Variants of chymosin with improved ? S1-casein cleavage and C/P properties.

A novel dairy product that has a certain solidity and a favorable flavor is provided. A dairy product, including: a milk-derived raw material containing casein; and a protein consisting of an amino acid sequence having 90% or more identity to the amino acid sequence represented by SEQ ID NO: 1.

Disclosed herein are methods of acidifying milk comprising adding at least one microorganism belonging to the Kingdom Fungi to milk. In certain embodiments, the milk is acidified to a pH of less than about 6. Also disclosed are methods of making a dairy product comprising milk, wherein the milk is acidified using at least one microorganism belonging to the Kingdom Fungi to acidify milk. Further disclosed are dairy products, such as cheese, made by acidifying milk using at least one microorganism belonging to the Kingdom Fungi.

Variants of chymosin with improved properties.

Blends of coagulants to control acidification, coagulation and cheese texture.

A process for manufacturing semi-hard cheese, wherein skimmed milk enriched in fat and proteins, but depleted in lactose is subjected to coagulation without the need for pre-drainage of whey and any washing operations.

Variants of chymosin with improved milk-clotting properties.

A variant polypeptide having chymosin activity, wherein the variant has an amino acid sequence which, when aligned with the chymosin comprising the sequence set out in SEQ ID NO: 2, comprises at least one substitution of an amino acid residue corresponding to any of amino acids 2, 22, 40, 48, 50, 51, 53, 61, 62, 76, 88, 98, 99, 109, 112, 117, 125, 126, 135, 144, 160, 161, 163, 187, 189, 194, 200, 201, 202, 203, 221, 223, 240, 242, 244, 254, 267, 271, 273, 278, 280, 284, 289, 292, 294 or 295 said positions being defined with reference to SEQ ID NO: 2 and wherein the variant has one or more altered properties as compared with a reference polypeptide having chymosin activity. Such a variant polypeptide may be used in the preparation of a cheese.

An object of the present invention is to provide a novel method for producing cheese or a cheese-like food. A method for producing cheese or a cheese-like food.

A liquid or dried granulated milk clotting aspartic protease enzyme composition comprising added polypeptides/proteins. The polypeptides/proteins may be animal-derived (e.g. whey, lactalbumin, transferrin, casein, ovalbumin, gelatin, blood), vegetable-derived (soy, pea, corn, potato, hemp, rice, wheat, peanut, sun flower, rape seed) or algae proteins (e.g. spirulina). Addition of protein in several instances increases activity of the enzyme and simultaneously improves physical stability.