(19)

(11)

EP 1 179 071 A2

(12)

(88) Date of publication A3: 01.03.2001 (43) Date of publication: 13.02.2002 Bulletin 2002/07 (21) Application number: 00931260.4 (22) Date of filing: 22.05.2000

(51) International Patent Classification (IPC)7: C12N 15/31, C12N 15/80, C12N 1/19, C07K 14/385, C12P 37/00 // C12R1/82 (86) International application number: PCT/EP0004/718 (87) International publication number: WO 0071/579 (30.11.2000 Gazette 2000/48)

(84) Designated Contracting States: AT BE CH CY DE DK ES FI FR GB GR IE IT LI LU MC NL PT SE Designated Extension States: AL LT LV MK RO SI (30) Priority: 21.05.1999 EP 99201630 (71) Applicant: DSM N.V. 6411 TE Heerlen (NL)

(72) Inventors: BOVENBERG, Roelof, Ary, Lans NL-3062 ZD Rotterdam (NL) VAN DEN BERG, Marco, Alexander NL-2565 SH Den Haag (NL) NIEBOER, Maarten NL-2645 GZ Delfgauw (NL) VEENHUIS, Marten NL-9752 JL Haren (NL) KIEL, Jan, Andries, Kornelis, Willem NL-9728 VV Groningen (NL) VAN DER KLEI, Ida, Johanna NL-9765 BA Paterswolde (NL) (74) Representative: Breepoel, Peter M., Dr.  DSM Patents & Trademarks, Office Delft (994-0760), P.O. Box 1 2600 MA Delft 2600 MA Delft (NL)