LACCASES WITH IMPROVED DYEING PROPERTIES

Abstract: The present invention relates to a permanent dyeing composition comprising: a) above 0 to 1 mg enzyme protein per ml dyeing composition of microbial laccase, b) one or more dye precursor, and c) optionally one or more dye modifiers, the use of the dyeing composition for dyeing keratinous fibres, such as hair, fur, hide and wool, and a method for permanent dyeing of keratinous fibres.

Description: Title: Laccases with improved dyeing properties FIELD OF THE INVENTION The present invention relates to a dyeing composition comprising a microbial laccase, the use of said dyeing composition for dyeing keratinous fibres, in particular hair, fur, hide and wool, and a method for dyeing keratinous fibres. BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION It has been used for many years to dye the hair to cover appearing grey hair. The need to do so arises from the fact that grey hair is the first sign of having past adolescence, which can be hard to accept for many people. For instance, in certain parts of Asia it is widely used by both men and women to dye the hair with dyes often referred to by humorous people as "black shoe polish". During the last few decades hair dyeing has become more and more popular in the western world. At first Punk Rockers and other society critical groups dyed their hair in extreme colours as a part of their protest against the established society, but today especially many young people also uses hair dyes (in more soft tints than the Punk Rockers) as a sort of "cosmetic" to change or freshen up their "look". Hair dyes In general hair dyeing compositions on the market today can be divided into three main groups: - temporary hair dyes, - semi-permanent hair dyes, and - permanent oxidative hair dyes. The temporary hair dyes are only intended to change the natural hair colour for a short period of time and usually functions by depositing dyes on the surface of the hair. Such hair dyes are easy to remove with normal shampooing. When using semi-permanent hair dyes the colour of the dyed hair can survive for five or more shampooings. This is achieved by using dyes having a high affinity for hair keratin and which is able penetrate into the interior of the hair shaft. Permanent hair dyes are very durable to sunlight, shampooing and other hair treatments and need only to be refreshed once a month as new hair grows out. With these dyeing systems the dyes are created directly in and on the hair. Small aromatic colour¬ less dye precursors (e.g. p-phenylene-diamine and o- aminophenol) penetrate deep into the hair where said dye precursors are oxidised by an oxidising agent into coloured polymeric compounds. These coloured compounds are larger than the dye precursors and can not be washed out of the hair. By including compounds referred to as modifiers (or couplers) in the hair dyeing composition a number of hair colour tints can be obtained. Cathecol and Resorcinol are examples of such modifiers. Traditionally H 0 2 is used as the oxidizing agent (colour builder) , but also as a bleaching agent. Dyeing compositions comprising H 2 O 2 are often referred to as "lightening dyes" due to this lightening effect of H 2 O 2 . The use of H 2 0 in dyeing compositions have some disadvantages as H 2 0 2 damages the hair. Further, oxidative dyeing often demands high pH (normally around pH 9-10) , which also inflicts damage on the hair and on the skin. Consequently, if using dye compositions comprising H 2 0 2 it is not reco mend- able to dye the hair often. To overcome the disadvantages of using H 2 0 2 it has been sug¬ gested to use oxidation enzymes to replace H 2 θ 2 - US patent no. 3,251,742 (Revlon) describes a method for dyeing human hair by dye formation in situ (i . e . on the hair). An oxidative enzyme is used to the colour formation reactions at a substantially neutral pH (7-8.5). Laccases, tyrosinases, polyphenolases and catacolases are mentioned as suitable oxidation enzymes. The only exemplified oxidation enzyme is tyrosinase. EP patent no. 504.005 (Perma S.A.) concerns dyeing compositions for keratinous fibres, in particular hair, which do not require the presence of H 2 0 2 (hydrogen peroxide) . The composition comprises an enzyme capable of catalysing the formation of the polymeric dyes and also dye precursors, such as bases and couplers, in a buffer solution wherein the pH of said composition is between 6.5 and 8 and said enzyme has an optimal activity in the pH range between 6.5 and 8. Rhizoctonia praticola laccase and Rhus vernicifera laccase are the only laccases exemplified in the patent. Abstract of Papers American Chemical Society vol. 209, no. 1-2, 1995 discloses the cloning of laccases from Scytalidium thermophilum and Myceliophthora thermophila . The abstract does not mention the use of said laccases for dyeing. SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION The object of the present invention is to provide improved dyeing compositions for keratinous fibres, such as hair, fur hide and wool, comprising an oxidative enzyme as the oxidising agent. In the context of the present invention an "improved" composition for dyeing keratinous fibres means a composition being capable of dyeing the keratinous fibres in question faster or by the use of a smaller amount of oxidation enzyme to obtain an optimal dyeing effect, determined as ΔE*, in comparison to corresponding prior art dyeing compositions. Further, it is also possible to use a less amount of dye precursor. This is advantageous as certain dye precursors are very unhealthy and very carcinogenic. Compositions capable of dyeing the keratinous fibres, in particular hair, fur, hide and wool, faster are desirable as such compositions are very user convenient. Further, it is desirable to be able to use a less amount of enzyme in the dyeing composition. This might make the dyeing process more economical. Further, the risk for creating airborne protein aerosols is reduced. It has now surprisingly been found that it is possible to provide such improved dyeing compositions for keratinous fibres by using microbial laccases for oxidising the dye precursor(s) . Laccases (benzenediol:oxygen oxidoreductases) (E.C. class 1.10.3.2 according to Enzyme Nomenclature (1992) Academic Press, Inc.) are multi-copper containing enzymes that catalyse the oxidation of phenols. Laccase-mediated oxidation results in the production of aryloxy-radical intermediates from suitable phenolic substrates; the ultimate coupling of the intermediates so produced provides a combination of dimeric, oligomeric, and polymeric reaction products. Certain reaction products may be used to form dyes suitable for dyeing keratinous fibres, such as hair and wool (see below) . Firstly, the object of the invention is to provide a dyeing composition comprising a) above 0 to 1 mg enzyme protein per ml dyeing composition of microbial laccase, b) one or more dye precursors, c) optionally one or more modifiers. Specifically contemplated is laccases of microbial origin, derived from a strain of the genus Myceliophthora . In the second aspect the invention relates to the use of a dyeing composition of the invention for dyeing keratinous fibres, such as hair, fur, hide and wool. The invention also related to a method for dying keratinous fibres comprising contacting the dyeing composition of the invention to the keratinous fibres in question under suitable conditions and for a period of time sufficient to permit oxidation of the dye precursor into a coloured compound. The invention also relates to the use of a laccase for permanent dyeing of keratinous fibres wherein said laccase is a laccase that results in a ΔE*-value higher than the ΔE*-value resulting from a laccase derived from Rhus under corresponding dyeing conditions. This means that when dyeing keratinous fibres with a dyeing composition of the present invention the ΔE*-value determined are higher than the ΔE*-value determined from corresponding keratinous fibres dyed under the same conditions using a dyeing composition comprising a laccase derived from Rhus . The term "corresponding dyeing conditions" means under conditions where e .g. the enzyme concentration or enzyme activity, dyeing incubations time, dyeing incubation tempera¬ ture, pH conditions, keratin fibre type (such as hair type) are the same, and further that the same dye precursor(s) and modifier(s) are used. In other words it defines conditions parallel to the specific dyeing conditions chosen. The dyeing conditions described below in the Examples may be chosen. In the context of the present invention a "higher" ΔE* value defines that the total quantitative colour change is more than one ΔE* unit. ΔE* is calculated from the values of the parameters a*, b* and L* determined e.g. on a Minolta CR200 Chroma Meter using the formula ΔE*= V(ΔL* 2 +Δa* 2 +Δb* 2 ) . The meaning of a*, b* and L* is explained below in the "Materials and Methods" section. BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWING Figure 1 shows the dyeing effect of six different laccases. The six laccases are the Polyporus pinsitus laccase (rPp- laccase) , Myceliophthora thermophila laccase (Mt-laccase wt.), Myceliophthora thermophila Tl variant laccase (Mt-laccase (var) ) , Rhus vernicifera laccase (Rvl-FXu-1) , Scytalidium thermophilum laccase (rStL-FXu-1) and Rhizoctonia solani laccase (rRsL-3-FXu-l) . o-aminophenol is used as the dye precursor and m-phenylene-diamine is used as a modifier. Figure 2 shows the wash stability of the Myceliophthora thermophila Tl variant laccase (Mt-laccase (var) ) and the Polyporus pinsitus laccase (rPp-laccase) as the oxidising agent. Figure 3 shows the fastness (speed) of hair dyeing using the Myceliophthora thermophila Tl variant laccase (Mt-laccase (var) ) and the Polyporus pinsitus laccase (rPp-laccase) as the oxidising agent. Figure 4 shows the dose-response dyeing effect of Myceliophthora thermophila laccase, using from 0.0001 to 0.5 mg enzyme protein per ml dyeing compoisiton. SUBSTITUTE SHEET DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION The object of the present invention is to provide improved dyeing compositions for permanent dyeing of keratinous fibres, such as hair, fur, hide and wool, comprising an oxidation enzyme. It has now surprisingly been found that it is possible to provide such improved dyeing compositions by using a microbial laccase for oxidising the dye precursor(s) . The Dyeing Composition In the first aspect the present invention relates to a dyeing composition comprising a) above 0 to 1 mg enzyme protein per ml dyeing composition of microbial laccase, b) one or more dye precursor, and c) optionally one or more dye modifiers. In a preferred embodiment of the invention the laccase may be present in the dyeing compositions in a concentration within the range from 0.0001 to 1 mg/ml, preferably 0.001 to 0.8 mg/ml, more preferred 0.002 to 0.5, even more preferred 0.003 to 0.2, especially 0.004 to 0.1 mg enzyme protein/ml dyeing composition. When dyeing with a composition of the invention for permanent dyeing the ΔE*-value obtained is higher than that obtained when using a dyeing composition comprising a laccase derived from Rhus under corresponding dyeing conditions. An example of a Rhus laccase is the laccase derived from the Japanese varnish tree Rhus vernicifera (Yoshida, (1883) , J. Chem. Soc, 472). The Rhus vernicifera laccase is used in the Example 1 below. The microbial laccase used according to the invention is of fungal or bacteria origin, in particular of filamentous fungus origin. In an embodiment of the invention the microbial laccase is derived from a strain of genus Myceliophthora , such as a strain of the species Myceliophthora thermophila e . g . the purified laccase described in WO 95/33836 (PCT/US95/06815) from Novo Nordisk, which is hereby incorporated by reference. SEQ ID NO 1 below shows a DNA sequence encoding a suitable laccase derivable from Myceliophthora thermophila . E. coli JM101 containing the expression vector pRaMB5 com- prising SEQ ID NO 1 has been deposited under the Budapest Treaty with the Agricultural Research Service Patent Culture Collection, Northern Regional Research Center, 1815 University Street, Peoria, Illinois, 61604. The vector have been given the Accession Number NRRL B-21261. Also contemplated according to the invention are laccases derived from other micro-organisms being more than 80% homo¬ logous to SEQ ID NO 1 derived from Myceliophthora thermophila . In addition, Myceliophthora laccases also encompass alterna¬ tive forms of laccases which may be found in M . thermophila and as well as laccases which may be found in other fungi which are synonyms of fall within the definition of M . thermophila as described by Apinis (Nova Hedwigia 5, 57-78, 1963) and named Sporotrichum thermophile . Subsequent taxonomic revisions have placed this organism in the genus Chysosporium (Von Klopotek, A. Arche. , (1974) Microbiol, 98, 365-369) and later Myceliopht¬ hora (Van Oorshot, Persoonia, (1977), 9, 401-408). A number of organisms known by other named also appear to belong to this species. These include Sporotrichum cellulophilum (US patent no. 4,106,989); Thielavia thermophila (Fergus and Sinden (1968), Can. J. Botany, 47, 1635-1637); Chrysosporium fergusεi and Corynascus ther ophilus (Von Klopotek, supra) . Also the use of laccase variants are contemplated according to the present invention. An example of a laccase variant is the Myceliophthora ther- mophila Tl variant described in PCT/US96/14087 (Novo Nordisk) . Tl variants (or Type I variants) are modified blue copper oxidases, including laccases. Tl variants can for instance be constructed by site-directed mutagenesis and differ from the corresponding wild-type blue copper oxidases by at least one amino acid residue in the Type I (Tl) copper site. These modi¬ fications generally result in altered pH profiles and/or specific activity relatively to the wild-type enzymes. This can S be advantageous when using the enzyme in question in dyeing compositions. More specific the Myceliophthora thermophila Tl laccase variant may comprise the sequence 509VSGGL511 or may be modified as to increase the negative charge in at least one segment of the Tl copper site. The above mentioned microbial laccases may advantageously be used in permanent dyeing composition for keratinous fibres. Such compositions have a superior dyeing effect to corresponding compositions comprising e .g. the Rhus ve_rι_ici_e a laccase as shown in Example 1. The Myceliophthora thermophila Tl variant laccase is more wash stabile and further dyes faster than the Polyporus pinsi¬ tus laccase which is proven in Example 2 and Example 3 , respec- tively. Example 4 shows that less Myceliophthora laccase activity (i.e. LACU/ml) is needed to obtain a suitable dyeing effect in comparison to the Polyporus pinsitus laccase. Example 5 shows that for the Myceliophthora thermophila laccase the dyeing effect optimum is obtained around 0.005 mg enzyme protein per ml dyeing composition. In the case of using a Myceliophthora laccase in a permanent dyeing composition it may advantageously be present in concentrations from above 0 to 1 mg/ml, preferably 0.0001 to 0.1 mg/ml, more preferably 0.0005 to 0.05 mg/ml, especially 0.001 to 0.01 mg enzyme protein per ml dyeing composition. It is to be understood that the laccase may be produced either homologously, or heterologously in a host cell such as filamentous fungus, yeast or bacteria. Examples of filamentous fungi host cells include strains of the species of Trichoderma , preferably a strain of Trichoderma harzianum or Trichoderma reesei, or a species of Fusarium, or a species of Aspergillus , most preferably Aspergillus oryzae or Aspergilluε niger , or yeast cells, such as e.g. a strain of Saccharomyces , in particular Saccharomyces cerevisiae , Saccha¬ romyces kluyveri or Saccharomyces uvarum , a strain of Schizosaccharomyces sp. , such as Schizosaccharomyces pombe , a strain of Hansenula sp. , Pichia sp. , Yarrowia sp. , such as Yarrowia lipolytica , or Kluyveromyces sp., such as Kluyveromy- ces lactis, or a bacteria, such as gram-positive bacteria such as strains of Bacillus , such as strains of B . subtilis, B . Li- cheniformis , B . lentuε , B . breviε , B . εtearothermophiluε , B . alkalophiluε, B . amyloliquefacienε , B . coagulanε, B . circulanε , B . lautus , B . megaterium or B . thuringiensi , or strains of - Streptomyces , such as S . lividans or S . murinus , or gram-nega¬ tive bacteria such as Eεcherichia coli . To obtain dyeing of the keratinous fibres the dyeing compo¬ sition of the invention comprises one or more dye precursors which is(are) converted into coloured compound(s) by an oxida¬ tion agent which according to the present invention is a microbial laccase. Without being limited thereto the dye precursor(s) may be (an) aromatic compound(s) belonging to one of three major chemical families: the diamines, aminophenols (or a ino- naphtolε) and the phenols. Examples of isatin derivative dye precursors can be found in DE 4,314,317-A1. Further, a number of indole or indoline derivative dye precursors are disclosed in WO 94/00100. Said dye precursors mentioned in these documents are hereby incorporated herein by reference. Examples of suitable dye precursors include compounds from the group comprising p-phenylene-diamine (PPD) , p-toluylene-di- amine (PTD) , chloro-p-phenylene-diamine, p-aminophenol, o-ami- nophenol, 3,4-diaminotoluene, 2-methyl-l,4-diaminobenzene, 4- methyl-o-phenylenediamine, 2-methoxy-p-phenylenediamine, 2- chloro-1,4-diamino-benzene, 4-amino diphenylamine, l-amino-4-β- methoxyethylamino-benzene, l-amino-4-bis-(β-hydroxyethyl) -amo- nibenzene, 1-3-diamino-benzene, 2-methyl-l,3-diamino-benzene, 2,4-diaminotoluene, 2,6-diaminopyridine, l-hydroxy-2-amino-ben- zene, l-hydroxy-3-amino-benzene, l-methyl-2-hydroxy-4-amino- benzene, l-methyl-2-hydroxy-4-β-hydroxyethylamino-benzene, 1- hydroxy-4-amino-ebnzene, l-hydroxy-4-methylamino-benzene, l-me- thoxy-2,4-diamino-benzene, l-ethoxy-2,3-diamino-benzene, 1-β- hydroxyethyloxy-2,4-diamino-benzene, phenazineε, such as 4,7- SUBSTITUTESHEET phenazinedicarboxylic acid, 2,7-phenazinedicarboxylic acid, 2- phenazinecarboxylic acid, 2,7-diaminophenazine, 2,8-diamino- phenazine, 2,7-diamino-3,8-dimethoxyphenazine, 2,7-diamino-3- methoxyphenazine, 2,7-diamino 3-methoxyphenazine, 3-dimethyl 2,8-phenazinediamine, 2,2'-[ (8-amino-7-methyl-2-phenazinyl)- imino]bis-ethanol, 2,2 '-[ (8-amino-7-methoxy-2-phenazinyl) imi- no]bis-ethanol, 2,2 '-[ (8-amino-7-chloro-2-phenazinyl) imino]bis- ethanol, 2-[ (8-amino-7-methyl-2-phenazinyl)amino]-ethanol, 2,2 '-[ (8-amino-2-phenazinyl) imino]bis-ethanol, 3-amino-7-(dime- thylamino) -2,8-dimethyl-5-phenyl-chloride, 9-(diethylamino) - benzo[a]phenazine-l,5-diol, N-[8-(diethylamino) -2-phenazinyl]- methanesulfonamide, N-(8-methoxy-2-phenazinyl)- Methanesulfo- namide, N,N,N' ,N'-tetramethyl-2,7-phenazinediamine, 3,7-dime- thyl-2-phenazinamine, p-amino benzoic acids, such as p-amino benzoic acid ethyl, p-amino benzoic acid glycerid, p-amino benzoic acid isobutyl, p-dimethylamino benzoic acid amil, p- dimethylamino benzoic acid octyl, p-diethoxy amino benzoic amil, p- dipropoxy amino benzoic acid ethyl, acetylsalicylic acid, isatin derivatives, such as 2,3-diamino benzoic acid. In an embodiment the laccase is used with the dye precursor directly to oxidise it into a coloured compound. The dye precursor may be used alone or in combination with other dye precursors. It is believed that when using a diamine or an aminophenol as the dye precursor at least one of the intermediates in the co-polymerisation must be an ortho- or para-diamine or amino¬ phenol. Examples of such are found below and are also described in US patent no. 3,251,742 (Revlon) , the contents of which are incorporated herein by reference. Optionally dyeing compositions (especially hair dyeing com¬ positions) of the invention also comprise a modifier (coupler) by which a number of colour tints can be obtained. In general modifiers are used in dyeing composition for hair as the hair colours resulting from hair dyeing compositions without modifier(s) are usually unacceptable for most people. Modifiers are typically m-diamines, m-aminophenols, or poly- phenols. Upon the optional addition of a modifier (coupler) it reacts with the dye precursor(s) in the presence of e . g. a lac¬ case, converting the dye precursor(s) into a coloured compound. Examples of modifiers (couplers) include m-phenylene-diami- ne, 2,4-diaminoanisole, l-hydroxynaphthalene(α-naphthol) , 1,4- dihydroxybenzene(hydroquinone) , 1,5-dihydroxynapthalene, 1,2- dihydroxybenzene(pyrocatechol) , 1,3-dihydroxybenzene (resorci- nol) , 1,3-dihydroxy-2-methylbenzene, 1,3-dihydroxy-4-chloroben- zene(4-chlororesorcinol) , 1,2, 3,trihydroxybenzene, 1,2,4-trihy- droxybenzene, 1,2,4-trihydroxy-5-methylbenzene, 1,2, -trihydro- xytoluene. When using the dyeing compositions of the invention a reduced amount of enzyme (i.e. mg enzyme protein per ml dyeing composition) is needed to obtain the maximal dyeing effect (See Figure 1 and Figure 4) , determined as the optimal ΔE*-value, in comparison to prior art dyeing compositions, such as dyeing compositions comprising a laccase derived from Rhus. The amount of dye precursor(s) and other ingredients used in the composition of the invention are in accordance with usual commercial amounts. According to the invention the product comprising the dyeing composition may be a one or a two compartment product. In the one compartment product the laccase, the dye precursor(s) and other ingredients are keep together in a stabilised solution or kept under stable conditions (i.e. the dye precursors are not oxidised by the laccase) . In a two compartment product the lac¬ case and the dye precursor(s) and other ingredients are keep in two containers keep apart. The contents of said containers are mixed immediately before use. USE In the second aspect the invention relates to the use of the dyeing composition of the invention for permanent dyeing of ke¬ ratinous fibres, in particular hair, fur, hide and wool. When using a dying composition of the invention the ΔE*- value obtained is higher than that of a dyeing composition com¬ prising a laccase derived from genus Rhuε under corresponding dyeing conditions (see Figure 1) . Method In the third aspect the invention relates to a method for permanent dying of keratinous fibres comprising contacting a dyeing composition of the invention with the keratinous fibres in question under suitable conditions and for a period of time sufficient to permit oxidation of the dye precursor into a coloured compound. The dyeing procedure may be carried out at room temperature, preferably around the optimal temperature of the enzyme, typi- cally with from 10 to 60°C; at a pH in the range from 3 to 10, preferably 5 to 9, especially 6 to 8; for a period of time be¬ tween 10 and 60 minutes, preferably 15 to 50 minutes, especially 20 to 40 minutes. When using the method of the invention the ΔE*-value obtained is higher than that of corresponding methods where a laccase derived from a strain of the genus Rhus are used under the same dyeing conditions, in the presence or absence of at least one modifier, with at least one dye precursor, for a pe¬ riod of time, and under conditions sufficient to permit oxidation of the dye precursor used for oxidising the dye. The method can be conducted with one or more dye precursors, either alone or in combination with one or more modifiers. MATERIALS AND METHODS Materials: Hair: 6" De Meo Virgin Natural White Hair (De Meo Brothers Inc. USA) Enzymes: Myceliophthora thermophila laccase described in WO 95/33836 (PCT/US95/06815) from Novo Nordisk Biotech, Inc. Myceliophthora thermophila Tl variant laccase described in US patent application 60/003,142 from Novo Nordisk Biotech, Inc. Polyporus pinsitus laccase described in WO 96/00290 (PCT/US95/07536) from Novo Nordisk Biotech, Inc. Rhus vernicifera laccase (Yoshida, J. Chem. Soc, 472 (1883) Rhizoctonia εolani laccase described in WO 95/07988 from Novo Nordisk Biotech, Inc. Scytalidium thermophilum laccase described in WO 95/33837 (PCT/US95/06816) from Novo Nordisk Biotech, Inc. Deposit of Biological Material The following biological material has been deposited on the 25 May 1994 under the terms of the Budapest Treaty with the Agricultural Research Service Patent Culture Collection, Northern Regional Research Center, 1815 University Street, Peoria, Illinois, 61604 and given the following accession numbe . Deposit Accession Number E . coli JM101 containing pRaMB5 NRRL B-21261 Dye precursors: 0.1 % w/w p-phenylene-diamine in 0.1 M K-phosphate buffer, pH 7.0. (pPD) 0.1 % w/w p-toluylene-diamine in 0.1 M K-phosphate buffer, pH 7.0. 0.1 % w/w chloro-p-phenylenediamine in 0.1 M K-phosphate buffer, pH 7.0. 0.1 % w/w p-aminophenol in 0.1 M K-phosphate buffer, pH 7.0. 0.1 % w/w o-aminophenol in 0.1 M K-phosphate buffer, pH 7.0. 0.1 % w/w 3,4-diaminotoluene in 0.1 M K-phosphate, buffer pH 7.0. Modifiers: 0.1 % w/w m-phenylenediamine in 0.1 M K-phosphate buffer, pH 7.0. 0.1 % w/w 2,4-diaminoanisole in 0,1 M K-phosphate buffer, pH 7.0. 0.1 % w/w alpha-naphthol in 0.1 M K-phosphate buffer, pH 7.0. 0.1 % w/w hydroquinone in 0.1 M K-phosphate buffer, pH 7.0. 0.1 % w/w pyrocatechol in 0.1 M K-phosphate buffer, pH 7.0. 0.1% w/w resorcinol in 0.1 M K-phosphate buffer, pH 7.0. 0.1 % w/w 4-chlororesorcinol in 0.1 M K-phosphate buffer, pH 7.0. The dye precursor is combined with one of the above indi¬ cated modifiers so that the final concentration in the dyeing solution is 0.1 % w/w with respect to precursor and 0.1 % w/w with respect to modifier. Other solutions: Commercial shampoo Equipment: Minolta CR200 Chroma Meter Determination of Laccase Activity (LACU) Laccase activity is determined from the oxidation of syrin- galdazin under aerobic conditions. The violet colour produced is photometered at 530 nm. The analytical conditions are 19 mM syringaldazin, 23.2 mM acetate buffer, pH 5.5, 30°C, 1 min. Re¬ action time. 1 laccase unit (LACU) is the amount of enzyme that catalyses the conversion of 1.0 micromole syringaldazin per minute at these conditions. Assessment of the hair colour The quantitative colour of the hair tresses is determined on a Minolta CR200 Chroma Meter by the use the parameters L* ("0"=black and "100"=white) , a* ("-"=green and "+"=red) and b* ("-" blue and "+" yellow). ΔL*, Δa* and Δb* are the delta values of L*, a* and b* re¬ spectively compared to L*, a* and b* of untreated hair (e.g. ΔL* - L* samp j_ e - L* unt reated hair) • ΔE* is calculated as ΔE*- (ΔL* 2 +Δa* 2 +Δb* 2 ) and is an expression for the total quantitative colour change. EXAMPLES Example 1 Dyeing effect The dyeing effect of different laccases were tested and compared under the same conditions using 0.1% w/w o-aminophenol (dye precursor) and 0.1% w/w m-phenylene-diamine (modifier). The laccases tested were a Polyporus pinsitus laccase, a Myceliophthora thermophila laccase a Myceliophthora thermophila Tl laccase variant, a Rhus vernicifera laccase a Rhizoctonia εolani laccase a Scytalidium thermophila laccase Hair dyeing 1 gram white De Meo hair tresses were used. 4 ml dye precursor solution (including modifier) was mixed with 1 ml laccase on a Whirley mixer, applied to the hair tresses and incubated at 30°C for 60 minutes. The hair tresses were then rinsed with running water, washed with shampoo, rinsed with water, combed, and air dried. a*, b* and L* were determined on the Chroma Meter and ΔE* was then calculated. Hair tress samples treated without enzyme were used as a blind. The result of the test is displayed in figure 1. Example 2 Wash stability Tresses of white De Meo hair (1 gram) were used for testing of the wash stability of hair dyed using the Myceliophthora thermophila T-variant laccase and the Polyporus pinεituε laccase. Oxidative hair dyeing was carried out as described in Example 1, except that p-phenylene-diamine (pPD) were used as the dye precursor and no modifiers were used. Hair wash The dyed hair tresses were wetted and washed for 15 seconds with 50 ml of commercial shampoo, and rinsed with water for 1 minute and air dried. The hair tresses were washed up to 18 times. Then a*, b* and L* were determined on the Chroma Meter and ΔE* values were then calculated. Hair tress samples treated without enzymes were used as blinds. The result of the test is displayed in figure 2. Example 3 Fastness of hair dyeing Tresses of white De Meo hair (1 gram) were used for testing fastness (speed) of hair dyeing using the Myceliophthora thermophila Tl variant laccase and the Polyporuε pinsituε laccase. p-phenylene-diamine (pPD) was used as the dye precursor and no modifiers were used. 4 ml dye precursor solution was mixed with 1 ml laccase on a Whirley mixer, applied to the hair tresses and incubated at 30°C for 10, 20, 30, 40, 50 and 60 minutes, respectively. The hair tresses were then rinsed with running water, washed with shampoo, rinsed with running water, combed, and air dried, a*, b* and L* were determined on the Chroma Meter for each incubation time and the ΔE*-values were then calculated. Hair tress samples treated without enzymes for 60 minutes were used as blinds. The result of the test is displayed in figure 3. Example 4 Dyeing effect of Myceliophthora thermophila Tl variant laccase The dyeing effect of Myceliophthora thermophila Tl variant laccase were compared with the Polyporuε pinεituε laccase using 0.1% w/w p-phenylene-diamine, 0.1% w/w p-touylene-diamine, 0.1% w/w chloro-p-phenylene-diamine, 0.1% w/w p-aminophenol, 0.1% w/w o-aminophenol and 0.1% w/w 3,4 diaminotoluene, respective- ly, as dye precursors. The Polyporuε pinsitus laccase were applied in a concentration of 10 LACU/ml while the Myceliophthora thermophila Tl variant laccase was applied in a concentration of only 1 LACU/ml. 1 gram white De Meo hair tresses were used. 4 ml dye precursor solution was mixed with 1 ml laccase on a Whirley mixer, applied to the hair tresses and incubated at 30°C for 60 minutes. The hair tresses were then rinsed with running water, washed with shampoo, rinsed with running water, combed, and air dried. The a*, b* and L* were determined on the Chroma Meter and the ΔE* values were then calculated. Hair tress samples treated without enzyme were used as blinds. The result of the test is displayed in Table 1. Table 1 As can be seen from Table 1 compositions comprising the Myceliophthora thermophila Tl laccase variant dyes the hair as good as the Polyporuε pinεituε laccase even though SHEET concentration of the Polyporus pinsitus laccase is 10 time higher. Example 5 Dose-response dyeing effect of M. thermophila laccase The dyeing effect of M . thermophila laccase were tested using concentration between 0.0001 to 0.5 mg enzyme protein per ml dyeing composition of laccase. 0.1% w/w p-toluylene-diamine (PTD) was used as the dye precursor. The same dyeing procedure as described in Example 1 was used. The result of the tests are displayed in Figure 4. SEQUENCE LISTING (1) GENERAL INFORMATION: (i) APPLICANT: (A) NAME: Novo Nordisk A/S (B) STREET: Novo Alle (C) CITY: Bagsvaerd (D) COUNTRY: Denmark (E) POSTAL CODE (ZIP): DK-2880 (F) TELEPHONE: +45 4444 8888 (G) TELEFAX: +45 4449 3256 ( ii) TITLE OF INVENTION : Laccases with improved dyeing properties (iii) NUMBER OF SEQUENCES: 2 (v) COMPUTER READABLE FORM: (A) MEDIUM TYPE: Floppy disk (B) COMPUTER: IBM PC compatible (C) OPERATING SYSTEM: PC-DOS/MS-DOS (D) SOFTWARE: Patentln Release #1.0, Version #1.30 (2) INFORMATION FOR SEQ ID NO:l: (i) SEQUENCE CHARACTERISTICS: (A) LENGTH: 3192 base pairs (B) TYPE: nucleic acid (C) STRANDEDNESS: single (D) TOPOLOGY: linear (ii) MOLECULE TYPE: DNA (genomic) (i ) FEATURE: (A) NAME/KEY: CDS (B) LOCATION: join(586..831, 917..994, 1079..1090, 1193..1264, 1337..2308, 2456..2524, 2618..3028) (xi) SEQUENCE DESCRIPTION: SEQ ID NO:l: TCTAGCTTCT TTGGTCACCG TCGTTTTCGC CCGCCCCCTC CCTCCTTCAA CCCCCTGAGT 60 AGTCGGCTAA GCGATCCTCA ATCTGGTCTT GTGAGGTCAC GTCCTCCAGC AGATGACAGT 120 TCATCGAGCG AGTGATCTCC ACCACCCAGA AGGGAGGGGG GATGCGCGCA TGCTCCAACA 180 TCCCTGGTGT CGCTAGAGAC GTCGCGGCAT CAGCCTTTTC ATCACACCGA GCACGTCCAC 240 GGACCGGCTC CTTTCACCCC CGCGTCCTCC GGAGGATTGA GTCACGATAT TTCGGGATGT 300 GGGAAGGGGG AGAGAAAGGA GGGGGGAGGG GCGGAAACAT GTTGGATACG AGCTGCGCCC 360 CTTTTTCAAC ATCGAGAACA GGAAGTCGTT GGTGTCGGCC GTAATGTCTA TAAAACGAGG 420 CTCCTTCTCG TCGTCGACTT GTCTCAGGTT CTCTCTCTCG TCCACACCAA GCCAGTCTTG 480 CCTGAGCCAC CTGAGCCACC TTCAACTCAT CATCTTCAGT CAAGTCGTTC ATTGACATTG 540 TGTCTCTCTT TCTATCGAGT CGGCTTCCCG GCCCTTCACC ACAAC ATG AAG TCC 594 Met Lys Ser 1 TTC ATC AGC GCC GCG ACG CTT TTG GTG GGC ATT CTC ACC CCT AGC GTT 642 Phe He Ser Ala Ala Thr Leu Leu Val Gly He Leu Thr Pro Ser Val 5 10 15 GCT GCT GCC CCT CCA TCC ACC CCT GAG CAG CGC GAC CTG CTC GTC CCG 690 Ala Ala Ala Pro Pro Ser Thr Pro Glu Gin Arg Asp Leu Leu Val Pro 20 25 30 35 ATC ACG GAG AGG GAG GAG GCA GCC GTG AAG GCT CGC CAG CAG AGC TGC 738 He Thr Glu Arg Glu Glu Ala Ala Val Lys Ala Arg Gin Gin Ser Cys 40 45 50 AAC ACC CCC AGC AAC CGG GCG TGC TGG ACT GAC GGA TAC GAC ATC AAC 786 Asn Thr Pro Ser Asn Arg Ala Cys Trp Thr Asp Gly Tyr Asp He Asn 55 60 65 ACC GAC TAC GAA GTG GAC AGC CCG GAC ACG GGT GTT GTT CGG CCG 831 Thr Asp Tyr Glu Val Asp Ser Pro Asp Thr Gly Val Val Arg Pro 70 75 80 GTGAGTGCTC TCGTTAATTA CGCTTCGGCG AGTTGCGCAG ATATATTAAA TACTGCAAAC 891 CTAAGCAGGA GCTGACATGC GACAG TAC ACT CTG ACT CTC ACC GAA GTC GAC 943 Tyr Thr Leu Thr Leu Thr Glu Val Asp 85 90 AAC TGG ACC GGA CCT GAT GGC GTC GTC AAG GAG AAG GTC ATG CTG GTT 991 Asn Trp Thr Gly Pro Asp Gly Val Val Lys Glu Lys Val Met Leu Val 95 100 105 AAC GTACGGCACC CCTTTTCTTG TCCTAGGATC TGGGTGATGT GCGTCGTTGC 1044 Asn CCCTGAGAGA GACTGACCGA GCCTTTGGCT GCAG AAT AGT ATA ATC GTAATTAATT 1100 Asn Ser He He 110 ATACCGCCCT GCCTCCAGCA GCCCCAGCAG CTCGAGAAGG GTATCTGAAG TTAGTCAGGC 1160 CTGCTGACCT GACCGGGGCC AACCCACCAT AG GGA CCA ACA ATC TTT GCG GAC 1213 Gly Pro Thr He Phe Ala Asp 115 TGG GGC GAC ACG ATC CAG GTA ACG GTC ATC AAC AAC CTC GAG ACC AAC 1261 Trp Gly Asp Thr He Gin Val Thr Val He Asn Asn Leu Glu Thr Asn 120 125 130 135 GGC GTATGTCTGC TGCTTGCTCT CTTGCTCTCC TCGTCCGCGA CTAATAATAA 1314 Gly TATCAACTCG TGTGGAAAAC AG ACG TCG ATC CAC TGG CAC GGA CTG CAC CAG 1366 Thr Ser He His Trp His Gly Leu His Gin 140 145 AAG GGC ACC AAC CTG CAC GAC GGC GCC AAC GGT ATC ACC GAG TGC CCG 1414 Lys Gly Thr Asn Leu His Asp Gly Ala Asn Gly He Thr Glu Cys Pro 150 155 160 ATC CCG CCC AAG GGA GGG AGG AAG GTG TAC CGG TTC AAG GCT CAG CAG 1462 He Pro Pro Lys Gly Gly Arg Lys Val Tyr Arg Phe Lys Ala Gin Gin 165 170 175 TAC GGG ACG AGC TGG TAC CAC TCG CAC TTC TCG GCC CAG TAC GGC AAC 1510 Tyr Gly Thr Ser Trp Tyr His Ser His Phe Ser Ala Gin Tyr Gly Asn 180 185 190 GGC GTG GTC GGG GCC ATT CAG ATC AAC GGG CCG GCC TCG CTG CCG TAC 1558 Gly Val Val Gly Ala He Gin He Asn Gly Pro Ala Ser Leu Pro Tyr 195 200 205 210 GAC ACC GAC CTG GGC GTG TTC CCC ATC AGC GAC TAC TAC TAC AGC TCG 1606 Asp Thr Asp Leu Gly Val Phe Pro He Ser Asp Tyr Tyr Tyr Ser Ser 215 220 225 GCC GAC GAG CTG GTG GAA CTC ACC AAG AAC TCG GGC GCG CCC TTC AGC 1654 Ala Asp Glu Leu Val Glu Leu Thr Lys Asn Ser Gly Ala Pro Phe Ser 230 235 240 GAC AAC GTC CTG TTC AAC GGC ACG GCC AAG CAC CCG GAG ACG GGC GAG 1702 Asp Asn Val Leu Phe Asn Gly Thr Ala Lys His Pro Glu Thr Gly Glu 245 250 255 GGC GAG TAC GCC AAC GTG ACG CTC ACC CCG GGC CGG CGG CAC CGC CTG 1750 Gly Glu Tyr Ala Asn Val Thr Leu Thr Pro Gly Arg Arg His Arg Leu 260 265 270 CGC CTG ATC AAC ACG TCG GTC GAG AAC CAC TTC CAG GTC TCG CTC GTC 1798 Arg Leu He Asn Thr Ser Val Glu Asn His Phe Gin Val Ser Leu Val 275 280 285 290 AAC CAC ACC ATG ACC ATC ATC GCC GCC GAC ATG GTG CCC GTC AAC GCC 1846 Asn His Thr Met Thr He He Ala Ala Asp Met Val Pro Val Asn Ala 295 300 305 ATG ACG GTC GAC AGC CTC TTC CTC GGC GTC GGC CAG CGC TAC GAT GTC 1894 Met Thr Val Asp Ser Leu Phe Leu Gly Val Gly Gin Arg Tyr Asp Val 310 315 320 GTC ATC GAA GCC AGC CGA ACG CCC GGG AAC TAC TGG TTT AAC GTC ACA 1942 Val He Glu Ala Ser Arg Thr Pro Gly Asn Tyr Trp Phe Asn Val Thr 325 330 335 TTT GGC GGC GGC CTG CTC TGC GGC GGC TCC AGG AAT CCC TAC CCG GCC 1990 Phe Gly Gly Gly Leu Leu Cys Gly Gly Ser Arg Asn Pro Tyr Pro Ala 340 345 350 GCC ATC TTC CAC TAC GCC GGC GCC CCC GGC GGC CCG CCC ACG GAC GAG 2038 Ala He Phe His Tyr Ala Gly Ala Pro Gly Gly Pro Pro Thr Asp Glu 355 360 365 370 GGC AAG GCC CCG GTC GAC CAC AAC TGC CTG GAC CTC CCC AAC CTC AAG 2086 Gly Lys Ala Pro Val Asp His Asn Cys Leu Asp Leu Pro Asn Leu Lys 375 380 385 CCC GTC GTG GCC CGC GAC GTG CCC CTG AGC GGC TTC GCC AAG CGG CCC 2134 Pro Val Val Ala Arg Asp Val Pro Leu Ser Gly Phe Ala Lys Arg Pro 390 395 400 GAC AAC ACG CTC GAC GTC ACC CTC GAC ACC ACG GGC ACG CCC CTG TTC 2182 Asp Asn Thr Leu Asp Val Thr Leu Asp Thr Thr Gly Thr Pro Leu Phe 405 410 415 GTC TGG AAG GTC AAC GGC AGC GCC ATC AAC ATC GAC TGG GGC AGG CCC 2230 Val Trp Lys Val Asn Gly Ser Ala He Asn He Asp Trp Gly Arg Pro 420 425 430 GTC GTC GAC TAC GTC CTC ACG CAG AAC ACC AGC TTC CCA CCC GGG TAC 2278 Val Val Asp Tyr Val Leu Thr Gin Asn Thr Ser Phe Pro Pro Gly Tyr 435 440 445 450 AAC ATT GTC GAG GTG AAC GGA GCT GAT CAG GTAAGAAAAA GGGGACCGCA 2328 Asn He Val Glu Val Asn Gly Ala Asp Gin 455 460 GGGGTGCTGC TGCAAGTACA CCTTGCTCGC CCTCCTGTTC TTCCTTAATA ACTACCTCCC 2388 AACCCTCCCC CCTAATTAAT TCACTTTAAA GGCCGATCAA GACTGACCGA GCCCCCTCTC 2448 TTTGCAG TGG TCG TAC TGG TTG ATC GAG AAC GAT CCC GGC GCA CCT TTC 2497 Trp Ser Tyr Trp Leu He Glu Asn Asp Pro Gly Ala Pro Phe 465 470 ACC CTA CCG CAT CCG ATG CAC CTG CAC GTAAGTTGGA TACATATATA 2544 Thr Leu Pro His Pro Met His Leu His 475 480 TATATATATA TACATTGCTT TCCTGGCTCG CTCCCTTAAA TAAAATTAAA TAACCAAAAA 2604 TAACAAAAAA AAG GGC CAC GAC TTT TAC GTG CTG GGC CGC TCG CCC GAC 2653 Gly His Asp Phe Tyr Val Leu Gly Arg Ser Pro Asp 485 490 495 GAG TCG CCG GCA TCC AAC GAG CGG CAC GTG TTC GAT CCG GCG CGG GAC 2701 Glu Ser Pro Ala Ser Asn Glu Arg His Val Phe Asp Pro Ala Arg Asp 500 505 510 GCG GGC CTG CTG AGC GGG GCC AAC CCT GTG CGG CGG GAC GTG ACG ATG 2749 Ala Gly Leu Leu Ser Gly Ala Asn Pro Val Arg Arg Asp Val Thr Met 515 520 525 CTG CCG GCG TTC GGG TGG GTG GTG CTG GCC TTC CGG GCC GAC AAC CCG 2797 Leu Pro Ala Phe Gly Trp Val Val Leu Ala Phe Arg Ala Asp Asn Pro 530 535 540 GGC GCC TGG CTG TTC CAC TGC CAC ATC GCC TGG CAC GTC TCG GGC GGC 2845 Gly Ala Trp Leu Phe His Cys His He Ala Trp His Val Ser Gly Gly 545 550 555 CTG GGC GTC GTC TAC CTC GAG CGC GCC GAC GAC CTG CGC GGG GCC GTC 2893 Leu Gly Val Val Tyr Leu Glu Arg Ala Asp Asp Leu Arg Gly Ala Val 560 565 570 575 TCG GAC GCC GAC GCC GAC GAC CTC GAC CGC CTC TGC GCC GAC TGG CGC 2941 Ser Asp Ala Asp Ala Asp Asp Leu Asp Arg Leu Cys Ala Asp Trp Arg 580 585 590 CGC TAC TGG CCT ACC AAC CCC TAC CCC AAG TCC GAC TCG GGC CTC AAG 2989 Arg Tyr Trp Pro Thr Asn Pro Tyr Pro Lys Ser Asp Ser Gly Leu Lys 595 600 605 CAC CGC TGG GTC GAG GAG GGC GAG TGG CTG GTC AAG GCG TGAGCGAAGG 3038 His Arg Trp Val Glu Glu Gly Glu Trp Leu Val Lys Ala 610 615 620 AGGAAAAAGG AAACAAAGAG GGGGGGGGGG GCTAGTTCCT ATTTTTGCTT TTTTTTTTTG 3098 TTCTTGTCCT TGTGCTGGCG GTTACCCTGG TAAAGGAGAA GGGGGCCCCA AGTTCGAGTG 3158 GGTGTGTGAT CGGGTAAATA TTATCAAGAG ATCT 3192 (2) INFORMATION FOR SEQ ID NO:2: (i) SEQUENCE CHARACTERISTICS: (A) LENGTH: 620 amino acids (B) TYPE: amino acid (D) TOPOLOGY: linear (ii) MOLECULE TYPE: protein (xi) SEQUENCE DESCRIPTION: SEQ ID NO:2: Met Lys Ser Phe He Ser Ala Ala Thr Leu Leu Val Gly He Leu Thr 1 5 10 15 Pro Ser Val Ala Ala Ala Pro Pro Ser Thr Pro Glu Gin Arg Asp Leu 20 25 30 Leu Val Pro He Thr Glu Arg Glu Glu Ala Ala Val Lys Ala Arg Gin 35 40 45 Gin Ser Cys Asn Thr Pro Ser Asn Arg Ala Cys Trp Thr Asp Gly Tyr 50 55 60 Asp He Asn Thr Asp Tyr Glu Val Asp Ser Pro Asp Thr Gly Val Val 65 70 75 80 Arg Pro Tyr Thr Leu Thr Leu Thr Glu Val Asp Asn Trp Thr Gly Pro 85 90 95 Asp Gly Val Val Lys Glu Lys Val Met Leu Val Asn Asn Ser He He 100 105 110 Gly Pro Thr He Phe Ala Asp Trp Gly Asp Thr He Gin Val Thr Val 115 120 125 He Asn Asn Leu Glu Thr Asn Gly Thr Ser He His Trp His Gly Leu 130 135 140 His Gin Lys Gly Thr Asn Leu His Asp Gly Ala Asn Gly He Thr Glu 145 150 155 160 Cys Pro He Pro Pro Lys Gly Gly Arg Lys Val Tyr Arg Phe Lys Ala 165 170 175 Gin Gin Tyr Gly Thr Ser Trp Tyr His Ser His Phe Ser Ala Gin Tyr 180 185 190 Gly Asn Gly Val Val Gly Ala He Gin He Asn Gly Pro Ala Ser Leu 195 200 205 Pro Tyr Asp Thr Asp Leu Gly Val Phe Pro He Ser Asp Tyr Tyr Tyr 210 215 220 Ser Ser Ala Asp Glu Leu Val Glu Leu Thr Lys Asn Ser Gly Ala Pro 225 230 235 240 Phe Ser Asp Asn Val Leu Phe Asn Gly Thr Ala Lys His Pro Glu Thr 245 250 255 Gly Glu Gly Glu Tyr Ala Asn Val Thr Leu Thr Pro Gly Arg Arg His 260 265 270 Arg Leu Arg Leu He Asn Thr Ser Val Glu Asn His Phe Gin Val Ser 275 280 285 Leu Val Asn His Thr Met Thr He He Ala Ala Asp Met Val Pro Val 290 295 300 Asn Ala Met Thr Val Asp Ser Leu Phe Leu Gly Val Gly Gin Arg Tyr 305 310 315 320 Asp Val Val He Glu Ala Ser Arg Thr Pro Gly Asn Tyr Trp Phe Asn 325 330 335 Val Thr Phe Gly Gly Gly Leu Leu Cys Gly Gly Ser Arg Asn Pro Tyr 340 345 350 Pro Ala Ala He Phe His Tyr Ala Gly Ala Pro Gly Gly Pro Pro Thr 355 360 365 Asp Glu Gly Lys Ala Pro Val Asp His Asn Cys Leu Asp Leu Pro Asn 370 375 380 Leu Lys Pro Val Val Ala Arg Asp Val Pro Leu Ser Gly Phe Ala Lys 385 390 395 400 Arg Pro Asp Asn Thr Leu Asp Val Thr Leu Asp Thr Thr Gly Thr Pro 405 410 415 Leu Phe Val Trp Lys Val Asn Gly Ser Ala He Asn He Asp Trp Gly 420 425 430 Arg Pro Val Val Asp Tyr Val Leu Thr Gin Asn Thr Ser Phe Pro Pro 435 440 445 Gly Tyr Asn He Val Glu Val Asn Gly Ala Asp Gin Trp Ser Tyr Trp 450 455 460 Leu He Glu Asn Asp Pro Gly Ala Pro Phe Thr Leu Pro His Pro Met 465 470 475 480 His Leu His Gly His Asp Phe Tyr Val Leu Gly Arg Ser Pro Asp Glu 485 490 495 Ser Pro Ala Ser Asn Glu Arg His Val Phe Asp Pro Ala Arg Asp Ala 500 505 510 Gly Leu Leu Ser Gly Ala Asn Pro Val Arg Arg Asp Val Thr Met Leu 515 520 525 Pro Ala Phe Gly Trp Val Val Leu Ala Phe Arg Ala Asp Asn Pro Gly 530 535 540 Ala Trp Leu Phe His Cys His He Ala Trp His Val Ser Gly Gly Leu 545 550 555 560 Gly Val Val Tyr Leu Glu Arg Ala Asp Asp Leu Arg Gly Ala Val Ser 565 570 575 Asp Ala Asp Ala Asp Asp Leu Asp Arg Leu Cys Ala Asp Trp Arg Arg 580 585 590 Tyr Trp Pro Thr Asn Pro Tyr Pro Lys Ser Asp Ser Gly Leu Lys His 595 600 605 Arg Trp Val Glu Glu Gly Glu Trp Leu Val Lys Ala 610 615 620 INDICATIONS RELATING TO A DEPOSITED MICROORGANISM For International Bureau use only I I χ _ιs sheet was received with ihc International Bureau an: Au_hoπ___d officer

Claims: PATENT CLAIMS 1. A dyeing composition comprising a) above 0 to 1 mg enzyme protein per ml dyeing composition of microbial laccase, b) one or more dye precursor, and c) optionally one or more dye modifiers. 2. The dyeing composition according claims 1, wherein the laccase is presents in a concentration of from 0.0001 to l mg/ml, preferably 0.001 to 0.8 mg/ml, more preferred 0.002 to 0.5 mg/ml, even more preferred 0.003 to 0.2 mg/ml, especially 0.004 to 0.1 mg enzyme protein/ml dyeing composition. 3. The dyeing composition according to claims 1 and 2, wherein said microbial laccase is of filamentous fungus origin. 4. The dyeing composition according to claims 1 and 2, wherein the laccase is derived from a strain of the genus Myceliophthora , in particular a strain of species Myceliophthora thermophila, such as Myceliophthora thermophila NRRL B 21261, or variants thereof, such as the Tl variant. 5. The dyeing composition according to claim 4, wherein the laccase is encoding by the sequence shown in SEQ ID NO 1. 6. The dyeing composition according to claims 4 and 5, wherein the laccase is present in a concentration of from above 0 to 1 mg/ml, preferably 0.0001 to 0.1 mg/ml, more preferably 0.0005 to 0.05 mg/ml, especially 0.001 to 0.01 mg enzyme prot¬ ein/ml dyeing composition. 7. The dyeing composition according to any of claims 1 to 6, comprising a dye precursor selected from the group comprising p-phenylene-diamine (pPD) , p-toluylene-diamine (pTD) , chloro-p- phenylenedia ine, p-aminophenol, o-aminophenol, 3,4-diamino- toluene, 2-methyl-l,4-diaminobenzene, 4-methyl-o-phenylenedia- mine, 2-methoxy-p-phenylenediamine, 2-chloro-l,4-diamino-ben¬ zene, 4-amino diphenylamine, l-amino-4-β-methoxyethylamino-ben- zene, l-amino-4-bis-(β-hydroxyethyl) -amonibenzene, 1-3-diamino- benzene, 2-methyl-l, 3-diamino-benzene, 2,4-diaminotoluene, 2,6- diaminopyridine, l-hydroxy-2-amino-benzene, l-hydroxy-3-amino- benzene, l-methyl-2-hydroxy-4-amino-benzene, l-methyl-2-hydro- xy-4-β-hydroxyethylamino-benzene, l-hydroxy-4-amino-benzene, 1- hydroxy-4-methylamino-benzene, l-methoxy-2,4-diamino-benzene, l-ethoxy-2,3-diamino-benzene, l-β-hydroxyethyloxy-2,4-diamino- benzene, phenazines, such as 4,7-phenazinedicarboxylic acid, 2,7-phenazinedicarboxylic acid, 2-phenazinecarboxylic acid, 2,7-diaminophenazine, 2,8-diaminophenazine, 2,7-diamino-3,8- dimethoxyphenazine, 2,7-diamino-3-methoxyphenazine, 2,7-diamino 3-methoxyphenazine, 3-dimethyl 2,8-phenazinediamine, 2,2*-[(8- amino-7-methyl-2-phenazinyl) imino]bis-ethanol, 2,2 '-[ (8-amino- 7-methoxy-2-phenazinyl) imino]bis-ethanol, 2,2 '-[ (8-amino-7- chloro-2-phenazinyl) imino]bis-ethanol, 2-[ (8-amino-7-methyl-2- phenazinyl)amino]-ethanol, 2,2 '-[ (8-amino-2-phenazinyl) i ino]- bis-ethanol, 3-amino-7-(dimethylamino) -2,8-dimethyl-5-phenyl- chloride, 9-(diethylamino)- benzo[a]phenazine-l, 5-diol, N-[8- (diethylamino)-2-phenazinyl]- methanesulfona ide, N-(8-metho- xy-2-phenazinyl)-methanesulfonamide, N,N,N' ,N'-tetramethyl-2,7- phenazinediamine, 3,7-dimethyl-2-phenazinamine, p-amino benzoic acids, such as p-amino benzoic acid ethyl, p-amino benzoic acid glycerid, p-amino benzoic acid isobutyl, p-dimethylamino benzoic acid amil, p-dimethylamino benzoic acid octyl, p- diethoxy amino benzoic amil, p-dipropoxy amino benzoic acid ethyl, acetylsalicylic acid, isatin derivatives, such as 2,3- diamino benzoic acid. 8. The dyeing composition according to any of claims 1 to 7, comprising a dye modifier selected from the group comprising m- phenylene-diamine, 2,4-diaminoanisole, l-hydroxynaphthalene(α- naphthol) , l,4-dihydroxybenzene(hydroquinone) , 1, 5-dihydroxy- napthalene, 1,2-dihydroxybenzene(pyrocatechol) , 1,3-dihydro- xybenzene (resorcinol) , 1,3-dihydroxy-2-methylbenzene, 1,3- dihydroxy-4-chlorobenzene (4-chlororesorcinol), 1,2,3,trihydro- xybenzene, 1,2,4-trihydroxybenzene, 1,2,4-trihydroxy-5-methyl- benzene, 1,2,4-trihydroxytoluene. 9. Use of the composition according to claim 1 to 8 for permanent dyeing of keratinous fibres, such as hair, fur, hide or wool. 10. A method for dying keratinous fibres comprising contacting a dyeing composition according to claims 1 to 8 to the keratinous fibres under suitable conditions and for a period of time sufficient to permit oxidation of the dye precursor into a coloured compound. 11. The method according to claim 10, wherein the dyeing procedure is carried out at a pH in the range from 3 to 10, preferably 5 to 9, especially 6 to 8. 12. The method wherein according to claims 10 and 11, wherein the procedure is carried out for a period of time between 10 and 60 minutes, preferably 15 to 50 minutes, especially 20 to 40 minutes.

Inventors: AASLYNG DORRIT, ROERBAEK KAREN, SOERENSEN NIELS HENRIK, AASLYNG, DORRIT, ROERBAEK, KAREN, SOERENSEN, NIELS, HENRIK
Applicants: AASLYNG DORRIT, NOVONORDISK AS, ROERBAEK KAREN, SOERENSEN NIELS HENRIK, AASLYNG, DORRIT, NOVO NORDISK A/S, ROERBAEK, KAREN, SOERENSEN, NIELS, HENRIK
Application year: 1996
Main classification: C09B67
IPC codes: A61K8, A61Q5, C09B59, C09B67, C12N9, D06P1, D06P3