# Patent

## Title
Isolation and composition of novel glycosidases

## Abstract

A nucleotide sequence is provided which encodes a peptide having .beta.-xylosidase activity and exhibits at least 30% amino acid identity with the amino acid sequence shown in SEQ ID NO. 1 and described in SEQ ID NO. 3 or hybridises under stringent conditions with a nucleotide sequence shown in SEQ ID NO. 1, or a part thereof having at least 15 nucleotides encoding an amino acid sequence shown in SEQ ID NO. 1 and described in SEQ ID NO. 3. Also provided is a peptide having .beta.-xylosidase activity and exhibiting at least 30% amino acid identity with the amino acid sequence shown in SEQ ID NO. 1 and described in SEQ ID NO. 3 or a part thereof having at least 8 amino acids shown in SEQ ID NO. 1 and described in SEQ ID NO. 3.

## Background
The present invention relates to a novel peptide having .beta.-xylosidase activity, to a nucleotide sequence encoding such a peptide, and to the use of such a .beta.-xylosidase-like peptide.

Beta-xylosidase (1,4-.beta.-D-xylan-xylohydrolase; EC 3.2.1.37) is one of the xylanolytic enzymes. Xylans are a major constituent of the cell walls of plants, and are second only to cellulose. They are abundantly found in most land plants, especially in agricultural by-products such as straw, wheat-bran, corn cobs, cotton seed, etc. Xylan is a complex polymer consisting of a .beta.-1,4-linked xylose polymer with arabino-furanose, glucuronic acid, methylglucuronic acid and acetyl side-groups. Endoxylanase (EC 3.2.1.8) randomly cleaves the .beta.-1,4-bonds in the xylan backbone to yield oligosaccharides, xylobiose and xylose. Beta-xylosidase cleaves terminal xylose units from the non-reducing end of the xylose oligomers resulting from endoxylanase activity. .alpha.-Glucuronidase cleaves glucuronic acid side groups from backbone xylose units, whereas .alpha.-L-arabinofuranosidases (EC 3.2.1.55) cleave arabinose units from the xylan backbone and acetylesterases (EC 3.1.1.6) remove the acetyl side-groups.

Beta-xylosidase is also effective in transglycosylation reactions wherein monosaccharide units or alcohols are attached to or cleaved from xylose units. Beta-xylosidase is rate-limiting in xylan hydrolysis (Dekker 1983, Poutanen and Puls 1988).

The hydrolysing and transglycosylating reactions of .beta.-xylosidases are economically important for the breakdown and utilisation of agricultural waste material e.g. in the production of xylose, xylose oligomers and xylitol, which are useful as sweeteners in foodstuffs, candies and medicaments, especially as a sugar substitute. Also, the enzyme or its products can be used as bread improvers and in the beer brewing industry.

Beta-xylosidases have been isolated from various sources including bacteria and fungi. For example, the purification of .beta.-xylosidase from Aspergillus niger was reported by Rodionova et al. (1983); the molecular weight was reported to be 253,000 on the basis of gel filtration and 122,000 on the basis of SDS electrophoresis, whereas its isoelectric point was at pH 4.9.

Three endoxylanases and one .beta.-xylosidase were isolated from Aspergillus awamori by Kormelink et al. (1993); the .beta.-xylosidase had a molecular weight of 110,000, a pH optimum of 6.5 and a temperature optimum of 70.degree. C.

Beta-D-xylosidase from rumen fungus Neocallirnastix frontalis was reported by Garcia-Campayo and Wood (1993) and had an apparent molecular weight (gel filtration) of 150,000, a pH optimum of 6.4 and a temperature optimum of 37.degree. C. Utt et al (1991) report the sequencing of the xylB of the ruminal bacterium Butyrivibrio fibrisolvens encoding both .beta.-xylosidase and .alpha.-arabinofuranosidase activities.

Known .beta.-xylosidases have activity patterns that do not always correspond to the industrial needs. In particular it is often desirable that the enzyme has a high xylosidase specificity and low specificities for other substrates, such as glucosides and galactosides. Especially fungal .beta.-xylosidases are highly advantageous for their activity levels and specificity patterns.

In order to be able to provide .beta.-xylosidase-like enzymes having the desired activity patterns from the desired production organisms, sequence information of the .beta.-xylosidase gene should be available. Up to now however, no sequence information on fungal .beta.-xylosidases has been reported.

A novel .beta.-xylosidase has now been found and its amino acid sequence as well as its encoding nucleotide sequence have been determined. The protein is denoted herein as xylD, whereas the encoding gene is denoted as xlnD. The primary structure of the novel .beta.-xylosidase appears to be different form known .beta.-xylosidase-like enzymes. Also, its activity pattern is different form known .beta.-xylosidase-like enzymes, and its xylosidase activity is about two times higher than that of the .beta.-xylosidase reported by Rodionova et al (supra).

Accordingly, the invention relates to a nucleotide sequence encoding a peptide having .beta.-xylosidase activity and exhibiting at least 30% amino acid homology with the amino acid sequence shown in SEQ ID NO. 1 and described in SEQ ID NO. 3 or hybridising under stringent conditions with a nucleotide sequence shown in SEQ ID NO. 1, or a part thereof having at least 15, preferably at least 21, more preferably at least 24 or even at least 30 nucleotides encoding an amino acid sequence shown in SEQ ID NO. 1. By amino acid homology is meant here amino acid identity in the primary structure. Amino acid similarity is usually higher than the figures given for identity.

In this context, heterologous hybridisation conditions are as follows: hybridisation in 6.times.SSC (20.times.SSC per 1000 ml: 175.3 g NaCl, 107.1 g sodium citrate.-5H.sub.2 O, pH 7.0), 0.1% SDS, 0.05% sodium pyrophosphate, 5* Denhardt's solution (100.times.Denhardt's solution per 500 ml: 10 g Ficoll-400, 10 g polyvinylpyrrolidone, 10 g Bovine Serum Albumin (Pentax Fraction V)) and 20 .mu.g/ml denatured herring sperm DNA at 56.degree. C. for 18-24 hrs followed by two 30 min. washes in 5.times.SSC, 0.1 % SDS at 56.degree. C. and two 30 min. washes in 2.times.SSC, 0.1% SDS at 56.degree. C.

The nucleotide sequence of the invention encodes a peptide having substantial .beta.-xylosidase activity, i.e. it has .beta.-xylosidase activity as its predominant enzymic activity, and thus may be used for the production of .beta.-xylosidases or mutants thereof. The coding sequences may contain mutations (insertions, deletions or both) which serve to modify the structure and/or the activity of the expression product. For an active expression product, the minimum identity and/or the hybridisation characteristic as defined above should preferably be maintained. The nucleotide sequence may also correspond to regulating or signal sequences of .beta.-xylosidases. For these uses, the nucleotide sequence comprises substantially the encoding or regulating sequences of the .beta.-xylosidase. On the other hand, the nucleotide sequence may be used as a primer or probe in detecting .beta.-xylosidase encoding sequences. For these uses, the sequence comprises at least 15, up to e.g. 60, consecutive nucleotides of the sequence of SEQ ID NO. 1.

The invention also relates to an isolated peptide having .beta.-xylosidase activity and exhibiting at least 30% amino acid homology (identity) with the amino acid sequence shown in SEQ ID NO. 1 and described in SEQ ID NO. 3 or a part thereof, said peptide having no .beta.-glucosidase and/or no .beta.-galactosidase activity; essentially no .beta.-glucosidase or .beta.-galactosidase activity means that these activities are less than 2%, in particular less than 1% of the .beta.-xylosidase activity. A peptide exhibiting at least 40%, preferably at least 60%, most preferably at least 75% amino acid identity with the amino acid sequence shown in SEQ ID NO. 1 and described in SEQ ID NO. 3 forms a preferred embodiment of the invention. Also part of the invention are peptides comprising a series of at least 8 contiguous amino acids of the amino acid sequence shown in SEQ ID NO.1. These can be produced by translating a nucleotide sequence as described above. Preferably the peptide has a contiguous series of at least 10, most preferably at least 12 amino acids from the sequence set forth in SEQ ID NO. 1and described in SEQ ID NO. 3.

The peptide according to the invention is especially from fungal origin, in particular from filamentous fungi, e.g. strains from the genera Aspergillus (especially A. niger, A.niger var tubigensis, A. niger var awarnori, A. niger var kawachii, A. oryzae, A. sydowii, A. japonicus, A. aculeatus, A. ochraceus, A. terreus, A. fumigatus, A. versicolor, A. flavus, A. phoenicis, A. nidulans, A. foetidus and A. carbonarius), Trichoderma (especially T. reesei, T viride, T. longibrachiatum, T. harzianum, T. kongingii, T. pseudokongii), Penicillium (P. wortrnani, P. pinophilum, P. janthinellum, P. citrinum, P. capsulatum, P. oxalicuni, P. verruculosum, P. chrysogenum), Humicola (H. thermophilium=Scytalidium thermophilium) and Fusariuni (F. oxysporum, F. solani).

Also, the invention concerns antibodies raised against a peptide as described above e.g. for purifying .beta.-xylosidases and for determining the presence of .beta.-xylosidases. The antibodies can be produced by immunisation with the peptide described above, using hybridoma techniques which are well-known to the skilled person.

Also claimed are expression vectors and plasmids containing the nucleotide sequences described above under the control of a homologous or heterologous promoter.

Furthermore, the invention is concerned with the use of these sequences for the production of .beta.-xylosidases by different hosts under the control of its own, or heterologous regulatory sequences, or for the production of other peptides using the .beta.-xylosidase promoter sequence. The expression vectors and host cells may contain multiple copies of the xylD-encoding sequences (altered or not with respect to SEQ ID NO. 1) and of other genes.

Host organisms may be homologous production strains or alternatively heterologous hosts. Suitable host organisms include fungi, yeasts, bacteria and plants. Examples are Aspergillus species, Trichoderma species, Bacillus species, Kluyveromyces species, Saccharomy,ces species and Fusariuni species. Particularly preferred are A. niger, A. niger var. tubigensis, A. niger var. awamori, A. oryzae, A. japonicus, A. carbonarius, A. aculeatus, T. reesei, T. viride, T. harzianunm, F. oxysporum, B. subtilis, B. licheniformis, K. lactis and S. cerevisiae. The host organism is preferably a food-grade organism.

Examples of own control regions and heterologous regulatory regions include fungal constitutive and/or inducible promoters such as the pyruvate kinase promoter (pkiA) and the glyceraldehyde-3-phosphate dehydrogenase (gpd) promoters. Examples of strong yeast promoters are alcohol dehydrogenase, 3-phosphoglycerate kinase and triose phosphate isomerase promoters. Examples of bacterial promoters are .alpha.-amylase, spo2 and promoters of extracellular protease genes.

The invention is furthermore concerned with the use of regulatory sequences contained in the 5'-noncoding part of SEQ ID NO.1 (nucleotides 1-854 or a part thereof) for expression of homologous or heterologous genes, e.g. xylanase, amylase, glucanase, oxidoreductases e.g. hexose oxidase, .alpha.-glucuronidase, lipase, esterase, ferulic acid esterase, proteases, or human interleukin-6, bovine (pro)chymosin, human lactoferrin, fungal phytase. A signal sequence of xlnD may be used in such constructs, as well as a suitable terminator, e.g. xlnD or trpC.

Further part of the invention is the use of the nucleotide sequence described above in such a manner as to disrupt the .beta.-xylosidase gene of a host organism. To this end a nucleotide sequence containing a mutation which brings about a defunctionalisation of the .beta.-xylosidase gene is introduced in the host cell. The mutation may be a deletion of one or more nucleotides, an insertion of one or more nucleotides, or a combination thereof.

The host cell--whether altered so as to produce or overproduce .beta.-xylosidase or so as not to produce its .beta.-xylosidase--may advantageously express or overexpress other relevant proteins, including enzymes, in particular other xylanolytic enzymes such as endoxylanases, and/or other enzymes such as amylases, glucanases, oxidoreductases such as hexose oxidase, .alpha.-glucuronidase, lipases, esterases, ferulic acid esterase and/or proteases. The corresponding genes may be under the control of homologous control regions or under the control region of the .beta.-xylosidase gene contained in the nucleotide sequence described above.

An especially suitable protein to be expressed by the recombinant host cell according to the invention is the activating regulator of the xylanolytic pathway denoted as xylR. The target genes for this regulator comprise the genes xlnA, xlnB, xlnC (all three endoxylanase-encoding genes), xlnD and axeA. Thus, the host cells according to the invention containing the xlnR gene, i.e. capable of expressing xylR or an active equivalent thereof, are effective producers of .beta.-xylosidase--in case they contain the active xlnD gene--or of other xylanolyitc enzymes including endoxylanases, excluding .beta.-xylosidase--in case their xlnD gene has been defunctionalised. The nucleotide sequence of the xlnR gene is set forth in SEQ ID NO.2.

Also comprised by the invention is the use of the enzyme activity of the peptide in transglycosylation reactions of substrates contained in bread doughs and other bakery products, resulting in improved bread characteristics. This includes the use of the .beta.-xylosidase as a bread improver in a manner known per se for enzymic bread improvers.

The .beta.-xylosidases encoded by the present sequences can also be advantageously used for the production of xylose and xylose oligomers from wood and plant wastes and spent paper pulp, which xylose and oligomers are suitable as sweeteners. They can also be reduced to xylitol, which is also an effective bulk sweetener.

The host cells according to the invention, wherein the .beta.-xylosidase gene has been disrupted, can be used e.g. in the production of enzymes and enzyme preparations e.g. to be added to animal feed. Animals, including poultry and pigs, have a poor metabolism for xylose (Schulte, 1991). Xylose which is absorbed over the gut wall occupies the urinary excretion system land thus xylose uptake is energetically dis-advantageous to the animal. Moreover, a high intake of xylose is known to cause cataracts, diarrhoea and anorexia. On the other hand xylose and xylo-oligomers can be fermented to short chain fatty acids, which is an energetic asset. Therefore hemicellulose-degrading enzymes in feed should produce xylo-oligomers and no xylose monomers, and thus the enzymes should have endoxylanase activity and no, or a reduced level of, .beta.-xylosidase activity. Thus the inventions also pertains to the use of host cells, such as fungi, bacteria, yeasts and plants, having a defunctionalised .beta.-xylosidase gene but being capable of effectively producing endoxylanase and optionally other, especially xylanolytic, enzymes, for the production of enzyme preparations free of .beta.-xylosidase. The invention also comprises such xylanolytic enzyme preparations lacking .beta.-xylosidase activity.

The .beta.-xylosidase encoded by the nucleotide sequence of SEQ ID NO. 1 differs greatly from the .beta.-xylosidase of A. niger reported by Rodionova et al. (1993), as is shown in table A. Activity and inhibition of .beta.-xylosidases of the invention (X-I and X-II), compared to the .beta.-xylosidase according to Rodionova et al. (1983) substrate                       X-I      X-II    .beta.-xyl activity (U/mg)              invention invention (Rodionova) p-nitrophenyl-.beta.-D-xylopyranoside    60.2      60.9       35.2 p-nitrophenyl-.beta.-D-glucopyranoside     0.2       0.3        7.9 p-nitrophenyl-.beta.-D-          0.0       0.0        0.6 galactopyranoside p-nitrophenyl-.alpha.-L-         2.8       3.4        5.8 arabinofuranoside inhibition K.sub.i (mM xylosc)     9.8      13.2        2.9

Table A summarises the specificity pattern of two .beta.-xylosidases X-I and X-II of the invention--presumably differing only in their glycosylation pattern, not in their amino acid sequence--and of the .beta.-xylosidase reported by Rodionova et al., and their inhibition by xylose. The amino acid composition of these .beta.-xylosidases is given in table B. Amino acid composition of .beta.-xylosidase according to SEQ ID NO. 1, compared to the .beta.-xylosidase according to Rodionova et al. mole % Amino acid      number      mole %     (Rodionova) Ala               86          11.1          8.2 Arg               27           3.5          2.1 Asn + Asp         95          12.2          5.6 Cys                7           0.9          1.1 Gln + Glu         74           9.5         12.4 Gly               63           8.0         11.3 His               13           1.7          1.4 Ile               39           5.0          4.8 Leu               69           8.9          8.8 Lys               24           3.1          2.9 Met                6           0.8          3.3 Phe               24           3.1          2.9 Pro               39           5.0          8.6 Ser               53           6.8          8.7 Thr               58           7.5          7.0 Trp               15           2.0          2.6 Tyr               41           5.3          3.4 Val               45           5.8          6.1

Mutant strain A. niger NW147, a depressed derivative of strain NW205::130#2 (cspA1, pyrA6, nicA1, argB13,::pIM130) constructed as described in the copending PCT application filed 96.06.24 (as well as in EP 95201707.7 and EP 95202346.3) was grown in Aspergillus minimal medium (MM) (contains per litre: 6.0 g NaNO.sub.3, 1.5 g KH.sub.2 PO.sub.4, 0.5 g MgSO.sub.4.7H.sub.2 O, 0.5 g KCl, Carbon source as indicated, pH 6.0 and 1 ml Vishniac solution (Vishniac, W. and Santer, M., 1957) (contains per litre 10 g EDTA, 4.4 g ZnSO.sub.4.7H.sub.2 O, 1.0 g MnCl.sub.2.4H.sub.2 O, 0.32 g CoCl.sub.2.6H.sub.2 O, 0.32 g CuSO.sub.4.5H.sub.2 O, 0.22 g (NH.sub.4).sub.6 Mo.sub.7 O.sub.24.4H.sub.2 O, 1.47 g CaCl.sub.2.2H.sub.2 O, 1.0 g FeSO.sub.4.7H.sub.2 O, pH 4.0) supplemented with 1.5 % crude Wheat arabinoxylan, 10 mM L-arginine, 10 .mu.M nicotinamide. This medium was inoculated with 1*10.sup.6 spores per ml and mycelium was grown for 96 hours at 30.degree. C. and 250 rpm in an orbital New Brunswick shaker. The culture filtrate was collected after filtration of the mycelium on Myracloth (nylon gauze) using a Buchner funnel and mild suction. The pH of the culture filtrate was adjusted to pH 6.0 with 0.1 M NaOH after which the culture filtrate was diluted by the addition of 2 volumes of Millipore water.

DEAE-Sephadex A-50 was equilibrated in 50 mM sodium acetate buffer pH 5.0 and was added to the culture filtrate. After 30-60 minutes of stirring at 4.degree. C., the DEAE-Sephadex together with the culture filtrate were passed through a funnel with a glass filter holder and the DEAE-Sephadex A-50 was transferred to a column. This column was first eluted with 50 mM sodium acetate buffer pH 5.0, then with 50 mM sodium acetate buffer pH 5.0+0.5 M NaCl. Fractions containing .beta.-xylosidase activity, as was detected using the chromogenic substrate 4-methylumbelliferyl-.beta.-D-xyloside (detects .beta.-xylosidases and endo-xylanases) (Sigma #M7008), were pooled and desalted by dialysis against Millipore water and subsequently dialysed against 20 mM piperazine-HCl buffer pH 5.0. After dialysis the sample was loaded on a DEAE-Sepharose Fast Flow column. This column was first eluted with 3 volumes 20 mM piperazine-HCl buffer pH 5.0 and then with a linear gradient of 0.5 M NaCl in 20 mM piperazine-HCl buffer pH 5.0. Detection of the eluted protein was performed by continuous measurement of the UV absorption at 280 nm (FIG. 1). Fractions of 10 ml were collected which were assayed for activity of .beta.-xylosidase on para-nitro-phenyl-.beta.-D-xylopyranoside (PNP-X) (Sigma #N2132). The .beta.-xylosidase was found in fractions 11-27, which were pooled and subsequently dialysed against 20 mM piperazine-HCl buffer pH 6.0 (FIG. 2). 5 ml of the dialysed sample was applied on a Mono Q HR 5/5 column (Pharmacia). Protein was eluted using 59 ml of a linear gradient of 1 M NaCl in 20 mM piperazine-HCl buffer pH 6.0. Detection of the eluted protein was performed by continuous measurement of the UV absorption at 280 nm (FIG. 3). Two peaks containing .beta.-xylosidase activity were found; .beta.-xylosidase I was eluting at 0.19 M NaCl, while peak II eluted at 0.29 M NaCl. SDS-PAGE of both peak fractions revealed that the fractions corresponding with both peaks each contained a single protein band, both having the same apparent molecular weight of 110 kDa. The specific activity of both .beta.-xylosidase I and II towards the artificial substrate PNP-X was determined as described by Rodionova et al., 1983, to be respectively 60.2 and 60.9 U/mg protein. In addition the activity against PNP-.beta.-D-glucopyranoside (Sigma #N7006) was determined to be 0.2 and 0.3 U/mg, against PNP-.beta.-D-galactopyranoside (Sigma #N1252) 0.0 and 0.0 U/mg and against PNP-.beta.-L-arabinofuranoside (Sigma #N3641) 2.8 and 3.4 U/mg respectively for .beta.-xylosidase I and II.

A. niger NW147 was cultivated for 69 and 81 hr on MM containing 2% wheat arabinoxylan after which the mycelium was harvested by filtration and then washed with sterile saline. The mycelium was subsequently frozen in liquid nitrogen after which it was powdered using a Microdismembrator (Braun). Total RNA was isolated from the mycelial powder in accordance with the guanidium thiocyanate/CsCl protocol described in Sambrook et al. (1989), except that the RNA was centrifuged twice using a CsCl gradient. Poly A.sup.+ mRNA was isolated from 5 mg of total RNA by oligo(dT)-cellulose chromatography (Aviv and Leder, 1972, Sambrook et al., 1989) with the following modifications: SDS is omitted from all solutions and the loading buffer was supplemented with 9% (v/v) dimethylsulfoxide.

cDNA was synthesised from 7 .mu.g poly A.sup.+ mRNA and ligated into bacteriophage lambda Uni-ZAP XR using the ZAP.TM.-cDNA synthesis kit (Stratagene) according to the manufacturer's instructions. After ligation of the cDNA into Uni-ZAP XR vector-arms, the phage DNA was packaged using Packagene.TM. extract (Promega) according to the manufacturer's instructions. Ligation of 120 ng cDNA in 1.2 .mu.g vector arms and subsequent packaging of the reaction mixture resulted in a primary library consisting of 3.5*10.sup.4 recombinant phages. This primary library was amplified using E. coli XL1-Blue MRF' (Stratagene), titrated and stored at 4.degree. C.

250 .mu.g of both .beta.-xylosidase I and II was dialysed against 1 mM phosphate buffer pH 7.0 and freeze-dried. The protein was resuspended in 100 .mu.l sterile PBS (0.136 M NaCl; 2.7 mM KCl; 8 mM Na.sub.2 HPO.sub.4 ; 1.75 mM KH.sub.2 PO.sub.4 ; pH 7.4). To this protein mixture, 100 .mu.l of Freunds' complete adjuvant was added and vortexed for 30 minutes to obtain a stable emulsion. For both proteins this mixture was injected into a mouse subcutaneously. In week 4 a booster was given by injecting 25 .mu.g .beta.-xylosidase in 100 .mu.l sterile PBS to which 100 .mu.l of Freunds' incomplete adjuvant was added. The mice were bled in week 7 and the serum tested. In week 13 the mice was given a second booster of 25 .mu.g followed by a bleeding in week 14. This procedure of boosters with nn interval of 6 weeks followed by a bleeding may be repeated several times.

The collected blood was incubated for 30 minutes at 37.degree. C. and subsequently stored at 4.degree. C. for 16 hours. After centrifugation at 5000 rpm in a Sorvall High speed centrifuge the serum was collected and stored at -20.degree. C. .beta.-xylosidase II

To screen the A. niger NW147 cDNA library, constructed as described in Example 2, for .beta.-xylosidase expressing cDNA clones 5*10.sup.3 pfu per plate were plated in NZYCM top-agarose containing 0.7% agarose on 85-mm-diameter NZYCM (1.5% agar) plates as described (Maniatis et al., 1982, pp. 64), using E. coli BB4 (Stratagene) as plating bacteria. Screening of the cDNA expression library obtained was basically performed as described by Young and Davies (1983). In short, 5000 pfu of the amplified stock were plated on NZYCM medium using E. coli BB4 cells as a host in 0.7 % top-agarose. Plates were incubated for 5 hrs at 37.degree. C. after which they were covered with nitrocellulose filters which were previously soaked in 10 mM IPTO and air-dried. Plates were then further incubated for 6 hrs at 37.degree. C. Plates were cooled to 4.degree. C., the position of the filters on the plates was marked before they are removed. The filters were incubated for 15 min in 0.5 M NaCl, 0.05 % Tween. 20 (Biorad), 20 mM Tris/HCl pH 7.5 with gentle shaking, this was repeated once. The bacterial debris was removed by gentle scrubbing with gloved hands. Phages expressing a fusion protein containing a part of the .beta.-xylosidase protein were identified by probing the filters with anti .beta.-xylosidase II antiserum and subsequent detection using an alkaline phosphatase conjugate, according to the procedure described for Western blots in the appropriate Biorad manual. In two experiments 5*10.sup.3 and 5*10.sup.4 pfu of the amplified library were screened for expression of .beta.-xylosidase cDNA; 4 positives were found. Each positive plaque was removed from the plate using a Pasteur pipette and the phages were cluted from the agar plug in 1 ml of SM buffer containing 20 .mu.l chloroform, as described in Maniatis et al. (1982). The phages obtained were purified by repeating the procedure described above using filter replicas from plates containing 50-100 plaques of the isolated phages.

The cDNA clones expressing .beta.-xylosidase were converted to Bluescript phagemids using super infection with the filamentous helper phage ExAssist.TM., which is included in the ZAP.TM.-cDNA synthesis kit from Stratagene, according to the manufacturer's instructions.

The phagemid DNA was subsequently isolated as described in Sambrook et al. (1989). The isolated DNA of the 4 cDNA clones was subjected to restriction analysis using the restriction enzymes EcoRI and XhoI. The DNA was digested for 2 hours at 37.degree. C. in a reaction mixture composed of the following solutions; 2 .mu.l (.apprxeq.1 .mu.g) DNA solution; 2 .mu.l of the appropriate 10*React buffer (Life Technologies); 10 U of each restriction enzyme (Life Technologies) and sterile distilled water to give a final volume of 20 .mu.l. After addition of 4 .mu.l DNA loading buffer the samples were loaded on a 0.7% TAE-agarose gel. The DNA fragments were separated by electrophoresis at 80 V for 1.5 hours. The restriction analysis revealed that the cDNA clones had inserts of different sizes of respectively 1.4, 1.5, 2.4 and 2.5 kb. The nucleotide sequences of a part of each of these cDNA's were determined by the dideoxynucleotide chain-termination procedure (Sanger et al., 1977) using the Pharmacia T7 DNA polymerase sequencing kit. The sequences obtained revealed that these cDNA's correspond all four to the same gene. Encoding xlnD Gene and Isolation of the Gene

For the screening of the A. niger N400 genomic library, constructed as described by Harmsen et al., 1990, for the xlnD gene 3.times.10.sup.3 pfu per plate were plated in NZYCM top-agarose containing 0.7% agarose on five 85-mm-diameter NZYCM (1.5% agar) plates as described (Maniatis et al., 1982) using E. coli LE392 as plating bacteria. After overnight incubation of the plates at 37.degree. C. two replicas of each plate were made on HybondN.sup.+ filters (Amersham) as described in Maniatis et al. (1982). After wetting the filters in 3.times.SSC the filters were washed for 60 min. at room temperature in 3.times.SSC. Hybridisation using a .sup.32 P-labelled 2.5 kb EcoRI/XhoI fragment of cDNA clone #4, prepared as described by Sambrook et al., 1989, was done according the following procedure (Sambrook et al., 1989); prehybridisation in 6.times.SSC (20.times.SSC per 1000 ml: 175.3 g NaCl, 107.1 g sodium citrate.5.5 H.sub.2 O, pH 7.0), 0.1% SDS, 0.05% sodium pyrophosphate, 5* Denhardt's solution (100.times.Denhardt's solution per 500 ml : 10 g Ficoll-400, 10 g polyvinylpyrrolidone, 10 g Bovine Serum Albumin (Pentax Fraction V)) and 20 .mu.g/ml denatured herring sperm DNA at 68.degree. C. for 3-5 hrs and hybridisation in an identical buffer, which contained the denatured radiolabelled probe at 68.degree. C. for 15-18 hrs, followed by two washes in 2.times.SSC, 0.1 % SDS at 68.degree. C. and two washes in 0.2.times.SSC, 0.1% SDS at 68.degree. C. The membrane was covered with Saran wrap and autoradiographed overnight at -70.degree. C. using Konica X-ray films and Kodak X-Omatic cassettes with regular intensifying screens.

This screening resulted in about 50 positive phages, of which ten were purified. Each positive plaque was picked from the plate using a Pasteur pipette and the phages were eluted from the agar plug in 1 ml of SM buffer containing 20 .mu.l chloroform, as described in Maniatis et al. (1982). The phages obtained were purified by repeating the procedure described above using filter replicas from plates containing 50-100 plaques of the isolated phages.

After purification the phages were propagated by plating 5.times.10.sup.3 phages on NZYCM medium. After overnight incubation at 37.degree. C. confluent plates were obtained, from which the phages were eluted by adding 5 ml SM buffer and storing the plate for 2 h. at 4.degree. C. with intermittent shaking. After collection of the supernatant using a pipette, the bacteria were removed from the solution by centrifugation at 4,000.times.g for 10 min. at 4.degree. C. To the supernatant 0.3% chloroform was added and the number of pfu was determined. These phage stocks contain approximately 10.sup.9 pfu/ml.

DNA of four selected phages G15-G18, isolated as described in Sambrook et al 1989. was analyzed by Southern analysis. The DNA was digested for 5 h. at 37.degree. C. in a reaction mixture composed of the following solutions; 5 .mu.l (.apprxeq.1 .mu.g) DNA solution; 2 .mu.l of the appropriate 10.times.React buffer (Life Technologies); 10 U Restriction enzyme (Life Technologies) and sterile distilled water to give a final volume of 20 .mu.l. The samples were incubated for 10 min. at 65.degree. C. and rapidly cooled on ice, before loading on a 0.6% agarose gel in 1*TAE buffer. The DNA fragments were separated by electrophoresis at 25 V for 15-18 h.

After electrophoresis the DNA was transferred and denatured by alkaline vacuum blotting (VacuGene XL, Pharmacia LKB) to nylon membrane (Hybond N, Amserham) as described in the VacuGene XL instruction manual (pp. 25-26) and subsequently prehybridised and hybridized using the labelled 2.5 kb EcoRI/XhoI fragment of cDNA clone#4 and hybridisation conditions as described. The hybridisation pattern was obtained by exposure of Kodak XAR-5 X-ray film for 18 h. at -70.degree. C. using an intensifying screen. In all four clones fragments originating from the same genomic region were found for which a restriction map was constructed (FIG. 4).

Based on the restriction map a 3.6 kb PstI fragment was selected for subcloning. 100 ng pEMBL19 PstI digested fragment was mixed with 250 ng 3.8 kb PstI fragment and 4 .mu.l 5*ligation buffer (composition; 500 mM Tris-HCl, pH 7.6; 100 mM MgCl.sub.2 ; 10 mM ATP; 10 mM dithiothreitol; 25% PEG-6000) and 1 .mu.l (1.2 U/.mu.l) T.sub.4 DNA ligase (Life Technologies) was added to this mixture in a final volume of 20 .mu.l. After incubation for 16 h at 14.degree. C. the mixture was diluted to 100 .mu.l with sterile water. 10 .mu.l of the diluted mixture was used to transform E. coli DH5.alpha. competent cells, prepared as described by Sambrook et al., 1989. Six of the resulting colonies were grown overnight in LB medium (LB medium per 1000 ml: 10 g trypticase peptone (BBL), 5 g yeast extract (BBL), 10 g NaCl, 0.5 mM Tris-HCl pH 7.5) containing 100 .mu.g/ml ampicillin. From the cultures, plasmid DNA was isolated by the alkaline lysis method as described by Maniatis et al. (1982), which was used in restriction analysis to select a clone harbouring the desired plasmid pIM200. The strain containing the plasmid pIM200 was deposited at the Centraal Bureau voor Schimmelcultures, Baarn, NL, under access number CBS 677.96. Plasmid DNA was isolated on a large scale from 500 ml cultures E. coli DH5.alpha. containing pIM200 grown in LB medium containing 100 .mu.g/ml ampicillin (Maniatis et al., 1982). The plasmid was purified by CsCl centrifugation, ethanol precipitated and dissolved in 400 .mu.l TE. The yield was approximately 500 .mu.g. This plasmid was used to construct a detailed restriction map (FIG. 5).

250 ml of culture medium, which consists of MM supplemented with 2% glucose, 0.5% yeast extract, 0.2% casamino acids (Vitamin free), 2 mM leucine, 10 .mu.M nicotinamide, 10 mM uridine, was inoculated with 1*10.sup.6 spores per ml of strain NW155 (cspA1, argB13, pyrA6, nicA1, leuA1, prtF28) (derived from NW228, Van den Hombergh et al, 1995) and mycelium was grown for 16-18 hours at 30.degree. C. and 250 rpm in a orbital New Brunswick shaker. The mycelium was harvested on Myracloth (nylon gauze) using a Buchner funnel and mild suction and was washed several times with SP6 (SP6: 0.8% NaCl, 10 mM Na-phosphate buffer pH 6.0). 150 mg Novozyme 234 was dissolved in 20 ml SMC (SMC: 1.33 M sorbitol, 50 mM CaCl.sub.2, 20 mM MES buffer, pH 5.8) to which 1 g (wet weight) mycelium was added and which was carefully re-suspended. This suspension was incubated with gentle shaking for 1-2 hours at 30.degree. C., every 30 minutes the mycelium was carefully resuspended and a sample was taken to monitor protoplast formation using a haemocytometer to count the protoplasts. When sufficient protoplasts were present (more then 1*10.sup.8) these were carefully resuspended and the mycelial debris was removed by filtration over a sterile glasswool plug. The protoplasts were collected by 10 minutes centrifugation at 3000 rpm and 4.degree. C. in a bench centrifuge, the supernatant was removed and the pellet was carefully resuspended in 5 ml STC (STC: 1.33 M Sorbitol, 50 mM CaCl.sub.2, 10 mM Tris/HCl, pH 7.5). This wash step was repeated twice and the protoplasts were finally resuspended in STC at a density of 1*10.sup.8 per ml.

The transformation was performed by adding 20 .mu.g of pIM200 DNA and 5 .mu.g pGW635, containing the A. niger pyrA gene (dissolved in a 10-20 .mu.l TE), to 200 .mu.L of protoplast suspension together with 50 .mu.l of PEG buffer (PEG Buffer: 25% PEG-6000, 50 mM CaCl.sub.2, 10 mM Tris/HCl pH 7.2), mixed gently by pipetting up and down a few times, and incubated at room temperature for 20 minutes. After this period 2 ml PEG buffer was added, the solution was mixed gently and incubated at room temperature for another 5 minutes and subsequently 4 ml of STC was added and mixed gently on a vortex mixer. One ml portions of this suspension were then added to 4 ml of 0.95 M sucrose osmotically stabilised top agar and poured on osmotically stabilised plates. As a control A. niger was also transformed using pGW635.

The transformants from pIM200 obtained in Example 7 were analyzed phenotypically by plating on MM containing 1% oat spelt xylan and 1 mM 4-methylumbelliferyl-.beta.-D-xyloside. Of the 26 transformants tested, five had an increased fluorescence. These transformants, together with a PYR.sup.+ transformant as a reference, were grown on MM containing 1% oat spelt xylan for 20, 27 and 42 hrs, after which the .beta.-xylosidase activity towards PNP-X was measured. The results are summarised in Table C.

An increased level of .beta.-xylosidase activity was found in all five transformants selected, the highest level being more then 30 times the wild-type activity. These results were confirmed by Western blot analysis, using the anti .beta.-xylosidase antibody, prepared as described in Example 3, and the Bio-Rad Immun-blot GAR-AP assay kit following the suppliers instructions. .beta.-xylosidase activities in A. niger transformants activity (mU/ml culture filtrate) after: 20 hr        27 hr       42 hr pGW 635           15           16          17 XlsA1             82           86          51 XlsA4             90          112          78 XlsA8            211          239         384 XlsA9             63          110          74 XlsA12            96          295         527

The sequence of the A. niger xlnD gene, its promoter/regulation region, the structural part of the gene and the termination region, was determined by subcloning fragments in pEMBL18/19, in combination with the use of specific oligonucleotides as primers in the sequencing reactions.

For nucleotide sequence analysis, restriction fragments were isolated which were then cloned in pEMBL18/19 DNA vectors and digested with the appropriate restriction enzymes. The nucleotide sequences were determined by the dideoxynucleotide chain-termination procedure (Sanger et al., 1977) using the Pharmacia T7 DNA polymerase sequencing kit. Computer analysis was done using the PC/GENE program (Intelligenetics). The sequence determined is given in SEQ ID NO:1.

The sequence comprising the xlnD structural gene (SEQ ID NO:1) is preceded by a 854 nucleotide long upstream region. A putative TATA box is found at position 787-794. The structural part of the xlnD gene ranges from position 855 till position 3266 and contains no introns, as was certified by sequencing both the cDNA fragment as well as the genomic fragment in pIM200.

The xlnD gene encodes a protein of 804 amino acids. The N-terminal amino acid sequence is preceded by a 26 amino acids long hydrophobic sequence, which presumably corresponds to the signal sequence. The mature .beta.-xylosidase protein is 778 amino acids in length, and has a deduced molecular weight of 84,727 Da. Encoding xlyD Gene

For the screening of the A. tubigensis genomic library, constructed as described by De Graaff et al., 1994, for the A. tubigensis counterpart, 3.times.10.sup.3 pfu per plate were plated in NZYCM top-agarose containing 0.7% agarose on five 85 mm diameter NZYCM (1.5% agar) plates as described in Example 6. Hybridisation using a .sup.32 P-labelled 3.6 kb PstI fragment of pIM200 prepared as described by Sambrook et al., 1989, was done according the following procedure (Sambrook et al., 1989); prehybridisation in 6.times.SSC, 0.1% SDS, 0.05% sodium pyrophosphate, 5*Denhardt's solution (see Example 6) and 20 .mu.g/ml denatured herring sperm DNA at 65.degree. C. for 3-5 hrs and hybridisation in an identical buffer which contained the denatured radiolabelled probe at 65.degree. C. for 15-18 hrs, followed by two washes in 5.times.SSC, 0.1% SDS at 65.degree. C. and two washes in 0.2.times.SSC, 1% SDS at 65.degree. C. The membrane was covered with Saran wrap and autoradiographed overnight at -70.degree. C. using Konica X-ray films and Kodak X-Omatic cassettes with regular intensifying screens.

This screening resulted in about 10 positive phages which were all purified. Each positive plaque was picked from the plate using a Pasteur pipette and the phages were eluted from the agar plug in 1 ml of SM buffer containing 20 .mu.l chloroform, as described in Maniatis et al. (1982). The phages obtained were purified by repeating the procedure described above using filter replicas from plates containing 50-100 plaques of the isolated phages.

After purification the phages were propagated by plating 5.times.10.sup.3 phages on NZYCM medium. After overnight incubation at 37.degree. C. confluent plates were obtained, from which the phages were eluted by adding 5 ml SM buffer and storing the plate for 2 h. at 4.degree. C. with intermittent shaking. After collection of the supematant using a pipette, the bacteria were removed from the solution by centrifugation at 4,000 .times.g for 10 min. at 4.degree. C. To the supernatant 0.3% chloroform was added and the number of pfu is determined. These phage stocks contain approximately 10.sup.9 pfu/ml.

The gene disruption plasmids pIM203 and pIM204 were constructed by generating an internal fragment of the xlnD gene by PCR. The fragment was generated using the oligonucleotides derived from the xlnD sequence (SEQ ID NO: 1). Xylos001 was derived from positions 1157 till 1176 and xylos004 was derived from positions 3147 till 3164. The fragment was generated by PCR containing 10 .mu.l 10*reaction buffer (100 mM Tris-HCl, pH 8.3, 500 mM KCl, 15 mM MgCl.sub.2, 0.01% gelatine), 16 .mu.l 1.25 mM of each of the four deoxynucleotide triphosphates, 1 ng of the plasmid pIM200 DNA and 1 .mu.g of each of the oligonucleotides in a final volume of 100 .mu.l. This reaction mixture was mixed and 1 .mu.l TAQ polymerase (5 U/.mu.l) (Life Technologies) was added. The DNA was denatured by incubation for 3 min at 92.degree. C. followed by 25 cycli of 1 min 92.degree. C., 1,5 min 52.degree. C. and 1,5 min 72.degree. C. After these 25 cycli the mixture was incubated for 5 min at 72.degree. C. Analysis of the reaction products by agarose electrophoresis revealed a fragment of about 2000 bp, which corresponds to the size expected, based on the sequence of the gene. The resulting fragment was subcloned in the vector pGEM-T (Promega) resulting in the plasmid pIM202. Plasmid pIM203 was constructed by ligation of a SmaI/PstI fragment of pILJ16 (Johnstone et al., 1985), containing the A. nidulans argB gene (Upshall et al., 1986), in the EcoRV/PstI digested pIM202 vector. Plasmid pIM204 was constructed by ligation of the NsiI/XbaI fragment of pIM130 UP 95202346.3), containing the pyrA gene under the control of the UAS of the xlnA promoter of A. tubigensis, in the SpeI/NsiI digested pIM202 vector.

The plasmids containing the xlnD internal fragment as well as the argB gene (pIM203) or the pyrA gene (pIM204), as described in Example 11.1, as a selection marker in transformation, were used to disrupt the A. niger xlnD gene. For this A. niger N902 (argB15, cspA1, fwnA1, metB10, pyrA5) was transformed, as described in Example 7, using the plasmids pIM203 and pIM204 selecting for arginine or uridine prototrophy respectively. The resulting transformants were screened for activity on methylumbelliferyl-.beta.-D-xyloside on a 1% xylan plate as described in Example 8. For both groups of transformants twenty were screened. Of these transformants one of each group had a severe decreased level of MUX activity after 24 h of growth. Southern analysis of the selected transformants demonstrated for the pIM203 transformant a multicopy integration at the homologous xlnD locus. In case of the pIM204 transformant a single homologous integration at the xlnD locus had occurred. Analysis for PNP-X activity, as described in Example 8, of these transformants revealed an at least 100-fold decrease in .beta.-xylosidase activity. Expression of Xylanolytic System of A. niger

To determine the effect of xlnD expression on the expression of the xylanolytic spectrum, A. niger N902, two xlnD multicopy-transformants in N902 and the xlnD gene disruption strains were grown in liquid culture. This was done in a transfer experiment into 2% oat spelt xylan or 3% D-xylose as a carbon source, after a preculture in 1% fructose for 18 h. Beta-xylosidase activity was determined as PNP-X activity in the culture filtrate. With both C sources a clear overexpression could be seen for the pIM200 transformants against an almost absense of PNP-X activity for both (pIM203 and pIM204) inactivation transformants. The xlnD gene disruption transformants showed an initial decreased level of endo-xylanase expression, which however increased in time finally after 16 hrs resulting in increased activity levels in comparison to the A. niger wild-type, thus resulting in xylanase preparations free of .beta.-xylosidase.

The culture filtrates were subsequently analyzed by HPLC analysis, using a Dionex system and Pulsed Amperometric Detection. For this 1 ml of culture filtrate was boiled immediately after harvesting, to inactivate the xylanolytic enzymes, after which the sample was centrifuged for 10 min. (14.000 rpm at 4.degree. C., Eppendorf centrifuge). The resulting supematant was diluted 5-fold in bidest and 20 .mu.l was analyzed by HPLC using a Dionex CarboPac 100 column. The analysis indicated that, while in the wild-type and in the over-expression transformants only in the initial stage xylose oligomers could be detected in the culture filtrate, in the disruption mutant xylobiose and to a lesser extend xylotriose accumulated in the culture filtrate, thus resulting in a source for xylooligomers, in particular xylobiose and xylotriose.

The plasmid pIM200 was introduced into A. nidulans by cotransformation of A. nidulans G191 (Balance and Turner, 1985) using the A. niger pyrA gene, located on the plasmid pGW635 as a selective marker and the plasmid pIM200 as the cotransforming plasmid. Protoplasts were prepared as described in Example 7 and the transformation procedure was performed using 1.2 M Sorbitol for osmotic stabilisation, 1 .mu.g pGW635 and 25 .mu.g pIM200. The PYR.sup.+ obtained were then screened for xylD expression using the plate assay described in Example 8.

From this screening, five transformants were selected to determine .beta.-xylosidase activity. The A. nidulans wild-type strain and the selected transformants cultivated for 26 h at 37.degree. C. on minimal medium containing either 2% Birchwood xylan (Roth) or 3% D-xylose as an inducing carbon source. After removal of the mycelium, the .beta.-xylosidase activity towards PNP-X in the culture filtrate was determined. The results are summarised in table D. The results show that xylD can be expressed in A. nidulans by using the native expression signals. Strain of       Activity on 2% xylan Activity on 3% D-xylose A. nidulans           (mU/ml)               (mU/ml) WG096 (Wt)               16                     0 G191::200-5             725                    48 G191::200-7              96                    11 G191::200-9             249                    40 G191::200-13            520                    33 G191::200-15           1525                   210

To analyse whether it is possible to isolate the xlnD counterpart from other fungi by heterologous hybridisation, using the 2.5 kb PstI/NsiI fragment of the xlnD gene as a probe, DNA was isolated from the following strains; A. niger N902 (argB15, cspA1, fwnA1, metB10, pyrA5), A. tubigensis NW184 (cspA1, fwnA1, pyrA22), A. nidulans WG096 pabaA1, yA2) of FGSC 187, A. acrileatus NW240 (pyrA3) of CBS 101.43, A. aculeatus NW217 (fwnA1, cspA1, pyrA4, lysA1) of CBS 115.80, A. foetidus (awamori) NW183 (cspA1, fwnA1, pyrA13, lysA1) of CBS 115.52 and Trichoderma reesei QM9414. 1-2 .mu.g DNA was digested with BamHI or with XhoI and subsequently analyzed by Southern analysis. The hybridisation conditions used were; hybridisation in 6.times.SSC (20.times.SSC per 1000 ml: 175.3 g NaCl, 107.1 g sodium citrate.5H.sub.2 O, pH 7.0), 0.1% SDS, 0.05% sodium pyrophosphate, 5*Denhardt's solution (see Example 6) and 20 .mu.g/ml denatured herring sperm DNA at 56.degree. C. for 18-24 hrs followed by two 30 min. washes in 5.times.SSC, 0.1% SDS at 56.degree. C. and two 30 min. washes in 2.times.SSC, 0.1% SSC at 56.degree. C. After hybridisation the membrane was covered with Saran wrap and autoradiographed overnight at -70.degree. C. using Konica X-ray films and Kodak X-Omatic cassettes with regular intensifying screens.

As a result hybridising fragments were found for all fungi analysed, very strong hybridisation signals were found in A. niger, A. tubigensis, A. aculeatus, A. japonicus, and A. foetidus, while strong hybridisation signals were found in A. nidulans and Trichoderma reesei. System

The strain N902::200-18, harbouring multiple copies (about 6) of the A. niger xlnD gene encoding .beta.-xylosidase, was transformed to arginine prototrophy in a co-transformation experiment, as described in Example 11 using 19 .mu.g of the xlnR harbouring plasmid pIM230 and 2.mu.g of the plasmid pIM650 harbouring the A. nidulans argB gene (Johnstone et al., 1985). The transformants obtained were screened for increased endo-xylanase expression, on MM plates containing 1% oat spelt xylan. Four colonies, having the fastest and largest halo formation, were selected to determine xlnR copy numbers. For this DNA of these transformants and the recipient strain, was isolated and serial dilutions were spotted onto Hybond N membrane. The copy number was estimated from the signals found after hybridisation, using a radiolabelled 4.5 kb SmaI/XbaI fragment spanning the coding sequence of the xlnR gene. Based on comparison to the recipient strain the xlnR copy number was determined to be 8 in N902::200-18-R14 and 32 in N902::200-18-R16. For both these transformants the effect of the increased gene dosage of xlnR was analysed by Northern analysis after strains were grown in liquid culture. This was done in a transfer experiment into 2% oat spelt xylan as a carbon source, after a preculture in 1% fructose for 18 h. Mycelial samples were taken 8 and 24 hrs after transfer, from which total RNA was isolated using TriZol (Life technologies) according to the manufacturers instructions and analysed by Northern blot analysis (Sambrook et al., 1989). Xylanase B expression levels were strongly increased in these transformants in comparison to the recipient strain, as detected after hybridisation using the radiolabelled 1 kb EcoRI/XhoI fragment of A. niger xlnB (Kinoshita et al., 1995). Microbiology 140: 2673-2682. (1994) Mol. Microbiol. 12: 479-490. Genet. 18: 161-166. Heijden, N. C. B. A., and Visser, J. (1995) Curr. Genet. 28:299-308. 1307-1311. Ferment. and Bioeng.:79, no 5, 422-428. J. (1993) J. Biotechnol. 27, 249-265. Laboratory Manual. Cold Spring Habor, N.Y.: Cold Spring Habor Laboratory Press. 5, 300-312 (1983) Laboratory Manual. 2nd edn. Cold Spring Habor, N.Y.: Cold Spring Habor Laboratory Press. USA 74: 5463-5467. D-xylose and L-arabinose in poultry and pigs. Datapress & Datavisions, Wageningen, 173 pp. B., Miller, K. and Timberlake, W. E. (1986) Mol. Gen. Genet. 204: 349-354. Environm. Microbiol. 1227-1234. J., Dobson, M., Hinchcliffe, E., and Ballance, D. J. (1990). Curr. genet. 18: 531-536. SEQUENCE LISTING (1) GENERAL INFORMATION: (iii) NUMBER OF SEQUENCES: 3 (2) INFORMATION FOR SEQ ID NO: 1: (i) SEQUENCE CHARACTERISTICS: (A) LENGTH: 4108 base pairs (B) TYPE: nucleic acid (C) STRANDEDNESS: double (D) TOPOLOGY: linear (ii) MOLECULE TYPE: DNA (genomic) (iii) HYPOTHETICAL: NO (iii) ANTI-SENSE: NO (vi) ORIGINAL SOURCE: (A) ORGANISM: Aspergillus niger (CBS 120.49) (B) STRAIN: NW147 (ix) FEATURE: (A) NAME/KEY: TATA_signal (B) LOCATION: 787..794 (ix) FEATURE: (A) NAME/KEY: CDS (B) LOCATION: 855..3266 (D) OTHER INFORMATION: /EC_number= 3.2.1.37 /product= "1,4-beta-D-xylan xylanohydrolase" /gene= "xlnD" /standard_name= "beta-xylosidase" (ix) FEATURE: (A) NAME/KEY: sig_peptide (B) LOCATION: 855..932 (ix) FEATURE: (A) NAME/KEY: mat_peptide (B) LOCATION: 933..3266 (ix) FEATURE: (A) NAME/KEY: polyA_site (B) LOCATION: 3383 (ix) FEATURE: (A) NAME/KEY: polyA_site (B) LOCATION: 3404 (xi) SEQUENCE DESCRIPTION: SEQ ID NO: 1: CTGCAGGCCA TGTATCCTGC GAAGATGGGT GAGTGGAAGA AAATCGTCAA GATTGAGGCG     60 GAGATGGCGA GGGCCGCGAT GAAGAAGGGT GGCTGGGCAC CGGAGAAGCC AGCCACCGCC    120 ACGGCGGCGC AGATGAGTAT ACCGTATGCG GTGGCGTTGC AGGTTCTGGA TGGGGAGATT    180 GTGCCGGGGC AGTTTGCGCC GGGCATGTTG AATCGGGAGG AGTTATGGGA TGTGATTAGG    240 CTGGTGGAAT GTCGGGAGGC CAAGGAGCTG GATAATACGT GGGCGCAGAG GGTCAAGATC    300 ACGTTTGAGG ATGGGGAGGT GGTGGAGAAG TTGTTGAAGG CTCCGAAGGG AGTCCATCCT    360 GGGGTGACGA ATGAGGAGGT GTTGCAGAAG TGGCGGGCTG TGACGAAGGG GGTAATTTCG    420 GAAGAGAGGC AGAAGAAGAT CGAGGAGATT GTGTTGAATT TGGAAGAGGT GGAGGATGTG    480 GCTGGTGTTT TGGGCGAGTT GTTGAGGGAA GAGACGGTGA ATGTGCTGCA GTAGACGGTT    540 ACCCCATTTG GACGGGGATG GCTTCATATT TCCCAAGCGA TGTCACGCCA TAGAAAGGGC    600 ACATTTACCC GGTGCCTGAG CGAAACTCTA CTTCGAAGAC AATGCCAATG TTTAACTATC    660 TTGTTTTAAT TGCTAAATGC AAACATTCCA GGTTCTTCCT AATGCCGGCT AAATCATTCA    720 GGCTAAACCC CCGCGATGAA GTCAATCGGT CATTCTCCGG CGCATCTCCG CATCTCCGCA    780 AACCGCTATA AAATCTACCC CAGATTCAGT CCCCGGCCAC CTTTCTATCC CCCCCCCCAC    840 AGACTGGCTC AACC ATG GCG CAC TCA ATG TCT CGT CCC GTG GCT GCC ACT      890 Met Ala His Ser Met Ser Arg Pro Val Ala Ala Thr -26 -25                 -20                 -15 GCC GCT GCT CTG CTG GCT CTG GCT CTT CCT CAA GCT CTT GCC CAG GCC      938 Ala Ala Ala Leu Leu Ala Leu Ala Leu Pro Gln Ala Leu Ala Gln Ala -10                  -5                   1 AAC ACC AGC TAC GTC GAC TAC AAC ATC GAA GCC AAC CCG GAC TTG TAT      986 Asn Thr Ser Tyr Val Asp Tyr Asn Ile Glu Ala Asn Pro Asp Leu Tyr 5                  10                  15 CCT TTG TGC ATA GAA ACC ATC CCA CTG AGC TTC CCC GAC TGC CAG AAT     1034 Pro Leu Cys Ile Glu Thr Ile Pro Leu Ser Phe Pro Asp Cys Gln Asn 20                  25                  30 GGT CCC CTG CGC AGC CAT CTC ATC TGT GAT GAA ACA GCC ACC CCC TAT     1082 Gly Pro Leu Arg Ser His Leu Ile Cys Asp Glu Thr Ala Thr Pro Tyr 35                  40                  45                  50 GAC CGA GCA GCA TCG CTC ATC TCG CTC TTC ACC CTG GAC GAG CTG ATC     1130 Asp Arg Ala Ala Ser Leu Ile Ser Leu Phe Thr Leu Asp Glu Leu Ile 55                  60                  65 GCC AAC ACC GGC AAC ACC GGC CTC GGT GTC TCC CGA CTG GGC CTC CCT     1178 Ala Asn Thr Gly Asn Thr Gly Leu Gly Val Ser Arg Leu Gly Leu Pro 70                  75                  80 GCA TAC CAA GTA TGG AGT GAA GCT CTT CAC GGC CTC GAC CGT GCC AAT     1226 Ala Tyr Gln Val Trp Ser Glu Ala Leu His Gly Leu Asp Arg Ala Asn 85                  90                  95 TTC AGC GAC TCA GGA GCC TAC AAT TGG GCC ACC TCA TTC CCC CAG CCC     1274 Phe Ser Asp Ser Gly Ala Tyr Asn Trp Ala Thr Ser Phe Pro Gln Pro 100                 105                 110 ATC CTG ACC ACC GCG GCC CTC AAC CGC ACC CTC ATC CAC CAA ATC GCC     1322 Ile Leu Thr Thr Ala Ala Leu Asn Arg Thr Leu Ile His Gln Ile Ala 115                 120                 125                 130 TCC ATC ATC TCT ACC CAA GGC CGC GCC TTC AAC AAC GCC GGC CGC TAC     1370 Ser Ile Ile Ser Thr Gln Gly Arg Ala Phe Asn Asn Ala Gly Arg Tyr 135                 140                 145 GGC CTC GAC GTC TAC GCC CCC AAC ATC AAC ACC TTC CGC CAC CCC GTC     1418 Gly Leu Asp Val Tyr Ala Pro Asn Ile Asn Thr Phe Arg His Pro Val 150                 155                 160 TGG GGT CGC GGA CAA GAA ACC CCA GGA GAG GAC GTC TCT CTC GCC GCC     1466 Trp Gly Arg Gly Gln Glu Thr Pro Gly Glu Asp Val Ser Leu Ala Ala 165                 170                 175 GTC TAC GCC TAC GAA TAC ATC ACC GGC ATC CAG GGT CCC GAC CCA GAA     1514 Val Tyr Ala Tyr Glu Tyr Ile Thr Gly Ile Gln Gly Pro Asp Pro Glu 180                 185                 190 TCA AAC CTC AAA CTC GCC GCC ACG GCC AAG CAC TAC GCC GGC TAT GAC     1562 Ser Asn Leu Lys Leu Ala Ala Thr Ala Lys His Tyr Ala Gly Tyr Asp 195                 200                 205                 210 ATC GAG AAC TGG CAC AAC CAC TCC CGC CTG GGC AAC GAC ATG AAC ATC     1610 Ile Glu Asn Trp His Asn His Ser Arg Leu Gly Asn Asp Met Asn Ile 215                 220                 225 ACC CAG CAA GAC CTC TCC GAA TAC TAC ACG CCC CAA TTC CAC GTC GCC     1658 Thr Gln Gln Asp Leu Ser Glu Tyr Tyr Thr Pro Gln Phe His Val Ala 230                 235                 240 GCC CGC GAC GCC AAA GTC CAG AGT GTC ATG TGC GCC TAC AAC GCC GTC     1706 Ala Arg Asp Ala Lys Val Gln Ser Val Met Cys Ala Tyr Asn Ala Val 245                 250                 255 AAC GGC GTC CCT GCC TGC GCC GAC TCC TAC TTC CTC CAG ACC CTC CTC     1754 Asn Gly Val Pro Ala Cys Ala Asp Ser Tyr Phe Leu Gln Thr Leu Leu 260                 265                 270 CGC GAC ACC TTC GGA TTT GTC GAC CAC GGA TAC GTC TCC AGC GAC TGC     1802 Arg Asp Thr Phe Gly Phe Val Asp His Gly Tyr Val Ser Ser Asp Cys 275                 280                 285                 290 GAT GCC GCC TAT AAC ATC TAC AAC CCC CAC GGC TAT GCC TCC TCC CAG     1850 Asp Ala Ala Tyr Asn Ile Tyr Asn Pro His Gly Tyr Ala Ser Ser Gln 295                 300                 305 GCT GCC GCT GCC GCT GAG GCC ATC CTC GCC GGC ACC GAC ATC GAC TGC     1898 Ala Ala Ala Ala Ala Glu Ala Ile Leu Ala Gly Thr Asp Ile Asp Cys 310                 315                 320 GGT ACC ACC TAC CAA TGG CAC CTG AAC GAG TCC ATC GCT GCG GGA GAT     1946 Gly Thr Thr Tyr Gln Trp His Leu Asn Glu Ser Ile Ala Ala Gly Asp 325                 330                 335 CTC TCT CGC GAT GAT ATT GAG CAG GGT GTG ATT CGT CTC TAC ACG ACC     1994 Leu Ser Arg Asp Asp Ile Glu Gln Gly Val Ile Arg Leu Tyr Thr Thr 340                 345                 350 CTC GTG CAG GCC GGA TAC TTC GAC TCC AAC ACC ACA AAG GCG AAC AAC     2042 Leu Val Gln Ala Gly Tyr Phe Asp Ser Asn Thr Thr Lys Ala Asn Asn 355                 360                 365                 370 CCC TAC CGC GAC CTC TCC TGG TCC GAC GTC CTT GAG ACG GAC GCA TGG     2090 Pro Tyr Arg Asp Leu Ser Trp Ser Asp Val Leu Glu Thr Asp Ala Trp 375                 380                 385 AAC ATC TCC TAC CAA GCC GCG ACG CAG GGC ATT GTC CTT CTC AAG AAC     2138 Asn Ile Ser Tyr Gln Ala Ala Thr Gln Gly Ile Val Leu Leu Lys Asn 390                 395                 400 TCC AAC AAC GTC CTC CCC CTC ACC GAG AAA GCT TAC CCA CCA TCC AAC     2186 Ser Asn Asn Val Leu Pro Leu Thr Glu Lys Ala Tyr Pro Pro Ser Asn 405                 410                 415 ACC ACC GTC GCC CTC ATC GGT CCC TGG GCC AAC GCC ACC ACC CAA CTC     2234 Thr Thr Val Ala Leu Ile Gly Pro Trp Ala Asn Ala Thr Thr Gln Leu 420                 425                 430 CTG GGC AAC TAC TAC GGC AAC GCT CCC TAC ATG ATC AGC CCC CGC GCC     2282 Leu Gly Asn Tyr Tyr Gly Asn Ala Pro Tyr Met Ile Ser Pro Arg Ala 435                 440                 445                 450 GCC TTC GAA GAA GCC GGA TAC AAA GTC AAC TTC GCC GAG GGC ACC GGT     2330 Ala Phe Glu Glu Ala Gly Tyr Lys Val Asn Phe Ala Glu Gly Thr Gly 455                 460                 465 ATC TCC TCC ACA AGC ACC TCG GGC TTC GCT GCC GCC TTA TCC GCC GCA     2378 Ile Ser Ser Thr Ser Thr Ser Gly Phe Ala Ala Ala Leu Ser Ala Ala 470                 475                 480 CAA TCC GCC GAC GTG ATA ATC TAC GCC GGT GGT ATC GAC AAT ACC CTT     2426 Gln Ser Ala Asp Val Ile Ile Tyr Ala Gly Gly Ile Asp Asn Thr Leu 485                 490                 495 GAA GCG GAG GCA CTG GAT CGA GAG AGT ATC GCG TGG CCG GGT AAC CAA     2474 Glu Ala Glu Ala Leu Asp Arg Glu Ser Ile Ala Trp Pro Gly Asn Gln 500                 505                 510 CTG GAC TTG ATC CAG AAG CTC GCC TCG GCG GCC GGA AAG AAG CCG CTC     2522 Leu Asp Leu Ile Gln Lys Leu Ala Ser Ala Ala Gly Lys Lys Pro Leu 515                 520                 525                 530 ATC GTC CTC CAA ATG GGC GGC GGA CAG GTC GAT TCC TCT TCG CTC AAG     2570 Ile Val Leu Gln Met Gly Gly Gly Gln Val Asp Ser Ser Ser Leu Lys 535                 540                 545 AAC AAC ACC AAT GTT TCT GCA CTT CTC TGG GGC GGA TAC CCC GGC CAA     2618 Asn Asn Thr Asn Val Ser Ala Leu Leu Trp Gly Gly Tyr Pro Gly Gln 550                 555                 560 TCT GGC GGC TTC GCT TTG CGG GAT ATC ATC ACG GGG AAG AAG AAC CCC     2666 Ser Gly Gly Phe Ala Leu Arg Asp Ile Ile Thr Gly Lys Lys Asn Pro 565                 570                 575 GCG GGT AGA CTA GTC ACG ACG CAG TAC CCT GCC AGC TAC GCG GAG GAG     2714 Ala Gly Arg Leu Val Thr Thr Gln Tyr Pro Ala Ser Tyr Ala Glu Glu 580                 585                 590 TTC CCG GCG ACA GAT ATG AAC CTT CGT CCT GAG GGT GAT AAC CCT GGT     2762 Phe Pro Ala Thr Asp Met Asn Leu Arg Pro Glu Gly Asp Asn Pro Gly 595                 600                 605                 610 CAG ACG TAT AAA TGG TAC ACC GGC GAA GCC GTG TAC GAG TTC GGC CAC     2810 Gln Thr Tyr Lys Trp Tyr Thr Gly Glu Ala Val Tyr Glu Phe Gly His 615                 620                 625 GGG TTA TTC TAC ACG ACC TTC GCG GAA TCC TCC AGC AAT ACC ACT ACA     2858 Gly Leu Phe Tyr Thr Thr Phe Ala Glu Ser Ser Ser Asn Thr Thr Thr 630                 635                 640 AAG GAA GTT AAG CTC AAC ATC CAG GAC ATT CTT TCC CAG ACA CAC GAA     2906 Lys Glu Val Lys Leu Asn Ile Gln Asp Ile Leu Ser Gln Thr His Glu 645                 650                 655 GAC CTG GCG TCG ATT ACC CAG CTC CCT GTG CTG AAC TTC ACC GCC AAT     2954 Asp Leu Ala Ser Ile Thr Gln Leu Pro Val Leu Asn Phe Thr Ala Asn 660                 665                 670 ATC AGG AAC ACT GGA AAG CTG GAA TCG GAT TAC ACC GCT ATG GTA TTC     3002 Ile Arg Asn Thr Gly Lys Leu Glu Ser Asp Tyr Thr Ala Met Val Phe 675                 680                 685                 690 GCC AAT ACC TCT GAT GCC GGG CCG GCG CCG TAT CCC AAG AAG TGG CTG     3050 Ala Asn Thr Ser Asp Ala Gly Pro Ala Pro Tyr Pro Lys Lys Trp Leu 695                 700                 705 GTC GGG TGG GAT CGG CTT GGG GAG GTG AAG GTC GGG GAG ACG AGG GAG     3098 Val Gly Trp Asp Arg Leu Gly Glu Val Lys Val Gly Glu Thr Arg Glu 710                 715                 720 TTG AGG GTC CCC GTT GAG GTG GGG AGC TTT GCG AGG GTG AAT GAG GAT     3146 Leu Arg Val Pro Val Glu Val Gly Ser Phe Ala Arg Val Asn Glu Asp 725                 730                 735 GGC GAT TGG GTG GTG TTT CCG GGA ACG TTT GAG TTG GCG TTG AAT TTG     3194 Gly Asp Trp Val Val Phe Pro Gly Thr Phe Glu Leu Ala Leu Asn Leu 740                 745                 750 GAG AGG AAG GTT CGG GTG AAG GTT GTT CTT GAG GGT GAG GAG GAA GTC     3242 Glu Arg Lys Val Arg Val Lys Val Val Leu Glu Gly Glu Glu Glu Val 755                 760                 765                 770 GTG CTG AAG TGG CCG GGG AAG GAG TAGAAAATAC TATTCTGTTG ATGGCTCTAG    3296 Val Leu Lys Trp Pro Gly Lys Glu 775 GGGATGAGAG TCAGCCTATT ACTGGATATG CATAGTGGTG ATACGATGTA TATAGCTCTA   3356 TGAAGTAATT AGTTCAAGTG GGAATACCCC TTTCACACAT ATAGTATGCT GTTATTCCGA   3416 AATAGGGATC ATTTCTGATT AATAGTAGCG GTAGCGATGG TCACACACGA CTTAATGTTC   3476 CCCATTGTAC CGGAAGTAAC AATTCCAGTG ACCTCTTAGA AGAAAGACAG CAAGAAAAAG   3536 TAAGAAAGGG AAATTGATCA AAAAATAAGG CCATCTACAG CCTATTCACA TTTAGCCGGA   3596 TCTGCAATAC AGCTACAGAA ATAAAGTTTG TTAGGCTGCT TGCTAGCATA GCTCCTACTA   3656 TACTAAACCA ACACAATGGG ACAATACCCC AATTAACCAG CCCTCACTCA ACACAAGTGA   3716 ATCCTACCGA CAACATGCAT AAACCACTGC TTCCCCACCC AGCACCCTTC TTCACGATCA   3776 GATCACGGAG AATTACCAAC TACTCTTCGC ATAAAACGTA AACAACGGCC TCGGGCCAGG   3836 ATCCGTCCGA CTCAAAAGCA ACAAATCCCT CGTTCGCATA CTAGCCACAT GAACCTGTTG   3896 CTCCGAGACC TCCTCAACTG GGTCTTCAAA TGCCCAGAAG ACGCTTTCTT CTCGATATCC   3956 ATCGGATACT CGCTGGCCGC TTAGACATAT GAACGATGAG TCTCGTCTGC CAAAGGAAAC   4016 AACCGTGTTC CCGAATCCAG TGTCAAAGTC GTAGGTCTGG AATTTGAAAA GTGTTCGGGC   4076 GTTTCCTTGG AGGGTCGGGA GTGCGACTGC AG                                 4108 (2) INFORMATION FOR SEQ ID NO: 2: (i) SEQUENCE CHARACTERISTICS: (A) LENGTH: 4173 base pairs (B) TYPE: nucleic acid (C) STRANDEDNESS: double (D) TOPOLOGY: linear (ii) MOLECULE TYPE: DNA (genomic) (iii) HYPOTHETICAL: NO (iii) ANTI-SENSE: NO (vi) ORIGINAL SOURCE: (A) ORGANISM: Aspergillus niger (B) STRAIN: CBS 120.49 (C) INDIVIDUAL ISOLATE: N400 (ix) FEATURE: (A) NAME/KEY: CDS (B) LOCATION: join(948..1173, 1238..3495, 3550..3690) (C) IDENTIFICATION METHOD: experimental (D) OTHER INFORMATION: /function= "Transcriptional activator of xylanolytic genes" /product= "Binuclear Zn finger DNA binding protein" /gene= "xlnR" /standard_name= "XYL R" (ix) FEATURE: (A) NAME/KEY: exon (B) LOCATION: 948..1173 (ix) FEATURE: (A) NAME/KEY: intron (B) LOCATION: 1174..1237 (ix) FEATURE: (A) NAME/KEY: exon (B) LOCATION: 1238..3495 (ix) FEATURE: (A) NAME/KEY: intron (B) LOCATION: 3496..3549 (ix) FEATURE: (A) NAME/KEY: exon (B) LOCATION: 3550..3690 (xi) SEQUENCE DESCRIPTION: SEQ ID NO: 2: CCCGGGCTTG GTTGGTCTCC GTCTGGCTTC CCCGCCTTTT TCCCCTGCAA TTCTGCATCC     60 CCAATCCTTC TTTTTTCTTT GCCTCGCCAG GCTGTGTCTT TTTTCCCCCT CCCCCTCCTC    120 CCTCGTCAGC TTCTCTTCGA CAGCATGCGT GAGGGTCTGC TACCAACTAC AATCCTTGTT    180 CTCACTGTCT GATGGTCTGA CCCGACCGTG GTGTCTGTGG TGTGTGTGTG AGAGAGAAAG    240 GAAAGCTAGT CAGTCCAGTC ACTCTTTCTC GTGGGTTCTT CACCTTCCCC GGACCTGCCC    300 TCCGACACTA AAAAGCCACT TCCCCCCAAC TGGTTAGTTG CTGCTAGTCT CCTTAGTTCA    360 TGGTCGGCCT TGTCGCTTCT CCGGCTGACA TTCTCCTCTT CTGCTGCCTT CTAGGTCCCT    420 GTTTTTTAGT CCCTGTTTTA GTTGCCCCGC AGACTGAATC GGCAATGCCG TGGAGTTGAT    480 CGTTCCGTGG TTTCCTTGCG ACCGCTCCTC TGCTTCATCA TCTTTTTCCT CCTGCCCTCC    540 TGGTCTTGAA TCGCCTGGCC CTCGTCTAGG ATCTGTTGCG CCAGTGTCGC CTTAATCTCC    600 TTTCCCGCTA GCGTAGTGCC CTTTCACGCT TGGGGCCTTA CGGCCCTTCC ATTCGCCAGC    660 GGTCTGAATA CCTCACTTTC CCCCCCAACG ACCGGGGTCT TCATGACCCG CTGGGGTGAT    720 TGTTCCGCCC GGTGAGGATG TCAACCCCCT CGATTCCTCA ATTCACCAGT CCTTTCTCTC    780 CCTTCTCTTC CGGATCGCAC TCGACTGGCA TGGCGCCGTC TCAGACTGTC GGGTTGGATA    840 CGCTCGCCGA GGGCTCGCAG TACGTCCTGG AACAATTGCA GCTGTCGCGA GACGCTGCGG    900 GAACCGGTGC CGGCGATGGC GCGACCTCCA CTTCCTTGCG AAATTCC ATG TCG CAT      956 Met Ser His 1 ACG AAG GAT CAA CCA CCC TTT GAT AAT GAG AAG AAC CAG AGC ACT GGC     1004 Thr Lys Asp Gln Pro Pro Phe Asp Asn Glu Lys Asn Gln Ser Thr Gly 5                  10                  15 TCG GGT TTT AGG GAC GCT CTG CAA AGA GAT CCC CTC GTG GAG GCT CGC     1052 Ser Gly Phe Arg Asp Ala Leu Gln Arg Asp Pro Leu Val Glu Ala Arg 20                  25                  30                  35 TCT GCC GTC CGC AAA ACC TCG TCT TCA GCT CCG GTT CGC CGC CGA ATC     1100 Ser Ala Val Arg Lys Thr Ser Ser Ser Ala Pro Val Arg Arg Arg Ile 40                  45                  50 AGC CGT GCG TGT GAC CAG TGT AAC CAA CTC CGA ACG AAA TGC GAC GGG     1148 Ser Arg Ala Cys Asp Gln Cys Asn Gln Leu Arg Thr Lys Cys Asp Gly 55                  60                  65 CAG CAT CCG TGC GCT CAT TGC ATT  G GTAGGCTTCC GCTCTTTCTC            1193 Gln His Pro Cys Ala His Cys Ile 70                  75 CGATGCCGGC GATGAGGCGG ACGCTTGACT GACCTGTTCT GTAG  AA TTC GGA CTG    1248 Glu Phe Gly Leu ACC TGC GAG TAT GCG CGA GAA CGC AAG AAG CGT GGA AAA GCG TCG AAG     1296 Thr Cys Glu Tyr Ala Arg Glu Arg Lys Lys Arg Gly Lys Ala Ser Lys 80                  85                  90                  95 AAG GAT CTG GCG GCG GCA GCT GCG GCG GCT ACC CAA GGG TCG AAT GGT     1344 Lys Asp Leu Ala Ala Ala Ala Ala Ala Ala Thr Gln Gly Ser Asn Gly 100                 105                 110 CAT TCC GGG CAG GCC AAC GCG TCG CTA ATG GGC GAG CGA ACG TCG GAA     1392 His Ser Gly Gln Ala Asn Ala Ser Leu Met Gly Glu Arg Thr Ser Glu 115                 120                 125 GAC AGC CGG CCA GGA CAA GAC GTG AAC GGC ACA TAC GAC TCG GCT TTT     1440 Asp Ser Arg Pro Gly Gln Asp Val Asn Gly Thr Tyr Asp Ser Ala Phe 130                 135                 140 GAG AGC CAC CAT CTT AGC TCG CAG CCA TCG CAT ATG CAG CAT GCA AGC     1488 Glu Ser His His Leu Ser Ser Gln Pro Ser His Met Gln His Ala Ser 145                 150                 155 ACT GCA GGG ATA TCC GGC CTG CAC GAG TCT CAG ACG GCA CCG TCG CAT     1536 Thr Ala Gly Ile Ser Gly Leu His Glu Ser Gln Thr Ala Pro Ser His 160                 165                 170                 175 TCG CAA TCA TCG CTA GGA ACG ACT ATC GAT GCG ATG CAT TTG AAT CAT     1584 Ser Gln Ser Ser Leu Gly Thr Thr Ile Asp Ala Met His Leu Asn His 180                 185                 190 TTC AAC ACG ATG AAC GAT TCC GGT CGC CCG GCA ATG TCC ATA TCC GAT     1632 Phe Asn Thr Met Asn Asp Ser Gly Arg Pro Ala Met Ser Ile Ser Asp 195                 200                 205 CTG CGT TCG CTA CCC CCG TCC GTC TTA CCA CCG CAA GGA CTA AGC TCC     1680 Leu Arg Ser Leu Pro Pro Ser Val Leu Pro Pro Gln Gly Leu Ser Ser 210                 215                 220 GGG TAC AAC GCG AGC GCC TTC GCT TTG GTG AAC CCG CAA GAG CCG GGC     1728 Gly Tyr Asn Ala Ser Ala Phe Ala Leu Val Asn Pro Gln Glu Pro Gly 225                 230                 235 TCA CCA GCT AAC CAG TTT CGC TTG GGA AGC TCA GCG GAA AAC CCA ACC     1776 Ser Pro Ala Asn Gln Phe Arg Leu Gly Ser Ser Ala Glu Asn Pro Thr 240                 245                 250                 255 GCA CCG TTT CTT GGT CTC TCG CCT CCA GGA CAG TCG CCT GGA TGG CTC     1824 Ala Pro Phe Leu Gly Leu Ser Pro Pro Gly Gln Ser Pro Gly Trp Leu 260                 265                 270 CCT CTT CCC TCG CCA TCT CCT GCC AAC TTT CCT TCT TTC AGC TTG CAT     1872 Pro Leu Pro Ser Pro Ser Pro Ala Asn Phe Pro Ser Phe Ser Leu His 275                 280                 285 CCG TTT TCC AGC ACT TTA CGA TAC CCT GTT TTG CAG CCG GTC CTG CCT     1920 Pro Phe Ser Ser Thr Leu Arg Tyr Pro Val Leu Gln Pro Val Leu Pro 290                 295                 300 CAC ATC GCC TCC ATT ATT CCG CAG TCG CTA GCG TGT GAC CTT CTG GAT     1968 His Ile Ala Ser Ile Ile Pro Gln Ser Leu Ala Cys Asp Leu Leu Asp 305                 310                 315 GTT TAC TTC ACT AGT TCC TCT TCG TCC CAC CTG TCT CCC TTG TCC CCA     2016 Val Tyr Phe Thr Ser Ser Ser Ser Ser His Leu Ser Pro Leu Ser Pro 320                 325                 330                 335 TAC GTG GTG GGC TAC ATC TTC CGC AAG CAG TCT TTC CTT CAC CCG ACA     2064 Tyr Val Val Gly Tyr Ile Phe Arg Lys Gln Ser Phe Leu His Pro Thr 340                 345                 350 AAA CCC CGA ATA TGC AGC CCC GGT CTC CTG GCG AGT ATG CTC TGG GTA     2112 Lys Pro Arg Ile Cys Ser Pro Gly Leu Leu Ala Ser Met Leu Trp Val 355                 360                 365 GCC GCA CAA ACG AGT GAA GCT GCG TTT CTG ACA TCG CCG CCC TCG GCT     2160 Ala Ala Gln Thr Ser Glu Ala Ala Phe Leu Thr Ser Pro Pro Ser Ala 370                 375                 380 CGG GGG CGT GTA TGC CAG AAA CTG CTA GAA CTG ACC ATT GGT TTG CTC     2208 Arg Gly Arg Val Cys Gln Lys Leu Leu Glu Leu Thr Ile Gly Leu Leu 385                 390                 395 CGA CCG TTG GTC CAT GGT CCT GCT ACC GGA GAA GCG TCG CCC AAC TAT     2256 Arg Pro Leu Val His Gly Pro Ala Thr Gly Glu Ala Ser Pro Asn Tyr 400                 405                 410                 415 GCG GCG AAT ATG GTC ATC AAT GGC GTC GCT CTG GGC GGA TTT GGG GTC     2304 Ala Ala Asn Met Val Ile Asn Gly Val Ala Leu Gly Gly Phe Gly Val 420                 425                 430 TCC ATG GAT CAG CTG GGC GCG CAA AGT AGC GCC ACC GGC GCC GTG GAT     2352 Ser Met Asp Gln Leu Gly Ala Gln Ser Ser Ala Thr Gly Ala Val Asp 435                 440                 445 GAT GTA GCA ACT TAT GTG CAT CTT GCG ACA GTA GTA TCC GCC AGC GAG     2400 Asp Val Ala Thr Tyr Val His Leu Ala Thr Val Val Ser Ala Ser Glu 450                 455                 460 TAC AAG GCG GCC AGC ATG CGC TGG TGG ACT GCG GCG TGG TCT CTA GCG     2448 Tyr Lys Ala Ala Ser Met Arg Trp Trp Thr Ala Ala Trp Ser Leu Ala 465                 470                 475 CGT GAG CTG AAG CTA GGC CGT GAG CTG CCA CCC AAT GTT TCC CAC GCA     2496 Arg Glu Leu Lys Leu Gly Arg Glu Leu Pro Pro Asn Val Ser His Ala 480                 485                 490                 495 CGG CAA GAT GGA GAG CGA GAT GGG GAT GGC GAG GCG GAC AAA CGA CAT     2544 Arg Gln Asp Gly Glu Arg Asp Gly Asp Gly Glu Ala Asp Lys Arg His 500                 505                 510 CCT CCG ACC CTC ATC ACG TCA CTG GGT CAT GGA TCG GGA AGC TCC GGC     2592 Pro Pro Thr Leu Ile Thr Ser Leu Gly His Gly Ser Gly Ser Ser Gly 515                 520                 525 ATT AAT GTC ACC GAA GAG GAG CGT GAG GAG CGT CGA CGC CTA TGG TGG     2640 Ile Asn Val Thr Glu Glu Glu Arg Glu Glu Arg Arg Arg Leu Trp Trp 530                 535                 540 CTC TTA TAT GCG ACC GAT CGG CAC CTG GCG CTG TGC TAC AAC CGG CCC     2688 Leu Leu Tyr Ala Thr Asp Arg His Leu Ala Leu Cys Tyr Asn Arg Pro 545                 550                 555 CTC ACG CTG CTG GAC AAG GAA TGT GGC GGG CTG CTG CAG CCG ATG AAC     2736 Leu Thr Leu Leu Asp Lys Glu Cys Gly Gly Leu Leu Gln Pro Met Asn 560                 565                 570                 575 GAT GAT CTG TGG CAG GTC GGC GAC TTT GCA GCG GCT GCC TAC CGC CAG     2784 Asp Asp Leu Trp Gln Val Gly Asp Phe Ala Ala Ala Ala Tyr Arg Gln 580                 585                 590 GTC GGA CCG CCC GTC GAG TGT ACG GGT CAC AGC ATG TAT GGA TAC TTT     2832 Val Gly Pro Pro Val Glu Cys Thr Gly His Ser Met Tyr Gly Tyr Phe 595                 600                 605 CTA CCG CTG ATG ACG ATT CTT GGA GGG ATC GTC GAT CTG CAC CAC GCT     2880 Leu Pro Leu Met Thr Ile Leu Gly Gly Ile Val Asp Leu His His Ala 610                 615                 620 GAG AAT CAT CCG CGC TTT GGC CTG GCG TTC CGC AAT AGC CCG GAG TGG     2928 Glu Asn His Pro Arg Phe Gly Leu Ala Phe Arg Asn Ser Pro Glu Trp 625                 630                 635 GAG CGT CAG GTA CTG GAC GTT ACG CGG CAG CTG GAC ACA TAT GGG CGC     2976 Glu Arg Gln Val Leu Asp Val Thr Arg Gln Leu Asp Thr Tyr Gly Arg 640                 645                 650                 655 AGC TTG AAG GAA TTC GAG GCC CGC TAC ACC AGC AAC TTG ACT CTG GGG     3024 Ser Leu Lys Glu Phe Glu Ala Arg Tyr Thr Ser Asn Leu Thr Leu Gly 660                 665                 670 GCT ACG GAT AAC GAG CCT GTC GTC GAA GGT GCC CAC TTG GAT CAC ACG     3072 Ala Thr Asp Asn Glu Pro Val Val Glu Gly Ala His Leu Asp His Thr 675                 680                 685 AGT CCT TCG GGG CGC TCC AGC AGC ACC GTG GGA TCG CGG GTG AGC GAG     3120 Ser Pro Ser Gly Arg Ser Ser Ser Thr Val Gly Ser Arg Val Ser Glu 690                 695                 700 TCC ATC GTC CAC ACG AGG ATG GTG GTC GCC TAC GGG ACG CAT ATC ATG     3168 Ser Ile Val His Thr Arg Met Val Val Ala Tyr Gly Thr His Ile Met 705                 710                 715 CAC GTC CTG CAT ATT TTG CTC GCG GGA AAA TGG GAC CCG GTG AAT CTG     3216 His Val Leu His Ile Leu Leu Ala Gly Lys Trp Asp Pro Val Asn Leu 720                 725                 730                 735 TTG GAA GAT CAT GAT CTG TGG ATC TCC TCG GAG TCG TTT GTC TCG GCC     3264 Leu Glu Asp His Asp Leu Trp Ile Ser Ser Glu Ser Phe Val Ser Ala 740                 745                 750 ATG AGC CAT GCG GTC GGT GCC GCA GAA GCA GCG GCA GAA ATC TTG GAG     3312 Met Ser His Ala Val Gly Ala Ala Glu Ala Ala Ala Glu Ile Leu Glu 755                 760                 765 TAC GAC CCG GAT CTC AGC TTC ATG CCG TTC TTC TTC GGG ATT TAC CTA     3360 Tyr Asp Pro Asp Leu Ser Phe Met Pro Phe Phe Phe Gly Ile Tyr Leu 770                 775                 780 CTA CAG GGC AGT TTC TTG CTG CTA CTG GCG GCG GAC AAG TTG CAG GGC     3408 Leu Gln Gly Ser Phe Leu Leu Leu Leu Ala Ala Asp Lys Leu Gln Gly 785                 790                 795 GAT GCC AGT CCC AGT GTC GTG CGG GCA TGC GAG ACG ATC GTG CGG GCG     3456 Asp Ala Ser Pro Ser Val Val Arg Ala Cys Glu Thr Ile Val Arg Ala 800                 805                 810                 815 CAT GAA GCG TGC GTC GTG ACC TTG AAC ACG GAG TAC CAG GTAGGTTTTC      3505 His Glu Ala Cys Val Val Thr Leu Asn Thr Glu Tyr Gln 820                 825 TTGTTTCTCT CCCTAGCTTG GCAATAGTAG CTAACACAAT GTAG AGG ACA TTC CGC    3561 Arg Thr Phe Arg 830 AAG GTC ATG CGA TCG GCG CTG GCA CAG GTT CGA GGA CGC ATC CCA GAG     3609 Lys Val Met Arg Ser Ala Leu Ala Gln Val Arg Gly Arg Ile Pro Glu 835                 840                 845 GAC TTT GGG GAG CAG CAG CAG CGC CGA CGC GAA GTG CTT GCG CTA TAC     3657 Asp Phe Gly Glu Gln Gln Gln Arg Arg Arg Glu Val Leu Ala Leu Tyr 850                 855                 860 CGC TGG AGC GGC GAT GGC AGT GGG CTG GCA CTG TAGTTTTGCA GTAACACGGC   3710 Arg Trp Ser Gly Asp Gly Ser Gly Leu Ala Leu 865                 870                 875 TGATGATGAG ATGCGATTTA TGGCGGTGCA TTGACCGGTC AATGGCTTCT TACATTCTGA   3770 TTTGATACTA CTTTTGGATT CGCTATTTCA CTCCGGGCTT ATGCTGGCTT CATTGTCAAG   3830 AGGGGTGGCA TGGCGAATGG AAATATGCTT ACTTCGTGTT GATACGGATT CGTACATATA   3890 CTTTGGTGAT ATATGTGGAT ATTTGTGGCA TGTACACTAT GCGTGATCTT TGGACATGAT   3950 ACTTTGATAC CAGGTCAATC TAATTGCGTT CTTTTCATTT GTTGCGCAAC AGCCGAGGTA   4010 TGACGCCATG GCTGAGATAA GCTGCCGATA AGCATTCGCA TTCCATCCTC CATCGAAGCA   4070 CCAAAATCTT CTTCATATAA CCAATCCATC AATTCAACAT TCGTAATGAC AATAGTATAA   4130 TCCCCAAAAT GCCCTCCCTA TTACACTCCC TCCGCACTTC CCC                     4173 (2) INFORMATION FOR SEQ ID NO: 3: (i) SEQUENCE CHARACTERISTICS: (A) LENGTH: 804 amino acids (B) TYPE: amino acid (D) TOPOLOGY: linear (ii) MOLECULE TYPE: protein (iii) HYPOTHETICAL: NO (vi) ORIGINAL SOURCE: (A) ORGANISM: Aspergillus niger (CBS 120.49) (B) STRAIN: NW147 (ix) FEATURE: (A) NAME/KEY: sig_peptide (B) LOCATION: 1..26 (xi) SEQUENCE DESCRIPTION: SEQ ID NO: 3: Met Ala His Ser Met Ser Arg Pro Val Ala Ala Thr Ala Ala Ala Leu 1               5                  10                  15 Leu Ala Leu Ala Leu Pro Gln Ala Leu Ala Gln Ala Asn Thr Ser Tyr 20                  25                  30 Val Asp Tyr Asn Ile Glu Ala Asn Pro Asp Leu Tyr Pro Leu Cys Ile 35                  40                  45 Glu Thr Ile Pro Leu Ser Phe Pro Asp Cys Gln Asn Gly Pro Leu Arg 50                  55                  60 Ser His Leu Ile Cys Asp Glu Thr Ala Thr Pro Tyr Asp Arg Ala Ala 65                  70                  75                  80 Ser Leu Ile Ser Leu Phe Thr Leu Asp Glu Leu Ile Ala Asn Thr Gly 85                  90                  95 Asn Thr Gly Leu Gly Val Ser Arg Leu Gly Leu Pro Ala Tyr Gln Val 100                 105                 110 Trp Ser Glu Ala Leu His Gly Leu Asp Arg Ala Asn Phe Ser Asp Ser 115                 120                 125 Gly Ala Tyr Asn Trp Ala Thr Ser Phe Pro Gln Pro Ile Leu Thr Thr 130                 135                 140 Ala Ala Leu Asn Arg Thr Leu Ile His Gln Ile Ala Ser Ile Ile Ser 145                 150                 155                 160 Thr Gln Gly Arg Ala Phe Asn Asn Ala Gly Arg Tyr Gly Leu Asp Val 165                 170                 175 Tyr Ala Pro Asn Ile Asn Thr Phe Arg His Pro Val Trp Gly Arg Gly 180                 185                 190 Gln Glu Thr Pro Gly Glu Asp Val Ser Leu Ala Ala Val Tyr Ala Tyr 195                 200                 205 Glu Tyr Ile Thr Gly Ile Gln Gly Pro Asp Pro Glu Ser Asn Leu Lys 210                 215                 220 Leu Ala Ala Thr Ala Lys His Tyr Ala Gly Tyr Asp Ile Glu Asn Trp 225                 230                 235                 240 His Asn His Ser Arg Leu Gly Asn Asp Met Asn Ile Thr Gln Gln Asp 245                 250                 255 Leu Ser Glu Tyr Tyr Thr Pro Gln Phe His Val Ala Ala Arg Asp Ala 260                 265                 270 Lys Val Gln Ser Val Met Cys Ala Tyr Asn Ala Val Asn Gly Val Pro 275                 280                 285 Ala Cys Ala Asp Ser Tyr Phe Leu Gln Thr Leu Leu Arg Asp Thr Phe 290                 295                 300 Gly Phe Val Asp His Gly Tyr Val Ser Ser Asp Cys Asp Ala Ala Tyr 305                 310                 315                 320 Asn Ile Tyr Asn Pro His Gly Tyr Ala Ser Ser Gln Ala Ala Ala Ala 325                 330                 335 Ala Glu Ala Ile Leu Ala Gly Thr Asp Ile Asp Cys Gly Thr Thr Tyr 340                 345                 350 Gln Trp His Leu Asn Glu Ser Ile Ala Ala Gly Asp Leu Ser Arg Asp 355                 360                 365 Asp Ile Glu Gln Gly Val Ile Arg Leu Tyr Thr Thr Leu Val Gln Ala 370                 375                 380 Gly Tyr Phe Asp Ser Asn Thr Thr Lys Ala Asn Asn Pro Tyr Arg Asp 385                 390                 395                 400 Leu Ser Trp Ser Asp Val Leu Glu Thr Asp Ala Trp Asn Ile Ser Tyr 405                 410                 415 Gln Ala Ala Thr Gln Gly Ile Val Leu Leu Lys Asn Ser Asn Asn Val 420                 425                 430 Leu Pro Leu Thr Glu Lys Ala Tyr Pro Pro Ser Asn Thr Thr Val Ala 435                 440                 445 Leu Ile Gly Pro Trp Ala Asn Ala Thr Thr Gln Leu Leu Gly Asn Tyr 450                 455                 460 Tyr Gly Asn Ala Pro Tyr Met Ile Ser Pro Arg Ala Ala Phe Glu Glu 465                 470                 475                 480 Ala Gly Tyr Lys Val Asn Phe Ala Glu Gly Thr Gly Ile Ser Ser Thr 485                 490                 495 Ser Thr Ser Gly Phe Ala Ala Ala Leu Ser Ala Ala Gln Ser Ala Asp 500                 505                 510 Val Ile Ile Tyr Ala Gly Gly Ile Asp Asn Thr Leu Glu Ala Glu Ala 515                 520                 525 Leu Asp Arg Glu Ser Ile Ala Trp Pro Gly Asn Gln Leu Asp Leu Ile 530                 535                 540 Gln Lys Leu Ala Ser Ala Ala Gly Lys Lys Pro Leu Ile Val Leu Gln 545                 550                 555                 560 Met Gly Gly Gly Gln Val Asp Ser Ser Ser Leu Lys Asn Asn Thr Asn 565                 570                 575 Val Ser Ala Leu Leu Trp Gly Gly Tyr Pro Gly Gln Ser Gly Gly Phe 580                 585                 590 Ala Leu Arg Asp Ile Ile Thr Gly Lys Lys Asn Pro Ala Gly Arg Leu 595                 600                 605 Val Thr Thr Gln Tyr Pro Ala Ser Tyr Ala Glu Glu Phe Pro Ala Thr 610                 615                 620 Asp Met Asn Leu Arg Pro Glu Gly Asp Asn Pro Gly Gln Thr Tyr Lys 625                 630                 635                 640 Trp Tyr Thr Gly Glu Ala Val Tyr Glu Phe Gly His Gly Leu Phe Tyr 645                 650                 655 Thr Thr Phe Ala Glu Ser Ser Ser Asn Thr Thr Thr Lys Glu Val Lys 660                 665                 670 Leu Asn Ile Gln Asp Ile Leu Ser Gln Thr His Glu Asp Leu Ala Ser 675                 680                 685 Ile Thr Gln Leu Pro Val Leu Asn Phe Thr Ala Asn Ile Arg Asn Thr 690                 695                 700 Gly Lys Leu Glu Ser Asp Tyr Thr Ala Met Val Phe Ala Asn Thr Ser 705                 710                 715                 720 Asp Ala Gly Pro Ala Pro Tyr Pro Lys Lys Trp Leu Val Gly Trp Asp 725                 730                 735 Arg Leu Gly Glu Val Lys Val Gly Glu Thr Arg Glu Leu Arg Val Pro 740                 745                 750 Val Glu Val Gly Ser Phe Ala Arg Val Asn Glu Asp Gly Asp Trp Val 755                 760                 765 Val Phe Pro Gly Thr Phe Glu Leu Ala Leu Asn Leu Glu Arg Lys Val 770                 775                 780 Arg Val Lys Val Val Leu Glu Gly Glu Glu Glu Val Val Leu Lys Trp 785                 790                 795                 800 Pro Gly Lys Glu

## Claims

1. Recombinant cell derived from a host cell having a .beta.-xylosidase gene, wherein said recombinant cell comprises a .beta.-xylosidase gene that has been disrupted by a mutation in a nucleotide sequence of said .beta.-xylosidase gene, said .beta.-xylosidase gene prior to disruption encoding a peptide having .beta.-xylosidase activity, said peptide comprising at least 60% amino acid identity in the primary sequence with the amino acid sequence of SEQ ID NO: 3.

2. Recombinant cell derived from a host cell having a .beta.-xylosidase gene, wherein said recombinant cell comprises a .beta.-xylosidase gene that has been disrupted by a mutation in a nucleotide sequence of said .beta.-xylosidase gene, said nucleotide sequence hybridizing under stringent conditions with a nucleotide sequence of SEQ ID NO: 1.

3. A method for the production of a xylanolytic enzyme preparation, which is essentially free of .beta.-xylosidase activity, comprising culturing said recombinant cell according to claim 1 and obtaining enzymes from the culture medium.

4. Method according to claim 3 wherein the preparation is an endoxylanase-containing preparation.