to be delivered into the cytoplasm of the Trichoderma sp. strain. This fusion frequently leaves multiple copies of the plasmid DNA integrated into the host chromosome.

Usually, transformation of Trichoderma sp. uses protoplasts or cells that have been subjected to a permeability treatment, typically at a density of 10 ⁵ to 10 ⁷ /mL, particularly 2xl0 ⁶ /mL. A volume of 100 pL of these protoplasts or cells in an appropriate solution (e.g.,

1.2 M sorbitol and 50 mM CaCh) may be mixed with the desired DNA. Generally, a high concentration of PEG is added to the uptake solution. From 0.1 to 1 volume of 25% PEG 4000 can be added to the protoplast suspension; however, it is useful to add about 0.25 volumes to the protoplast suspension. Additives, such as dimethyl sulfoxide, heparin, spermidine, potassium chloride and the like, may also be added to the uptake solution to facilitate transformation. Similar procedures are available for other fungal host cells. See, e.g., U.S. Patent No. 6,022,725. Expression

A method of producing an endoprotease may comprise cultivating a host cell as described above under conditions conducive to the production of the enzyme and recovering the enzyme from the cells and/or culture medium.

The medium used to cultivate the cells may be any conventional medium suitable for growing the host cell in question and obtaining expression of an endoprotease. Suitable media and media components are available from commercial suppliers or may be prepared according to published recipes ( e.g ., as described in catalogues of the American Type Culture Collection).

An enzyme secreted from the host cells can be used in a whole broth preparation. In the present methods, the preparation of a spent whole fermentation broth of a recombinant microorganism can be achieved using any cultivation method known in the art resulting in the expression of an endoprotease. Fermentation may, therefore, be understood as comprising shake flask cultivation, small- or large-scale fermentation (including continuous, batch, fed-batch, or solid-state fermentations) in laboratory or industrial fermenters performed in a suitable medium and under conditions allowing the endoprotease to be expressed or isolated. The term “spent whole fermentation broth” is defined herein as unfractionated contents of fermentation material that includes culture medium, extracellular proteins (e.g., enzymes), and cellular biomass. It is understood that the term “spent whole fermentation broth” also encompasses cellular biomass that has been lysed or permeabilized using methods well known in the art.

An enzyme secreted from the host cells may conveniently be recovered from the culture medium by well-known procedures, including separating the cells from the medium by centrifugation or filtration, and precipitating proteinaceous components of the medium by means of a salt such as ammonium sulfate, followed by the use of chromatographic procedures such as ion exchange chromatography, affinity chromatography, or the like.

The polynucleotide encoding an endoprotease in a vector can be operably linked to a control sequence that can provide for the expression of the coding sequence by the host cell, i.e., the vector is an expression vector. The control sequences may be modified, for example by the addition of further transcriptional regulatory elements to make the level of transcription directed by the control sequences more responsive to transcriptional modulators. The control sequences may in particular comprise promoters. Host cells may be cultured under suitable conditions that allow expression of an endoprotease. Expression of the enzymes may be constitutive such that they are continually produced, or inducible, requiring a stimulus to initiate expression. In the case of inducible expression, protein production can be initiated when required by, for example, addition of an inducer substance to the culture medium, for example dexamethasone or IPTG or Sophorose. Polypeptides can also be produced recombinantly in an in vitro cell-free system, such as the TNT™ (Promega) rabbit reticulocyte system.

An expression host also can be cultured in the appropriate medium for the host, under aerobic conditions. Shaking or a combination of agitation and aeration can be provided, with production occurring at the appropriate temperature for that host, e.g., from about 25°C to about 75°C (e.g., 30°C to 45°C), depending on the needs of the host and production of the desired endoprotease. Culturing can occur from about 12 to about 100 hours or greater (and any hour value there between, e.g., from 24 to 72 hours). Typically, the culture broth is at a pH of about 4.0 to about 8.0, again depending on the culture conditions needed for the host relative to production of an endoprotease.

Methods for Enriching and Purifying endoproteases

Fermentation, separation, and concentration techniques are well known in the art and conventional methods can be used to prepare an endoprotease polypeptide-containing solution.

After fermentation, a fermentation broth is obtained, the microbial cells and various suspended solids, including residual raw fermentation materials, are removed by conventional separation techniques to obtain an endoprotease solution. Filtration, centrifugation, microfiltration, rotary vacuum drum filtration, ultrafiltration, centrifugation followed by ultra filtration, extraction, or chromatography, or the like, are generally used.

It is desirable to concentrate an endoprotease polypeptide-containing solution to optimize recovery. Use of unconcentrated solutions requires increased incubation time in order to collect the enriched or purified enzyme precipitate.

The enzyme containing solution is concentrated using conventional concentration techniques until the desired enzyme level is obtained. Concentration of the enzyme containing solution may be achieved by any of the techniques discussed herein. Exemplary methods of enrichment and purification include but are not limited to rotary vacuum filtration and/or ultrafiltration.

The enzyme solution is concentrated into a concentrated enzyme solution until the enzyme activity of the concentrated endoprotease polypeptide-containing solution is at a desired level.

Concentration may be performed using, e.g., a precipitation agent, such as a metal halide precipitation agent. Metal halide precipitation agents include but are not limited to alkali metal chlorides, alkali metal bromides and blends of two or more of these metal halides. Exemplary metal halides include sodium chloride, potassium chloride, sodium bromide, potassium bromide and blends of two or more of these metal halides. The metal halide precipitation agent, sodium chloride, can also be used as a preservative.

The metal halide precipitation agent is used in an amount effective to precipitate an endoprotease. The selection of at least an effective amount and an optimum amount of metal halide effective to cause precipitation of the enzyme, as well as the conditions of the precipitation for maximum recovery including incubation time, pH, temperature and concentration of enzyme, will be readily apparent to one of ordinary skill in the art, after routine testing.

Generally, at least about 5% w/v (weight/volume) to about 25% w/v of metal halide is added to the concentrated enzyme solution, and usually at least 8% w/v. Generally, no more than about 25% w/v of metal halide is added to the concentrated enzyme solution and usually no more than about 20% w/v. The optimal concentration of the metal halide precipitation agent will depend, among others, on the nature of the specific endoprotease polypeptide and on its concentration in the concentrated enzyme solution.

Another alternative way to precipitate the enzyme is to use organic compounds. Exemplary organic compound precipitating agents include: 4-hydroxybenzoic acid, alkali metal salts of 4-hydroxybenzoic acid, alkyl esters of 4-hydroxybenzoic acid, and blends of two or more of these organic compounds. The addition of the organic compound precipitation agents can take place prior to, simultaneously with or subsequent to the addition of the metal halide precipitation agent, and the addition of both precipitation agents, organic compound and metal halide, may be carried out sequentially or simultaneously. Generally, the organic precipitation agents are selected from the group consisting of alkali metal salts of 4-hydroxybenzoic acid, such as sodium or potassium salts, and linear or branched alkyl esters of 4-hydroxybenzoic acid, wherein the alkyl group contains from 1 to 12 carbon atoms, and blends of two or more of these organic compounds. The organic compound precipitation agents can be, for example, linear or branched alkyl esters of 4-hydroxybenzoic acid, wherein the alkyl group contains from 1 to 10 carbon atoms, and blends of two or more of these organic compounds. Exemplary organic compounds are linear alkyl esters of 4- hydroxybenzoic acid, wherein the alkyl group contains from 1 to 6 carbon atoms, and blends of two or more of these organic compounds. Methyl esters of 4-hydroxybenzoic acid, propyl esters of 4-hydroxybenzoic acid, butyl ester of 4-hydroxybenzoic acid, ethyl ester of 4-hydroxybenzoic acid and blends of two or more of these organic compounds can also be used. Additional organic compounds also include but are not limited to 4-hydroxybenzoic acid methyl ester (named methyl PARABEN), 4-hydroxybenzoic acid propyl ester (named propyl PARABEN), which also are both preservative agents. For further descriptions, see , e.g., U.S. Patent No. 5,281,526.

Addition of the organic compound precipitation agent provides the advantage of high flexibility of the precipitation conditions with respect to pH, temperature, endoprotease concentration, precipitation agent concentration, and time of incubation.

The organic compound precipitation agent is used in an amount effective to improve precipitation of the enzyme by means of the metal halide precipitation agent. The selection of at least an effective amount and an optimum amount of organic compound precipitation agent, as well as the conditions of the precipitation for maximum recovery including incubation time, pH, temperature and concentration of enzyme, will be readily apparent to one of ordinary skill in the art, in light of the present disclosure, after routine testing.

Generally, at least about 0.01% w/v of organic compound precipitation agent is added to the concentrated enzyme solution and usually at least about 0.02% w/v. Generally, no more than about 0.3% w/v of organic compound precipitation agent is added to the concentrated enzyme solution and usually no more than about 0.2% w/v.

The concentrated polypeptide solution, containing the metal halide precipitation agent, and the organic compound precipitation agent, can be adjusted to a pH, which will, of necessity, depend on the enzyme to be enriched or purified. Generally, the pH is adjusted at a level near the isoelectric point of the endoprotease. The pH can be adjusted at a pH in a range from about 2.5 pH units below the isoelectric point (pi) up to about 2.5 pH units above the isoelectric point.

The incubation time necessary to obtain an enriched or purified enzyme precipitate depends on the nature of the specific enzyme, the concentration of enzyme, and the specific precipitation agent(s) and its (their) concentration. Generally, the time effective to precipitate the enzyme is between about 1 to about 30 hours; usually it does not exceed about 25 hours. In the presence of the organic compound precipitation agent, the time of incubation can still be reduced to less about 10 hours and in most cases even about 6 hours.

Generally, the temperature during incubation is between about 4°C and about 50°C. Usually, the method is carried out at a temperature between about 10°C and about 45°C (e.g., between about 20°C and about 40°C). The optimal temperature for inducing precipitation varies according to the solution conditions and the enzyme or precipitation agent(s) used.

The overall recovery of enriched or purified enzyme precipitate, and the efficiency with which the process is conducted, is improved by agitating the solution comprising the enzyme, the added metal halide and the added organic compound. The agitation step is done both during addition of the metal halide and the organic compound, and during the subsequent incubation period. Suitable agitation methods include mechanical stirring or shaking, vigorous aeration, or any similar technique.

After the incubation period, the enriched or purified enzyme is then separated from the dissociated pigment and other impurities and collected by conventional separation techniques, such as filtration, centrifugation, microfiltration, rotary vacuum filtration, ultrafiltration, press filtration, cross membrane microfiltration, cross flow membrane microfiltration, or the like. Further enrichment or purification of the enzyme precipitate can be obtained by washing the precipitate with water. For example, the enriched or purified enzyme precipitate is washed with water containing the metal halide precipitation agent, or with water containing the metal halide and the organic compound precipitation agents.

During fermentation, an endoprotease polypeptide accumulates in the culture broth. For the isolation, enrichment, or purification of the desired endoprotease, the culture broth is centrifuged or filtered to eliminate cells, and the resulting cell-free liquid is used for enzyme enrichment or purification. In one embodiment, the cell-free broth is subjected to salting out using ammonium sulfate at about 70% saturation; the 70% saturation-precipitation fraction is then dissolved in a buffer and applied to a column such as a Sephadex G-100 column, and eluted to recover the enzyme-active fraction. For further enrichment or purification, a conventional procedure such as ion exchange chromatography may be used. Enriched or purified enzymes can be made into a final product that is either liquid (solution, slurry) or solid (granular, powder).

Detailed Description of the Preferred Embodiments

In accordance with an aspect of the present invention, a method for the reduction or prevention of haze in a beverage is presented having the step of adding an endoprotease to the beverage, wherein the endoprotease is an enzyme having at least 75, 80, 85, 90, 95, 98, 99 or 100% sequence identity to SEQ ID NO:l, SEQ ID NO:2, SEQ ID NOG, SEQ ID NO:4 or SEQ ID NO: 16 or an endoprotease active fragment thereof such as a mature protein.

Preferably, the endoprotease active fragment is a mature protein. Preferably, the beverage contains proteins. Preferably, the beverage contains polyphenols. Preferably, the beverage is a beer. Preferably, the beverage is a wine. Preferably, the beverage is a fruit juice.

Preferably, the endoprotease is added to a wort. Preferably, the endoprotease is added to a beer after haze has been formed. Preferably, the endoprotease is added to a beer before haze has been formed.

Preferably, the beer has an increased relative foam stability and an increased relative haze reduction. Preferably, the increased relative foam stability is above 100, 101, 102, 103, 104, 105, 106, 107, 108, 109 or 110%. Preferably, the increased relative haze reduction is above 73%,

74%, 75%, 76%, 77%, 78%, 79%, 80% as measured by 90° scattering.

Preferably, the endoprotease is present in the wort in an amount of 4 to 300 mg protease/ hL wort, preferably 10 to 250 mg protease/ hL wort, preferably 20 to 200 mg protease/ hL wort, preferably 30 to 150 mg protease/ hL wort or preferably 40 to 100 mg protease/ hL wort.

Preferably, the method has the further step of adding one or more of an ALDC enzyme, a glucoamylase, a maltogenic alpha-amylase, a pullulanase, a catalase or a transglucosidase.

Preferably, the ALDC enzyme is an acetolactate decarboxylase as set forth in EC 4.1.1.5. Preferably, the glucoamylase is a 1,4-alpha-glucosidase as set forth in EC 3.2.1.3. Preferably, the maltogenic alpha amylase is a glucan 1,4-alpha-maltohydrolase as set forth in EC 3.3.1.133. Preferably, the pullulanase is an alpha-dextrin endo-l,6-alpha-glucosidase, limit dextrinase, amylopectin 6-glucanohydrolase, debranching enzyme as set forth in EC 3.2.1.41. Preferably, the transglucosidase is 1,4-alpha-glucan -branching enzyme, Oligoglucan-branching glucosyltransferse as set forth in EC 2.4.1.24.

In another aspect of the present invention, a method is presented for increasing relative foam stability in a beer having the step of adding an endoprotease to the beverage, wherein the endoprotease is an enzyme having at least 75, 80, 85, 90, 95, 98, 99 or 100% sequence identity to SEQ ID NO:l, SEQ ID NO:2, SEQ ID NO:3, SEQ ID NO:4 or SEQ ID NO: 16 or an endoprotease active fragment thereof such as a mature protein.

Preferably, the increased relative foam stability is above 100, 101, 102, 103, 104, 105, 106, 107, 108, 109 or 110%. Preferably, the endoprotease active fragment is a mature protein.

Preferably, the endoprotease is added to a wort. Preferably, the endoprotease is added to a beer after haze has been formed. Preferably, the endoprotease is added to a beer before haze has been formed. .

Preferably, the endoprotease is present in the wort in an amount of 4 to 300 mg protease/ hL wort, preferably 10 to 250 mg protease/ hL wort, preferably 20 to 200 mg protease/ hL wort, preferably 30 to 150 mg protease/ hL wort or preferably 40 to 100 mg protease/ hL wort.

Preferably, the method has the further step of adding one or more of an ALDC enzyme, a glucoamylase, a maltogenic alpha-amylase, a pullulanase, a catalase or a transglucosidase.

Preferably, the ALDC enzyme is an acetolactate decarboxylase as set forth in EC 4.1.1.5. Preferably, the glucoamylase is a 1,4-alpha-glucosidase as set forth in EC 3.2.1.3. Preferably, the maltogenic alpha amylase is a glucan 1,4-alpha-maltohydrolase as set forth in EC 3.3.1.133. Preferably, the pullulanase is an alpha-dextrin endo-l,6-alpha-glucosidase, limit dextrinase, amylopectin 6-glucanohydrolase, debranching enzyme as set forth in EC 3.2.1.41. Preferably, the transglucosidase is 1,4-alpha-glucan -branching enzyme, Oligoglucan-branching glucosyltransferse as set forth in EC 2.4.1.24.

Preferably, the beer has an increased relative foam stability and an increased relative haze reduction. Preferably, the increased relative haze reduction is above 73%, 74%, 75%, 76%, 77%, 78%, 79%, 80% as measured by 90° scattering.

In another aspect of the present invention, an isolated polypeptide is presented comprising an endoprotease wherein said endoprotease is an enzyme having at least 75, 80, 85, 90, 95, 98, 99 or 100% sequence identity to SEQ ID NO:l, SEQ ID NO:2, SEQ ID NO:3, SEQ ID NO:4 or SEQ ID NO: 16 or an endoprotease active fragment thereof.

In another aspect of the present invention, an isolated polynucleotide is presented having a nucleic acid sequence which encodes the above polypeptide.

In another aspect of the present invention, a nucleic acid construct is presented having the above polynucleotide operably linked to one or more control sequences that direct the production of the polypeptide in a suitable expression host.

In another aspect of the present invention, a recombinant expression vector is presented having the above nucleic acid construct.

In another aspect of the present invention, a recombinant host cell is presented having the above nucleic acid construct or the above vector.

In another aspect of the present invention, a method for producing the above polypeptide of is presented having the step of cultivating of the above recombinant host cell, to produce a supernatant and/or cells having the polypeptide; and recovering the polypeptide.

In another aspect of the present invention, a polypeptide is presented produced by the above method.

In another aspect of the present invention, a use of a filtrate obtained from a fermentation broth obtained by the above method in the prevention or reduction of haze in a beverage is presented.

In another aspect of the present invention, a composition having a polypeptide, isolated polynucleotide, nucleic acid construct, recombinant expression vector, or recombinant host cell as described above is presented.

In another aspect of the present invention, use of a polypeptide, isolated polynucleotide, nucleic acid construct, recombinant expression vector, or recombinant host cell as described above for increasing relative foam stability in a beverage is presented.

In another aspect of the present invention, use of a polypeptide, isolated polynucleotide, nucleic acid construct, recombinant expression vector, or recombinant host cell as described above for increasing relative haze reduction in a beverage is presented. In another aspect of the present invention, a method for reducing haze in a beverage having the step of adding to the beverage a glutamine endoprotease wherein the beverage has a protein or peptide having a glutamine residue which is cut by the protease thereby reducing haze is presented. Preferably, the glutamine endoprotease also cuts at proline residues. Preferably, the beverage is fruit juice, wine, or beer. More preferably, the beverage is beer.

Preferably, the glutamine endoprotease comprises a polypeptide having at least 80, 85,

90, 95, 98, or 99% homology to SEQ ID NO:2 or SEQ ID NO: 16 or an endoprotease active fragment thereof such as a mature protein lacking the signal sequence. More preferably, the glutamine endoprotease comprises a polypeptide according to SEQ ID NO: 16.

EXAMPLES

The present disclosure is described in further detail in the following examples, which are not in any way intended to limit the scope of the disclosure as claimed. The attached figures are meant to be considered as integral parts of the specification and description of the disclosure.

The following examples are offered to illustrate, but not to limit the claimed disclosure.

EXAMPLE 1

As an example of a commercial sample of proline- specific endoprotease from Aspergillus niger (AnPro), Brewers Clarex™ (5 PPU / g product) from DSM was used. The defined activity of the proline specific endoprotease (PEP) is based on hydrolysis of the synthetic peptide Z-Gly- Pro-pNA at 37°C in a citrate/disodium phosphate buffer pH 4.6. The reaction product is monitored spectro-photo metrically at 405 nm and one unit (1PPU) is defined as the quantity of enzyme that liberates 1 mmol of p-nitroanilide per minute under these test conditions.

EXAMPLE 2

Cloning of Aspergillus homomorphus CBS 101889 protease AhoPro3 (CRC21077-WT)

Aspergillus homomorphus CBS 101889 was selected as a potential source of enzymes which may be useful in various industrial applications. One of the genes identified in Aspergillus homomorphus CBS 101889, named AhoPro3 (CRC21077-WT), encodes a protein with homology to a protease as determined from a BLAST search (Altschul et al., J Mol Biol, 215: 403-410, 1990). The protein encoded by the AhoPro3 gene is shown in SEQ ID NO:4 (NCBI Reference Sequence: XP_025547970.1). At the N-terminus, the protein has a signal peptide with a length of 22 amino acids as predicted by SignalP version 4.0 (Nordahl Petersen el al. (2011) Nature Methods, 8:785-786). The presence of a signal sequence suggests that AhoPro3 is a secreted enzyme.

EXAMPLE 3

Cloning of Aspergillus transmontanensis CBS 130015 protease AtrProl (CRC21068-WT)

Aspergillus transmontanensis CBS 130015 was selected as a potential source of enzymes which may be useful in various industrial applications. One of the genes identified in Aspergillus transmontanensis CBS 130015, named AtrProl (CRC21068-WT), encodes a protein with homology to a protease as determined from a BLAST search (Altschul et al., J Mol Biol, 215: 403-410, 1990). The protein encoded by the AtrProl gene is shown in SEQ ID NO:3 (JGI Reference Sequence: Asptral_564990). At the N-terminus, the protein has a signal peptide with a length of 22 amino acids as predicted by SignalP version 4.0 (Nordahl Petersen et al. (2011) Nature Methods, 8:785-786). The presence of a signal sequence suggests that AtrProl is a secreted enzyme.

EXAMPLE 4

Cloning of Aspergillus bertholletius IBT 29228 protease AbePro2 (CRC21079-WT)

Aspergillus bertholletius IBT 29228 was selected as a potential source of enzymes which may be useful in various industrial applications. One of the genes identified in Aspergillus bertholletius IBT 29228, named AbePro2 ( CRC21079-WT), encodes a protein with homology to a protease as determined from a BLAST search (Altschul et al., J Mol Biol, 215: 403-410, 1990). The protein encoded by the AbePro2 gene is shown in SEQ ID NO:l (JGI Reference Sequence: Aspberl_278881). At the N-terminus, the protein has a signal peptide with a length of 22 amino acids as predicted by SignalP version 4.0 (Nordahl Petersen et al. (2011) Nature Methods, 8:785- 786). The presence of a signal sequence suggests that AbePro2 is a secreted enzyme.

EXAMPLE 5

Cloning of Aspergillus niger ATCC 1015 protease AniPro_2 (CRC02753-WT) Aspergillus niger ATCC 1015 was selected as a potential source of enzymes which may be useful in various industrial applications. One of the genes identified in Aspergillus niger ATCC 1015, named AniPro_2 (CRC02753-WT), encodes a protein with homology to a protease as determined from a BLAST search (Altschul et ah, J Mol Biol, 215: 403-410, 1990). The protein encoded by the AniPro_2 gene is shown in SEQ ID NO:2 (JGI Reference Sequence: Aspni5_52703). At the N-terminus, the protease protein has a signal peptide with a length of 21 amino acids as predicted by SignalP version 4.0 (Nordahl Petersen et al. (2011) Nature Methods, 8:785-786) and derived from a Hypocrea jecorina aspartate protease (uniport id. G0R8T0). The presence of a signal sequence indicates that AniPro_2 is a secreted enzyme.

EXAMPLE 6

Expression, fermentation, purification, and identification of AhoPro3, AtrProl, AbePro2 and AniPro_2

DNA sequences encoding AhoPro3, AtrProl, AbePro2 or AniPro_2, were chemically synthesized and inserted into a Trichoderma reesei expression vector pGXT (the same as the pTTTpyr2 vector as described in published PCT Application WO2015/017256, incorporated by reference herein) by Generay (Shanghai, China). The resulting plasmids were labeled as pGXT- AhoPro3, pGXT-AtrProl, pGXT-AbePro2 or pGXT-AniPro2, respectively.

Each individual expression plasmid was then transformed into a suitable Trichoderma reesei strain (described in published PCT application WO 05/001036) using protoplast transformation (Te’o et al. (2002) J. Microbiol. Methods 51:393-99). Transformants were selected on a medium containing acetamide as a sole source of nitrogen. After 5 days of growth on acetamide plates, transformants were collected and subjected to fermentation via the DASGIP (Eppendorf, Juelich, Germany).

To initiate the fermentation of AhoPro3, AtrProl, AbePro2 or AniPro_2, seed culture was grown in 1 L shake flask, each contained 100 mL defined medium (pH5.5 before sterilization) that is consisted of 50 g/L glucose monohydrate, 6 g/L glycine, 5 g/L (NH ₄ ) ₂ S0 ₄ , 4.5 g/L KH2PO4, 1 g/L CaCl ₂ -2H ₂ 0, 1 g/L MgS0 ₄ -7H ₂ 0, 2 g/L Mazu 6000K and 2.5 mL 400cG. reesei Trace Metals (400x Trace Metals stock (~pH 1) contains 175 g/L C _f fLOylLO, 200 g/L FeS0 ₄ -7H ₂ 0, 16 g/L ZnS0 ₄ -7H ₂ 0, 3.2 g/L CuS0 ₄ -5H ₂ 0, 1.4 g/L MnS0 ₄ H ₂ 0, and 0.8 g/L H3BO3). The seed culture was shaken for 48 hours at 250 rpm and 30°C. Following completion of this incubation, 200 mL of seed culture was transferred to the 2-L bioreactor (DASGIP).

The medium for fermentation in the 2-L bioreactor (DASGIP) contains 60 g/L dextrose, 6 g/L glycine, 1 g/L CaCl ₂ -2H ₂ 0, 4.5 g/L KH ₂ P0 ₄ , 4 g/L (NH ₄ ) ₂ S0 ₄ , 1 g/L MgS0 ₄ -7H ₂ 0, 1.2 g/L Mazu 6000K and 2.5 ml 400x T. reesei Trace Metals. An induction solution containing 250 g glucose/sophorose per kg was prepared and sterilized.

Following inoculation, batch fermentation was initiated with working volume of 1 L and was controlled at pH 3.5 and 34°C. Dissolved oxygen level was controlled above 35% by adjusting airflow rate, oxygen supply, and agitation during whole fermentation process. At the elapsed fermentation time of 22 hours, the glucose in broth was depleted, and the feed of 250 g (glucose/sophorose)/kg solution was started at this time. Stepwise feed rates of 4 mL feed/hr. and 6 mL feed/hr. were applied in the time intervals of 22-46 hours and 46-72 hours, respectively. Accompanying the start of fed-batch phase, pH was linearly changed to 4.0, and temperature was adjusted to 28°C. Fermentation was completed after 72 hours run, and broth was harvested by centrifugation, filtered, and subsequently concentrated.

To purify AhoPro3, the crude from 1 L Dasgip fermenter was concentrated using a VivaFlow 200 ultra-filtration device (Sartorius Stedium) and added ammonium sulfate to the final concentration of 1 M. The solution was loaded onto a HiPrep™ Phenyl FF column pre equilibrated with 20 mM NaAc (pH5.0) supplemented with additional 1 M ammonium sulfate. The target protein was eluted from the column with 0.25 M ammonium sulfate. The resulting active protein fractions were then pooled and concentrated via the 10K Amicon Ultra devices and stored in 40% glycerol at -20 C until usage.

To purify AtrProl and AbePro2, the crude from 1 L Dasgip fermenter was concentrated and added ammonium sulfate to the final concentration of 1 M. The solution was loaded onto a HiPrep™ Phenyl FF 16/10 column pre-equilibrated with 20 mM NaAc (pH5.0) supplemented with additional 1 M ammonium sulfate. The target protein was eluted from the column with 0.5 M ammonium sulfate. The resulting active protein fractions were then pooled, concentrated, and exchanged buffer into 20 mM NaAc (pH5.0), 150 mM NaCl via the 10K Amicon Ultra devices, then stored in 40% glycerol at -20°C until usage. To purify AniPro_2, the crude from 1 L Dasgip fermenter was concentrated and added ammonium sulfate to the final concentration of 1 M. The solution was loaded onto a HiPrep™ Phenyl FF 16/10 column pre-equilibrated with 20 mM NaAc (pH5.0) supplemented with additional 1 M ammonium sulfate (Buffer A). The target protein was eluted from the column with 0.75 M ammonium sulfate. The corresponding fractions were pooled, concentrated, and exchanged buffer into 20 mM NaPi (pH7.0) (Buffer B), using a VivaFlow 200 ultra-filtration device (Sartorius Stedim). The resulting solution was applied to a HiLoad™ Q FF 16/10 column pre-equilibrated with Buffer B. The target protein was eluted from the column with 0.3 M NaCl. The fractions containing active protein were pooled, concentrated, and exchanged buffer into 20 mM NaAc (pH5.0), 150 mM NaCl via the 10K Amicon Ultra devices, then stored in 40% glycerol at -20°C until usage.

Surprisingly, AniPro_2 was found proteolytically modified in the final broth at the end of fermentation as compared to the precursor variant shown in SEQ ID NO:2 and the predicted mature form of this sequence. The variant generated was verified using mass spectrometry as described in detail below. Thus, the final expressed variant was further processed in the N- terminus as compared to the predicted 21 amino acids cleavage by SignalP version 4.0, resulting in a final N-terminal truncation of 36 amino acids corresponding to a mature version of AniPro_2 having the polypeptide sequence of SEQ ID NO: 16 as shown in figure 23. This mature variant of AniPro_2 has been used in all examples discussed herein.

To derive the exact polypeptide sequence of the mature variant of AniPro_2, the protein band of the protein was cut from an SDS-PAGE gel and digested using three different enzymes (Trypsin, A-Chymotrypsin and Glu-C) to prepare the sample for mass spectrometry analysis. Trypsin hydrolyzes peptide bonds specifically at the carboxyl side of arginine I and lysine (K) residues except when a proline (P) is on the carboxyl side. A-Chymotrypsin hydrolyzes peptide bonds specifically at the carboxyl side of tyrosine (Y), phenylalanine (F), tryptophan (W) and leucine (L) except when a proline (P) is on the carboxyl side. Glu-C preferentially cleaves at the carboxyl side of glutamyl (E) in ammonium bicarbonate buffer pH 8, but also cleaves at the carboxyl side of aspartyl (D) if the hydrolysis is carried out in a phosphate buffer pH 8.

To detect the exact C-terminal, the protein of interest was prepared for analysis using IFF procedure for protein characterization (A2963), with one change using 40% ¹⁸ 0-water in the digestion buffer. The proteolytic cleavage will hereby incorporate both ¹⁸ 0-water and ¹⁶ 0-water in the resulting peptides, which consequently will appear as doublets in MS spectra. The protein C-terminal though will only appear as a single peptide with ¹⁶ 0-water since it is not cleaved but just the “last peptide” left of the protein. In this way the C-terminal is mapped using MS/MS analysis. To detect the exact protein N-terminal, the intact protein is labeled with acetylation of the N-terminal before proteolytic digestion (IFF A-manual 3448). Guanidination of lysine converts lysine to homoarginine and protects lysine (side chain) from being acetylated. Only the peptide originating from the protein N-terminal will be acetylated and hereby unambiguously identified.

EXAMPLE 7

Proteolytic activity of AhoPro3, AtrProl, AbePro2 and AniPro_2

The proteolytic activity of purified AhoPro3, AtrProl, AbePro2 or AniPro_2, was measured in 25 mM citrate/phosphate buffer (pH 5), using Ala-Ala- Ala-Pro-paranitroanilide (AAAP-pNA) (synthesized by GL Biochem, Shanghai, China) as the substrate. Prior to the reaction, the enzyme was diluted with water to specific concentrations. The AAAP-pNA substrate was dissolved in 100% Dimethylsulfoxide (DMSO) to a final concentration of lOmM. To initiate the reaction, 5pL of substrate was mixed with 85 pL of citrate/phosphate buffer in a non-binding 96-well Microtiter Plate (96-MTP) (Coming Life Sciences, #3641), and after 5 min pre-incubation at 37°C in a Thermomixer (Eppendorf), IOmI of properly diluted purified enzyme (or water as the blank) was added. After sealing the 96-MTP, the reaction was carried out in a Thermomixer at 37°C and 650 rpm for 10 min, and the absorbance of the resulting solution was measured at 405 nm (A405) using a SpectraMax 190. Net A405 was calculated by subtracting the A405 of the blank control from that of enzyme, and then plotted against different protein concentrations. Each value was the mean of duplicate assays. The proteolytic activity is shown as Net A405. The proteolytic assay with AAAP-pNA as the substrate indicates that AhoPro3, AtrProl, AbePro2 and AniPro_2 are all active proteases.

EXAMPLE 8 pH profile of AhoPro3, AtrProl, AbePro2 and AniPro_2 With AAAP-pNA as the substrate, the pH profile of AhoPro3, AtrProl, AbePro2 or AniPro_2 was studied in 25mM NaAc/Glycine/HEPES buffer with different pH values ranging from 3 to 10. To initiate the assay, 85pl of NaAc/Glycine/HEPES buffer with a specific pH was first mixed with 5m1 of lOmM AAAP -pNA in a 96-MTP and pre-incubated at 37°C for 5 min, followed by the addition of 10m1 of water diluted enzyme (25 ppm for AhoPro3 and AtrProl; 100 ppm for AbePro2 and AniPro_2) or water (the blank control). The reaction was performed and analyzed as described in Example 7. Enzyme activity as each pH was reported as the relatively activity, where the activity at the optimal pH was set to be 100%. The pH vales tested were 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, and 10. Each value was the mean of triplicate assays. It was determined that AhoPro3, AtrProl, AbePro2 and AniPro_2 are all acidic proteases.

EXAMPLE 9

Temperature profile of AhoPro3, AtrProl, AbePro2 and AniPro_2

The temperature profile of AhoPro3, AtrProl, AbePro2 or AniPro_2 was analyzed in 25mM citrate/phosphate buffer (pH 5) using AAAP-pNA as the substrate. The enzyme sample and AAAP-pNA substrate were prepared as in Example 7. Prior to the reaction, 85m1 of citrate/phosphate buffer and 5m1 of lOmM AAAP-pNA were mixed in a 200m1 PCR tube, which was then incubated in a Peltier Thermal Cycler (BioRad) at desired temperatures (i.e., 30~80°C) for 5 min. After the incubation, 10m1 of diluted enzyme (25ppm for AhoPro3 and AtrProl; lOOppm for AbePro2 and AniPro_2) or water (the blank control) was added to the solution, and the reaction was carried out in the Peltier Thermal Cycle for 10 min at different temperatures. Subsequent absorbance measurements were performed as in Example 7. The activity was reported as the relative activity, where the activity at the optimal temperature was set to be 100%. Each value was the mean of triplicate assays. The data suggests that the optimal temperatures for AhoPro3, AtrProl, AbePro2 and AniPro_2 are 60, 57, 53 and 64°C, respectively.

EXAMPLE 10

Thermostability of AhoPro3, AtrProl, AbePro2 and AniPro_2

A thermostability analysis of AhoPro3, AtrProl, AbePro2 or AniPro_2 was performed using 50 mM acetate/phosphate buffer (pH 4.5) as the incubation buffer, and with AAAP-pNA as the substrate for remaining activity measurement. The purified AhoPro3, AtrProl, AbePro2 or AniPro_2 (or purified AnPro (Brewer’s Clarex™) as the benchmark) was diluted in lmL incubation buffer to a final concentration of 1 mg/mL and subsequently incubated at 65°C for 0, 10, 20, 30, 45 or 60 min. At the end of each incubation period, 100pL of the enzyme -buffer mixture was transferred to a 96-MTP placed on ice. After the completion of the entire incubation, the enzyme -buffer mixture was further diluted with buffer to reach specific enzyme concentration for downstream activity assay (25ppm for AhoPro3 and AtrProl; 100 ppm for AbePro2 and AniPro_2). Activity was measured as in Example 7. The activity was reported as the relative activity, where the activity at 0 min incubation time was set to be 100%; and each value was the mean of triplicate assays. As shown in Table 2, AhoPro3, AtrProl and AbePro2 completely lost their activities after 10 min incubation at 65°C, while AniPro_2 can still retain -64% of its activity after 1 hr. incubation.

Table 2 Thermostability of AhoPro3, AtrProl, AbePro2 or AniPro_2 at 65°C

EXAMPLE 11

Haze reduction performance of AhoPro3, AtrProl, AbePro2 and AniPro_2

The haze reduction performance of AhoPro3, AtrProl, AbePro2 or AniPro_2 was evaluated using the gliadin-catechin assay. Prior to the reaction, the enzyme was diluted with water to specific concentrations. The gliadin substrate (Sigma, Cat. No. G3375) was dissolved in 20 mM acetate/phosphate buffer (pH 4.5) supplemented with additional 0.2% ethanol to a final concentration of 2 mg/mL and the catechin substrate (Sigma, Cat. No. 0251) was dissolved in 20 mM citrate/phosphate buffer (pH 4.5) supplemented with additional 0.2% ethanol to a final concentration of 2mg/mL. To initiate the assay, 100pL of gliadin solution was mixed with 5pL of properly diluted AhoPro3, AtrProl, AbePro2 or AniPro_2 (or purified AnPro (Brewer’s Clarex™) as the benchmark) in a 96-MTP; and after 90 min incubation at 45°C in a Thermomixer, the resulting 96-MTP was then placed on ice for 5 min, followed by the addition of IOOmI catechin solution. Haze was developed at room temperature for 30 min. The absorbance of the developed haze at 600 nm (Aeon) was measured using a SpectraMax 190 and subsequently plotted against different enzyme concentrations. Each value was the mean of triplicate assays. As shown in figure 5, 6 and 7, AhoPro3, AtrProl, AbePro2 or AniPro_2 is more effective in reducing the gliadin-catechin haze, when compared to the benchmark.

EXAMPLE 12

Protein Determination Methods

Protein Determination by Stain Free Imager Criterion

Protein was quantified by SDS-PAGE gel and densitometry using Gel Doc™ EZ imaging system. Reagents used in the assay: Concentrated (2x) Laemmli Sample Buffer (Bio-Rad, Catalogue #161-0737); 26-well XT 4-12% Bis-Tris Gel ( Bio-Rad, Catalogue #345-0125); protein markers “Precision Plus Protein Standards” (Bio-Rad, Catalogue #161- 0363); protein standard BSA (Thermo Scientific, Catalogue #23208) and SimplyBlue Safestain (Invitrogen, Catalogue #LC 6060. The assay was carried out as follow: In a 96well-PCR plate 50pL diluted enzyme sample were mixed with 50 pL sample buffer containing 2.7 mg DTT. The plate was sealed by Microseal Έ’ Film from Bio-Rad and was placed into PCR machine to be heated to 70°C for 10 minutes. After that the chamber was filled by running buffer, gel cassette was set. Then 10 pL of each sample and standard (0.125-1.00 mg/mL BSA) was loaded on the gel and 5 pL of the markers were loaded. After that the electrophoresis was run at 200 V for 45 min. Following electrophoresis, the gel was rinsed 3 times 5 min in water, then stained in Safe- stain overnight and finally distained in water. Then the gel was transferred to Imager. Image Lab software was used for calculation of intensity of each band. A calibration curve was made using BSA (Thermo Scientific, Catalogue #23208) and the amount of the target protein was determined by the band intensity and calibration curve. The protein quantification method was employed to prepare enzyme samples of used in subsequent Examples. The protease protein concentration of: A purified AhoPro3 sample was determined to 8.1 mg/ml, a purified AbePro2 sample was determined to 2.3 mg/ml, a purified AtrProl sample was determined to 8.2 mg/ml, a purified AniPro_2 sample was determined to 2.4 mg/ml and a sample of AnPro was determined to 41 mg/ml.

EXAMPLE 13

Haze reduction performance of protease from Aspergillus homomorphus in haze sensitive Beers.

Haze Sensitive Beer Substrate

For testing the performance of proteases bottled beer was used as substrate. The beer brewed at a 2hL pilot plant brewery was filtered (no silica or PVPP applied) but un- stabilized all malt pilsner type beer with approximately 66% RDF and alcohol content of 4.7%(v/v). Beer filtration was done with a kieselguhr filter having 8 plates and with precoating and body feed as described in table 3. After kieselguhr filtration the beer went through a 1.2 pm membrane filter followed by a 0.45 pm membrane filter.

Table 3 Preparation for kieselguhr filtration with a flow of 1601/hr.

Incubation and pasteurization

The enzymes were applied to the bottled beer by opening the capsule adding the enzyme solution and the bottle was re-closed immediately with a new capsule. Control beer samples were prepared similarly with the addition of milliQ water (ddHiO) in the same amount as the enzyme solution. The enzymes were applied in a low and high dosage based on ppm protease as given in table 4 below.

Table 4. Protease addition in haze sensitive Beers.

The beer samples were stored at 14°C for 5 days for allowing the enzyme to work. Hereafter the samples were pasteurized to approximately 30 PU in a water bath, by heating up the temperature to 63 °C (60 minutes) and holding the temperature at 63 °C for 60 minutes where after the heat supply was turned off and the temperature dropped to room temperature (approximately 20°C).

Evaluation of haze potential in the beer samples

The prediction of haze development in the beer samples was evaluated by the forced haze method based on the EBC Analytica method 9.30 “Prediction of shelf-life of beer”, in the following referred to as the EBC TOHA forced haze method. Instrument calibration was performed according to instruction given by supplier and the result of the haze measurement was expressed in EBC units.

Forced Haze, EBC TOHA method

The turbidity of beer was measured using Sigrist Labscat2. The turbidity (S90/S0 EBC) was measured at a 90° scatter angle to detect the presence of small particles and turbidity measured at 25° scatter angle was included as additional information on larger particles. Before subjecting the bottled samples to an alternating cooling and heating cycle, the turbidity was measured at 20°C, termed Blind Value. The samples were then placed in a thermostatic water bath (Julabo, Germany), and the temperature was decreased to 0°C and kept for 24 hours. The turbidity was measured at 0°C and was termed Initial Total Haze.

The beer samples were replaced in the thermostatic water bath and the temperature was increased to 60°C which was kept for 48 hours followed by a decrease in temperature to 0°C which was kept for 24 hours. The turbidity was measured at 0°C and was termed Final Total Haze. The results are shown in table 5.

It clearly seen from both the measured Initial and Final Total Haze that both endoproteases greatly reduced turbidity of the beer as compared to the references without protease. It’s also clear that both the low and high dose respectively, resulted in surprisingly significant increased turbidity reduction at the Final Total Haze of AhoPro3 as compared to AnPro. This was observed for turbidity measured at both 90° and 25° scattering (small and larger particles).

Table 5. The turbidity (EBC 90° and 25°) of beer with and without protease added.

Forced Haze was measured according to EBC TOHA method and Blind value, Initial Total haze and Final Total haze are shown. Standard deviation was determined from 2 determinations.

EXAMPLE 14

Haze formation in beer produced with various endoproteases during beer fermentation

At a 2hL semi-industrial pilot Brewery pure malt wort was produced with the same mashing protocol. A Pilsner malt (Fuglsang, Denmark. Batch 21.08.2020) was used and milled before mashing-in with standard settings and applied at an initial 2.8:1 water to Grist ratio. CaCE content in water was adjusted to 40 ppm and pH adjusted to 5.5 with 90% lactic acid. LAMINEX® MaxFlow 4G (Dupont Nutrition Bioscience, Denmark) was added at a dosage of 0.10 kg/t malt. The following mashing protocol was applied: Mashing in at 63°C for 25 minutes; kept at 63°C for 45 minutes; increased to 72°C for 9 minutes (l°C/minute); kept at 72°C for 20 minutes; increased to 78°C for 6 minutes (l°C/minute) and kept at 78°C for 10 minutes in mashing off. An iodine negative test was performed at 72 °C of the wort to ensure iodine negative. Water was added during transfer of mash from mash kettle to lauter tun to leave a final Water to Grist ratio of 3.2:1.

Conditions used during lautering with regard to water added, volume collected and speed of flow for the HGB is shown in table 6 below.

Table 6. Lautering conditions.

Wort boiling: Wort was boiled for 80 minutes with 10% evaporation per hour to reach 16.0°P. Hops were added to reach 20 BU in final brewed beer consisting of 50% CO2 extracted hops (St. Johann, Hallertauer Germany) and 50% hops with standard polyphenol content (P90 hops) (St. Johann, Hallertauer Germany). At end of boiling wort pH was adjusted to 5.2 with 90% lactic acid. The wort was split into two fermenters of 100 L and 0.10 ppm Zn ²⁺ was added as Z0O2 to the whirlpool. Original Extract (OE) of the wort samples after mashing was measured using an Anton Paar (DMA 5000) according to Dupont Standard Instruction Brewing, 23.8580-B09 and shown to be similar for all experiments. In addition, the content of Free Alpha- Amino Nitrogen (mg/liter) was measured in the wort following Dupont Standard Instruction Brewing, 23.8580-B15 and was similar for all experiments. Fermentation: All experiments were done at a standard oxygen concentration of 13-16 ppm in the wort. Pitching wort pH was adjusted to 5.00 ± 0.05 with acetic acid. Brewer’s yeast was used. Pitching rate: 25-30 mill cells/ml. The fermentation was followed by a cold maturation/stabilization and subsequent filtration. The temperature was set for 12°C in main fermentation, 15°C for maturation, cool to 1°C when end fermented. The enzymes were applied in based on mg protease (Pro) per hL as given in table 7 below.

Table 7. Enzyme addition in fermentation tank.

Beer filtration: 8 plates were applied and flow of 1601/hr. maintained with the following amounts of filter aids used as given in table 8. A yeast cell count was done before filtration.

Table 8. Preparation for kieselguhr filtration with a flow of 1601/hr. The complete amount of filtered beer was bottled in 33cL bottles and all bottles were pasteurized at 62°C for 20 minutes (appr. 30 PU). The turbidity of beer samples was measured using Sigrist Labscat2. The turbidity (S90/S0 EBC) was measured at a 90° scatter angle to detect the presence of small particles and turbidity measured at 25° scatter angle was included as additional information on larger particles. Before subjecting the bottled samples to an alternating cooling and heating cycle, the turbidity was measured at 20°C, termed Blind Value.

The samples were then placed in a thermostatic water bath (Julabo, Germany), and the temperature was decreased to 0°C and kept for 24 hours. The turbidity was measured at 0°C and was termed Initial Total Haze. The beer samples were replaced in the thermostatic water bath and the temperature was increased to 60°C which was kept for 48 hours followed by a decrease in temperature to 0°C which was kept for 24 hours. The turbidity was measured at 0°C and was termed Final Total Haze. The results are shown in table 9.

Table 9. The turbidity (EBC 90° and 25°) of beer produced with various proteases added. Forced Haze was measured according to EBC TOHA method and Blind value, Initial Total haze and Final Total haze are shown. Standard deviation (Std.) was determined from 2 determinations.

It is clearly seen from all turbidity measurements: Blind, Initial and Final Total Haze that all proteases greatly reduced turbidity of the beer as compared to the beer reference without protease. It’s also clear that addition of AhoPro3 and AniPro_2, both resulted in significant increased reduction of turbidity as determined by all haze values (including Final Total Haze) and compared to AnPro. This was observed for turbidity measured at both 90° and 25° scattering (small and larger particles).

The relative haze reduction may be calculated against the beer without any enzyme as follows: (EBC Turbidity 90/25° no enzyme ^_ EBC Turbidity 90/25° with enzyme) / EBC Turbidity 90/25° no enzyme X 100% and is shown in table 10 below for AnPro, AhoPro3 and AniPro_2. It is observed that both AhoPro3 and AniPro_2 enable a superior relative haze reduction as compared to AnPro and MorProl above 37 to 67% (measured by 90° EBC) and above 84 to 94% (measured by 25° EBC).

Table 10. The relative haze reduction calculated against no enzyme addition on turbidity (EBC 90° and 25°) and given in percent.

In addition, accelerated aging of beer samples in bottles was performed by storage at elevated temperature according to MEBAK-Analytica (Method 2.14.2.1. Forciermethode, in Mitteleuropaische Brautechnische Analysen Methoden), commonly utilized in the brewing industry. The turbidity (S90/S0 EBC) was measured at a 90° scatter angle to detect the presence of small particles and turbidity measured at 25° scatter angle was included as additional information on larger particles using Sigrist Labscat2. Before subjecting the bottled samples to an alternating cooling and heating cycle, the turbidity was measured at 20°C, termed Blind Value.

The samples were then placed in a thermostatic water bath (Julabo, Germany), and the temperature was increased to 40°C and kept for 24 hours and followingly decreased to 0°C and kept for 24 hours. The turbidity was measured at 0°C and was termed Total Haze. This cycle was repeated and A Haze was calculated as Haze after cycle(n), e.g. (Total haze) - (Blind value).

The results are shown in table 11. It’s clearly seen from all turbidity measurements: Blind and Total Haze by cycle 1 and 2, that all proteases greatly reduced turbidity of the beer as compared to the beer reference without protease. Again, it’s also clear that addition of either AhoPro3 or AniPro_2, surprisingly resulted in significant higher turbidity reduction as measured by all haze values including Final Total Haze and compared to AnPro.

Table 11. The turbidity (EBC 90° and 25°) of beer produced with various protease added. Forced Haze was measured according to MEBAK method and Blind value and Total haze are calculated from cycle 1 and 2. Standard deviation (Std.) was determined from 2 determinations.

Like the EBC TOHA test the relative haze reduction may be calculated against the beer without any enzyme from MEBAK test (cycle 2 value) as follows: (EBC Turbidity 90/25° no enzyme - EBC Turbidity 90/25° with enzyme) / EBC Turbidity 90/25° no enzyme X 100% and IS shown in table 12 below for

AnPro, AhoPro3 and AniPro_2. It is observed that both AhoPro3 and AniPro_2 enable a superior relative haze reduction as compared to AnPro above 73% (measured by 90° EBC) and above 86% (measured by 90° EBC).

Table 12. The relative haze reduction calculated against no enzyme addition on turbidity (EBC 90° and 25°) and given in percent.

EXAMPLE 15

Foam stability in beer produced with endoprotease during fermentation

Beer was produced at a semi-industrial pilot brewery, as described in example 14 with the addition of proteases: AnPro, AniPro_2 and AhoPro3 in the start of the beer fermentation process as described in example 14. Proteases may most unwanted potentially degrade various foam stabilizing proteins during the production of the beer depending on the substrate specificity of the given protease. Thus, foam stability of the beers produced with proteases: AnPro,

AhoPro3 were compared to similar beer without addition of any enzyme during fermentation. Foam stability of beers where determination using the NIBEM-T meter (using Haffmans Nibem Foam Stability Tester from Pentair) and according to the EBC Analytica method 9.42.1 “Foam stability of beer using the NIBEM-T meter - 2004”.

Bottled beer was attemperated to 20°C ± 0.5°C in a water bath. The beer was dispensed through a foam flashing device in which beer was forced under carbon dioxide pressure at approximately 2 bar through an orifice to a thoroughly cleaned standard glass with inside diameter 60 ± 1.2 mm, inside height 120 ± 1.9 mm. This produced a standard glass of beer/foam.

The standard glass of beer/foam was placed under the needle electrode system of the calibrated NIBEM-T meter, so the reference position corresponded to a brim-full glass.

The electrode moved down until one of the four outer needles was touching the surface of the foam. As the foam collapsed the contact was broken and the electrode system moved down until one of the four outer needles again was touching the foam surface. When the foam had collapsed to below the reference position, the timing started and the time for the foam to collapse a further set distance of 30 mm was measured. The collapse time, in seconds, was determined and is shown in table 13 below. It’s clear that the beer foam stability was improved by addition of the AhoPro3 or AniPro_2 when compared to AnPro, showing similar stability as no enzyme control beer. Surprisingly, the foam stability was significant improved by addition of the AhoPro3 or AniPro_2 when compared to no enzyme control beer.

Table 13. The NIB EM foam stability of beer produced with various proteases added.

The relative foam stability may be calculated against the beer without any enzyme from NIB EM foam test (30mm) as follows: (Collapse time NIBEM 30mm with enzyme) / (Collapse time NIBEM 30mm without enzyme ) x 100% and is shown in table 14 below for AnPro, AhoPro3 and AniPro_2. It is observed that both AhoPro3 and AniPro_2 enable an increased foam stabilization as compared to AnPro and above 99.5%.

Table 14. The relative foam stability (NIBEM-30mm) calculated against no enzyme addition and given in percent.

EXAMPLE 16

Haze reduction performance of protease from Aspergillus bertholletius, Aspergillus transmontanensis and Aspergillus niger in haze sensitive Beers.

Testing the performance of proteases was performed as described in example 13 using bottled haze sensitive beers. The enzymes were applied to the bottled beer by opening the capsule adding the enzyme solution and the bottle was re-closed immediately with a new capsule. Control beer samples were prepared similarly with the addition of milliQ water (ddH ₂ 0) in the same amount as the enzyme solution. The enzymes from Aspergillus bertholletius (AbePro2), Aspergillus transmontanensis (AtrProl), Aspergillus niger (AniPro_2) or AnPro were applied in a low and high dosage based on ppm protease as given in table 15 below.

Table 15. Enzyme addition in haze sensitive Beers.

The beer samples were stored at 14°C for 5 days for allowing the enzyme to work. Hereafter the samples were pasteurized to approximately 30 PU in a water bath, by heating up the temperature to 63°C (60 minutes) and holding the temperature at 63°C for 60 minutes where after the heat supply was turned off and the temperature dropped to approximately 20°C. Evaluation of haze potential in the beers after enzyme treatment were done according to the EBC TOHA method described in example 13. The results are shown in table 16.

Table 16. The turbidity (EBC 90° and 25°) of beer with and without protease added. Forced Haze was measured according to EBC TOHA method and Blind value, Initial Total haze and Final Total haze are shown. Standard deviation (Std.) was determined from 2 determinations.

It clearly seen from both the measured Initial and Final Total Haze that all proteases greatly reduced turbidity of the beer as compared to the references without protease. It’s also clear that proteases from Aspergillus bertholletius, Aspergillus transmontanensis and Aspergillus niger ( AniPro_2 ) at the high dose, all resulted in surprisingly significant increased turbidity reduction at the Final Total Haze, as compared to AnPro. This was observed for turbidity measured at 90° scattering (small particles).

EXAMPLE 17

Foam stability over shelf-life in beer produced with endoprotease during fermentation

Beer was produced at a semi-industrial pilot brewery, as described in example 14 with the addition of the proteases: AnPro and AniPro2 in the start of the beer fermentation process as described in example 14 using a dosage of 20.5mg protease/hL wort. Proteases may potentially affect various foam stabilizing proteins during the production of the beer depending on the substrate specificity of the given protease. Thus, foam stability of the beers produced with proteases: AnPro and AniPro2 were compared to similar beer without addition of any enzyme during fermentation. Foam stability of beers were tested over the shelf-life of the beer (stored at 12-14 C° for up to 9 months) and determined using the NIBEM-T meter (using Haffmans Nibem Foam Stability Tester from Pentair) and according to the EBC Analytica method 9.42.1 “Foam stability of beer using the NIBEM-T meter - 2004”. The results are shown in table 17.

It’s clear that the beer foam stability was improved by addition of AniPro_2 when compared to AnPro, showing similar stability as no enzyme control beer. Surprisingly, the foam stability was significant improved by addition of the AniPro_2 when compared to no enzyme control beer, as observed after 1 months of storage of the beer and even more clear after 9 months of storage.

Table 17. The NIB EM foam stability (measured at 19-22C ⁰ ) of beer produced with various proteases added after 0-9 months.

The relative foam stability was be calculated after 9 months against the beer without any enzyme from NIBEM foam test (30mm) as follows: (Collapse time NIBEM 30mm with enzyme) / (Collapse time NiBEM 30mm without enzyme) x 100% and is shown in table 18 below for AnPro and AniPro_2. It can be observed that AniPro_2 enable an increased foam stabilization as compared to AnPro and above 100.0 %. Thus, the addition of AniPro_2 surprisingly increases stability of foam.

Table 18. The relative foam stability (NIBEM-30mm) calculated against no enzyme addition and given in percent.

Example 18 Cloning of Aspergillus pseudocaelatus CBS 117616 protease ApsProl (CRC21071-WT)

Aspergillus pseudocaelatus CBS 117616 was selected as a potential source of enzymes which may be useful in various industrial applications. One of the genes identified in Aspergillus pseudocaelatus CBS 117616, named ApsProl (CRC21071-WT), encodes a protein with homology to a protease as determined from a BLAST search (Altschul et ah, J Mol Biol, 215: 403-410, 1990). The protein encoded by the ApsProl gene is shown in SEQ ID NO:5 (JGI Reference Sequence: Asppsecl_294119). At the N-terminus, the protein has a signal peptide with a length of 22 amino acids as predicted by SignalP version 4.0 (Nordahl Petersen et al. (2011) Nature Methods, 8:785-786). The presence of a signal sequence suggests that ApsProl is a secreted enzyme.

Example 19 Cloning of Aspergillus neoauricomus CBS 112787 protease AnePro2 (CRC21072-WT)

Aspergillus neoauricomus CBS 112787 was selected as a potential source of enzymes which may be useful in various industrial applications. One of the genes identified in Aspergillus neoauricomus CBS 112787, named AnePro2 (CRC21072-WT), encodes a protein with homology to a protease as determined from a BLAST search (Altschul et al., J Mol Biol, 215: 403-410, 1990). The protein encoded by the AnePro2 gene is shown in SEQ ID NO:6 (JGI Reference Sequence: Aspneoal_131875). At the N-terminus, the protein has a signal peptide with a length of 22 amino acids as predicted by SignalP version 4.0 (Nordahl Petersen et al. (2011) Nature Methods, 8:785-786). The presence of a signal sequence suggests that AnePro2 is a secreted enzyme.

Example 20 Cloning of Aspergillus albertensis protease AalPro2 (CRC21076-WT)

Aspergillus albertensis was selected as a potential source of enzymes which may be useful in various industrial applications. One of the genes identified in Aspergillus albertensis, named AalPro2 ( CRC21076-WT), encodes a protein with homology to a protease as determined from a BLAST search (Altschul et al., J Mol Biol, 215: 403-410, 1990). The protein encoded by the ApsProl gene is shown in SEQ ID NO:7 (JGI Reference Sequence: Aspalbel_152875). At the N-terminus, the protein has a signal peptide with a length of 19 amino acids as predicted by SignalP version 4.0 (Nordahl Petersen et al. (2011) Nature Methods, 8:785-786). The presence of a signal sequence suggests that AalPro2 is a secreted enzyme.

Example 21 Cloning of Aspergillus coremiiformis CBS 553.77 protease AcoPro2 (CRC21078-WT)

Aspergillus coremiiformis CBS 553.77 was selected as a potential source of enzymes which may be useful in various industrial applications. One of the genes identified in Aspergillus coremiiformis CBS 553.77, named AcoPro2 (CRC21078-WT), encodes a protein with homology to a protease as determined from a BLAST search (Altschul et al., J Mol Biol, 215: 403-410, 1990). The protein encoded by the AcoPro2 gene is shown in SEQ ID NO:8 (JGI Reference Sequence: Aspcorl_141732). At the N-terminus, the protein has a signal peptide with a length of 22 amino acids as predicted by SignalP version 4.0 (Nordahl Petersen et al. (2011) Nature Methods, 8:785-786). The presence of a signal sequence suggests that AcoPro2 is a secreted enzyme.

Example 23 Cloning of Aspergillus wentii protease AwePro2 (CRC21080-WT)

Aspergillus wentii was selected as a potential source of enzymes which may be useful in various industrial applications. One of the genes identified in Aspergillus wentii , named AwePro2 (CRC21080-WT), encodes a protein with homology to a protease as determined from a BLAST search (Altschul et al., J Mol Biol, 215: 403-410, 1990). The protein encoded by the AwePro2 gene is shown in SEQ ID NO:9 (JGI Reference Sequence: Aspwel_188244). At the N-terminus, the protein has a signal peptide with a length of 20 amino acids as predicted by SignalP version 4.0 (Nordahl Petersen et al. (2011) Nature Methods, 8:785-786). The presence of a signal sequence suggests that AwePro2 is a secreted enzyme.

Example 24 Cloning of Aspergillus brasiliensis protease AbrProl (CRC21202-WT)

Aspergillus brasiliensis was selected as a potential source of enzymes which may be useful in various industrial applications. One of the genes identified in Aspergillus brasiliensis, named AbrProl ( CRC21202-WT), encodes a protein with homology to a protease as determined from a BLAST search (Altschul et al., J Mol Biol, 215: 403-410, 1990). The protein encoded by the AbrProl gene is shown in SEQ ID NO: 10 (JGI Reference Sequence: Aspbrl_41430). At the N-terminus, the protein has a signal peptide with a length of 22 amino acids as predicted by SignalP version 4.0 (Nordahl Petersen el al. (2011) Nature Methods, 8:785-786). The presence of a signal sequence suggests that AbrProl is a secreted enzyme.

Example 25 Cloning of Aspergillus sclerotioniger CBS115572 protease AscPro5 (CRC21204- WT)

Aspergillus sclerotioniger CBS 115572 was selected as a potential source of enzymes which may be useful in various industrial applications. One of the genes identified in Aspergillus sclerotioniger CBS 115572, named AscPro5 (CRC21204-WT), encodes a protein with homology to a protease as determined from a BLAST search (Altschul et al., J Mol Biol, 215: 403-410, 1990). The protein encoded by the AscPro5 gene is shown in SEQ ID NO:l 1 (JGI Reference Sequence: Aspscll_500682). At the N-terminus, the protein has a signal peptide with a length of 22 amino acids as predicted by SignalP version 4.0 (Nordahl Petersen et al. (2011) Nature Methods, 8:785-786). The presence of a signal sequence suggests that AscPro5 is a secreted enzyme.

Example 26 Expression, fermentation and purification of ApsProl, AnePro2, AalPro2, AcoPro2, AwePro2, AbrProl and AscPro5

DNA sequences encoding ApsProl, AnePro2, AalPro2, AcoPro2, AwePro2, AbrProl or AscPro5, were chemically synthesized and inserted into a Trichoderma reesei expression vector pGXT (the same as the pTTTpyr2 vector as described in published PCT Application WO2015/017256, incorporated by reference herein) by Generay (Shanghai, China). The resulting plasmids were labeled as pGXT-ApsProl, pGXT-AnePro2, pGXT-AalPro2, pGXT- AcoPro2, pGXT-AwePro2, pGXT-AbrProl or pGXT-AscPro5, respectively.

Each individual expression plasmid was then transformed into a suitable Trichoderma reesei strain (described in published PCT application WO 05/001036) using protoplast transformation (Te’o et al. (2002) J. Microbiol. Methods 51:393-99). Transformants were selected on a medium containing acetamide as a sole source of nitrogen. After 5 days of growth on acetamide plates, transformants were collected and subjected to fermentation via the DASGIP (Eppendorf, Juelich, Germany).

To initiate the fermentation of ApsProl, AnePro2, AalPro2, AcoPro2, AwePro2, AbrProl or AscPro5, seed culture was grown in 1 L shake flask, each contained 100 mL defined medium (pH5.5 before sterilization) that is consisted of 50 g/L glucose monohydrate, 6 g/L glycine, 5 g/L (NH ₄ ) ₂ S0 ₄ , 4.5 g/L KH2PO4, 1 g/L CaCl ₂ -2H ₂ 0, 1 g/L MgS0 ₄ -7H ₂ 0, 2 g/L Mazu 6000K and 2.5 mL 400cG. reesei Trace Metals (400x Trace Metals stock (~pH 1) contains 175 g/L C ₆ H ₈ 0 ₇ H ₂ 0, 200 g/L LeS0 ₄ -7H ₂ 0, 16 g/L ZnS0 ₄ -7H ₂ 0, 3.2 g/L CuS0 ₄ -5H ₂ 0, 1.4 g/L MnS0 ₄ -H ₂ 0, and 0.8 g/L H3BO3). The seed culture was shaken for 48 hours at 250 rpm and 30 °C. Lollowing completion of this incubation, 200 mL of seed culture was transferred to the 2-L bioreactor (DASGIP).

The medium for fermentation in the 2-L bioreactor (DASGIP) contains 60 g/L dextrose, 6 g/L glycine, 1 g/L CaCl ₂ -2H ₂ 0, 4.5 g/L KH ₂ P0 ₄ , 4 g/L (NH ₄ ) ₂ S0 ₄ , 1 g/L MgS0 ₄ -7H ₂ 0, 1.2 g/L Mazu 6000K and 2.5 ml 400x T. reesei Trace Metals. An induction solution containing 250 g glucose/sophorose per kg was prepared and sterilized.

Lollowing inoculation, batch fermentation was initiated with working volume of 1 L and was controlled at pH 3.5 and 34 °C. Dissolved oxygen level was controlled above 35% by adjusting airflow rate, oxygen supply, and agitation during whole fermentation process. At the elapsed fermentation time of 22 hours, the glucose in broth was depleted, and the feed of 250 g (glucose/sophorose)/kg solution was started at this time. Stepwise feed rates of 4 mL feed/hr. and 6 mL feed/hr. were applied in the time intervals of 22-46 hours and 46-72 hours, respectively. Accompanying the start of fed-batch phase, pH was linearly changed to 4.0, and temperature was adjusted to 28°C. Lermentation was completed after 72 hours run, and broth was harvested by centrifugation, filtered, and subsequently concentrated.

To purify ApsProl, AnePro2, AalPro2, AcoPro2, AwePro2, AbrProl and AscPro5, the crude from 1 L Dasgip fermenter was concentrated and added ammonium sulfate to the final concentration of 1 M. The solution was loaded onto a HiPrep™ Phenyl PL 16/10 column pre equilibrated with 20 mM NaAc (pH5.0) supplemented with additional 1 M ammonium sulfate. The target protein was eluted from the column with 0.5 M ammonium sulfate. The resulting active protein fractions were then pooled, concentrated, and exchanged buffer into 20 mM NaAc (pH5.0), 150 mM NaCl via the 10K Amicon Ultra devices, then stored in 40% glycerol at -20°C until usage.

EXAMPLE 27

Haze reduction performance of ApsProl, AnePro2, AalPro2, AcoPro2, AwePro2, AbrProl and AscPro5

The haze reduction performance of ApsProl, AnePro2, AalPro2, AcoPro2, AwePro2, AbrProl and AscPro5 was evaluated using the gliadin-catechin assay. Prior to the reaction, the enzyme was diluted with water to specific concentrations. The gliadin substrate (Sigma, Cat. No. G3375) was dissolved in 20 mM acetate/phosphate buffer (pH 4.5) supplemented with additional 0.2% ethanol to a final concentration of 2 mg/mL and the catechin substrate (Sigma, Cat. No. 0251) was dissolved in 20 mM citrate/phosphate buffer (pH 4.5) supplemented with additional 0.2% ethanol to a final concentration of 2 mg/mL. To initiate the assay, 100 pL of gliadin solution was mixed with 5 pL of properly diluted ApsProl, AnePro2, AalPro2, AcoPro2, AwePro2, AbrProl and AscPro5 (or purified AnPro (Brewer’s Clarex™) as the benchmark) in a 96-MTP; and after 90 min incubation at 45°C in a Thermomixer, the resulting 96-MTP was then placed on ice for 5 min, followed by the addition of 100 pi catechin solution. Haze was developed at room temperature for 30 min. The absorbance of the developed haze at 600 nm (Aeon) was measured using a SpectraMax 190 and subsequently plotted against different enzyme concentrations. Each value was the mean of triplicate assays. As shown in FIG. 15, ApsProl, AnePro2, AalPro2, AcoPro2 and AwePro2 are all more effective in reducing the gliadin-catechin haze, when compared to the benchmark, AnPro.

EXAMPLE 28

Proteolytic activity of AhoPro3, ApsProl, AnePro2, AalPro2, AcoPro2, AwePro2, AbrProl, AscPro5 and AnPro

The proteolytic activity of purified AhoPro3, ApsProl, AnePro2, AalPro2, AcoPro2, AwePro2, AbrProl, AscPro5 and AnPro was measured in 25 mM citrate/phosphate buffer (pH 5), using Ala-Ala-Ala-Pro-paranitroanilide (AAAP-pNA) (synthesized by GL Biochem, Shanghai, China) as the substrate. Prior to the reaction, the enzyme was diluted with water to specific concentrations. The AAAP-pNA substrate was dissolved in 100% Dimethylsulfoxide (DMSO) to a final concentration of 10 mM. To initiate the reaction, 5 pL of substrate was mixed with 85 pL of citrate/phosphate buffer in a non-binding 96-well Microtiter Plate (96-MTP) (Coming Life Sciences, #3641), and after 5 min pre-incubation at 37 °C in a Thermomixer (Eppendorf), 10 mΐ of properly diluted purified enzyme (or water as the blank) was added. After sealing the 96-MTP, the reaction was carried out in a Thermomixer at 37 °C and 650 rpm for 10 min, and the absorbance of the resulting solution was measured at 405 nm (A405) using a SpectraMax 190. Net A405 was calculated by subtracting the A405 of the blank control from that of enzyme, and then plotted against different protein concentrations. Each value was the mean of duplicate assays. The proteolytic activity is shown as Net A405. As shown in FIG. 16, ApsProl, AhoPro3, AnePro2, AalPro2, AcoPro2, AbrProl and AwePro2 are all more effective proteases on the proline specific substrate (AAAP-pNA), when compared to the benchmark, AnPro. The proteolytic assay with AAAP-pNA as the substrate indicates that ApsProl, AhoPro3, AnePro2, AalPro2, AcoPro2, AbrProl and AwePro2 are all highly active proteases.

EXAMPLE 29 Cloning of MorProl

A fungal strain ( Magnaporthe oryzae 70-15) was selected as potential sources of enzymes which may be useful in various industrial applications. A BLAST search (Altschul et ah, J Mol Biol, 215: 403-410, 1990) led to the identification of genes that encode proteins with homology to a fungal protease: MorProl from Magnaporthe oryzae 70-15.

The nucleic acid sequence of full-length MorProl gene, as identified from NCBI database (NCBI Reference Sequence: NC_017851.1 from 2214046 to 2215835; complement), is provided in SEQ ID NO: 12. The corresponding full-length protein encoded by the MorProl gene is shown in SEQ ID NO: 13 (NCBI Reference Sequence: XP_003716615.1). MorProl has an N- terminal signal peptide as predicted by SignalP version 4.0 (Nordahl Petersen et al. (2011)

Nature Methods, 8:785-786), suggested that it is a secreted enzyme. The corresponding, predicted, mature enzyme sequence for MorProl is provided in SEQ ID NO: 14.

EXAMPLE 30 Expression of MorProl

The DNA sequence encoding full-length MorProl (SEQ ID NO: 12) was chemically synthesized and inserted into the Trichoderma reesei expression vector pTrex3gM (described in U.S. Published Application 2011/0136197 Al) by Generay (Shanghai, China). The synthesized nucleotide sequences for full-length MorProl, is set forth as SEQ ID NO: 15. The pTrex3gM expression vector contained the T. reesei cbhl-derived promoter ( cbhl) and cbhl terminator regions allowing for a strong inducible expression of the gene of interest. The A. nidulans amdS selective marker confer growth of transformants on acetamide as a sole nitrogen source. The resulting plasmid was labeled pGX256(Trex3gM-MorProl) and the expression plasmid was then transformed into a quad deleted Trichoderma reesei strain (described in WO 05/001036) using biolistic method (Te'o VS et al., J Microbiol Methods, 51:393-9, 2002). Transformants were selected on a medium containing acetamide as a sole source of nitrogen (acetamide 0.6 g/L; cesium chloride 1.68 g/L; glucose 20 g/L; potassium dihydrogen phosphate 15 g/L; magnesium sulfate heptahydrate 0.6 g/L; calcium chloride dihydrate 0.6 g/L; iron (II) sulfate 5 mg/L; zinc sulfate 1.4 mg/L; cobalt (II) chloride 1 mg/L; manganese (II) sulfate 1.6 mg/L; agar 20 g/L; pH 4.25). Transformed colonies (about 50-100) appeared in about 1 week. After growth on acetamide plates, transformants were picked and transferred individually to acetamide agar plates. After 5 days of growth on acetamide plates, transformants displaying stable morphology were inoculated into 200 pL Glucose/S ophorose defined media in 96-well microtiter plates. The microtiter plate was incubated in an oxygen growth chamber at 28°C for 5 days. Supernatants from these cultures were used to confirm the protein expression by SDS-PAGE analysis. The stable strain with the highest protein expression was selected and subjected to fermentation in a 250 mL shake flask with Glucose/S ophorose defined media.

EXAMPLE 31

Peptide analysis on beer produced with endoprotease from during fermentation and protease specificity analysis

Beer was produced at a semi-industrial pilot brewery, as described in example 14 with the addition of the proteases: AnPro, AniPro2, AhoPro and MorProl in the start of the beer fermentation process as described in example 14 using the dosages shown in table 7. The beer brewed at a 2hL pilot plant brewery was filtered (no silica or PVPP applied) but un- stabilized all malt pilsner type beer with approximately 66% RDL and alcohol content of 4.7%(v/v). Beer filtration was done with a kieselguhr filter as described in example 13. 15 ml of the final beer was centrifuged in lOkDa spin filters (Vivaspin 20, Sartorius) and IOOmI of the filtrate was added to a desalting column (Oasis HLB lcc (lOmg) Extraction Cartridges, Material no 186000383, Waters, USA). Prior to loading the desalting column, it was activated with 0.5 mL MeOH, conditioned with 0.5 mL 0.1% TFA. Sample was loaded 0.5 mL 0.1% TFA and IOOmI sample (slow loading over approx. 1 min.) and washed with two times 0.5 mL 0.1% TFA. Elution was performed with 0.5 mL 50% ACN, 0.1% TFA and the elution faction was collected and was freeze dried overnight. The dried sample was sent for MS analysis as described below.

LC-MS Data Acquisition

Nano LC-MS/MS analyses were performed using an UltiMate™ 3000 RSLCnano System (Thermo Fisher Scientific, MA, USA) interfaced to a Q Exactive™ HF Hybrid Quadmpole-Orbitrap™ Mass Spectrometer (Thermo Fisher Scientific, MA, USA). Samples were dissolved in 0.1 % TFA and loaded onto a 20 mm nanoViper Trap Column (Acclaim™ PepMap™ 100 C18, 3pm particle size and an id. 0.075mm) connected to a 250 mm analytical column (PepSep, ReproSil 1.9 pm C18 beads, pore diameter 120A and an id. 0.075mm). Separation was performed at a flow rate of 300 nL/min using a 20 min gradient of 2-41 % Solvent B (100 % ACN, 0.1 % FA) into the Nanospray Flex Ion Source (Thermo Scientific). The Q Exactive HF instrument was operated in a data-dependent MS/MS using HCD fragmentation. The peptide masses were measured by the Orbitrap (MS scans were obtained with a resolution of 60,000 at m/z 200). The top 7 most intense ions were selected and subjected to fragmentation. Ions were isolated by the quadrupole using a 2.0 Da with isolation window. Fragment spectra were recorded in the Orbitrap with a resolution 60,000. Dynamic exclusion was enabled with an exclusion duration of 10 s, and an exclusion mass tolerance width of ±10 ppm relative to masses on the list.

Peptide data analysis

The LC-MS/MS data was processed (smoothing, background subtraction, and centroiding) using Proteome Discoverer (Version 2.4, Thermo Scientific). The processed LC-MS/MS data was submitted to database searching against a SwissProt database with GreenPlants as taxonomy using an in-house Mascot server. No Specificity was chosen as enzyme. Oxidation of methionine was set as variable modification. The MS/MS results were searched with a peptide ion mass tolerance of ±10 ppm and a fragment ion mass tolerance of ±0.2 Da. Percolator (Kail, Canterbury et al. 2007) was used for calculating FDR. Only peptides that were identified as rank 1 peptides and with a confidence value of 1% (q < 0.01) were considered for further analysis. Peptides were relatively quantified using the build in quant module. Total sum of abundances was scaled to same level and used for calculation.

Peptides from beers were analyzed and the relative amino acid content at the peptide termini positions corresponding to P3 ‘-P3 by protease cleavage. The relative amino acid content in the corresponding PI position of peptides is shown in figure 21 for MorProl, AnPro and AniPro_2. The relative amino acid content at the peptide position corresponding to P3-P3’ are shown to the right with graphs displaying the cumulative content of each amino acid at given positions and hereby the detailed protease specificity preferences. The relative amino acid content in peptides in beer made with MorProl, AnPro and AniPro_2 for position to P3‘-P3 by protease cleavage are shown in table 19 to 21. the corresponding PI position of peptides. It is clear that the relative content of both proline in the PI position is very high and support the action of the proteases being proline specific. Highest proline (P) specificity is found for AnPro (52%) followed by AniPro_2 (47%) and MorProl (36%). However, relative high glutamine (Q) specificity in PI is surprisingly also observed for AniPro_2 (12%) and AnPro (11%) whereas MorProl only display (3%). The same high preference for proline (P) and glutamine (Q) is observed by the relative sum of content for position to P3‘-P3, where AniPro_2 has 141% Q and 108% P, AnPro has 134% Q and 101% P and MorProl has 53% Q and 70% P. This clearly suggest AniPro_2 being the most specific glutamine and proline specific endoprotease followed by AnPro and MorProl. This also support and explain the superior haze reduction performance of AniPro_2. The increased glutamine and proline specificity may enable more efficient degradation of haze sensitive proteins in malt- or wheat-based beers known to have a high content of proline and glutamine. The average peptide length (number of amino acid residues) of peptides identified in beer produced with protease was calculated from more than 300 unique peptides identified and the results are shown in figure 22. The observed average peptide length is calculated for beer produced with AniPro2 (12.1 residues), AnPro (12.2 residues), MorProl (12.7 residues) and Control (14.2 residues). This is clearly supporting a more efficient degradation of isolated protein in the beer leading to shorter peptides in beers produced with proteases having increased glutamine and proline specificity. The average shortest peptides were found in beer produced with AniPro2 followed by beers produced by AnPro and MorProl and Control having the longest average peptide length. Thus, proteases with increased glutamine and proline specificity generate shorter peptides in beers and hereby a more efficient degradation of haze sensitive proteins in malt-based beers.

Table 19. Peptide analysis from malt beers produced at 1 hL scale with endoproteases was analyzed and the relative amino acid (AA) content at the peptide termini positions corresponding to P3‘-P3 by protease cleavage. The relative amino acid content in peptides in beer made with MorProl is shown for position to P3‘-P3 by protease cleavage. The sum of relative amino acid content from P3‘to P3 for each amino acid is given as SUM.

Table 20. Peptide analysis from malt beers produced at 1 hL scale with endoproteases was analyzed and the relative amino acid (AA) content at the peptide termini positions corresponding to P3‘-P3 by protease cleavage. The relative amino acid content in peptides in beer made with AnPro is shown for position to P3‘-P3 by protease cleavage. The sum of relative amino acid content from P3 ‘to P3 for each amino acid is given as SUM.

Table 21. Peptide analysis from malt beers produced at 1 hL scale with endoproteases was analyzed and the relative amino acid (AA) content at the peptide termini positions corresponding to P3‘-P3 by protease cleavage. The relative amino acid content in peptides in beer made with AniPro2 is shown for position to P3‘-P3 by protease cleavage. The sum of relative amino acid content from P3‘to P3 for each amino acid is given as SUM.