Showing papers on "Xylanase published in 1991"

Thermostable enzymes for industrial applications

Abstract: The variety of thermostable (TS) enzymes has been steadily increasing for use in industrial applications, mainly as replacements for thermolabile (TL) enzymes. For example, TS amylases fromBacillus licheniformis andBacillus stearothermophilus have replaced TL amylases fromBacillus subtilis. TS enzymes also have advantages in new areas such as cyclodextrin production. The TS cyclodextrin glycosyl transferase (CGTase) fromThermoanaerobacter sp. (95°C optimum) gives a higher productivity than the CGTase fromBacillus macerans (55°C optimum). In the area of enzymatic bleach boosting of wood pulps, a TS xylanase (Myceliophera thermophila) would be advantageous over a TL xylanase (Trichoderma reesei), due to the high temperature of the incoming pulp. Not all TS enzymes are from thermophiles; the mesophileCandida antarctica produces a TS lipase which has a temperature optimum of 90°C when immobilized. The characterization of these enzymes will be described along with comparisons to some newly described TS enzymes.

An extremely thermostable xylanase from the thermophilic eubacterium Thermotoga.

Abstract: Endo-1,4-beta-xylanase (EC 3.2.1.8) was isolated from the culture supernatant of Thermotoga sp. strain FjSS3-B.1, an extremely thermophilic anaerobic eubacterium which grows optimally at 80 degrees C. Activity was purified 165-fold by anion-exchange and hydroxyapatite chromatography. The enzyme has an Mr of 31,000 as determined by SDS/PAGE and 35,000 by analytical gel filtration. The optima for activity and stability for purified xylanase were between pH 5.0 and 5.5. At pH 5.5, which is the optimum pH for thermostability, t1/2 (95 degrees C) is 90 min. The thermostability was improved by immobilization of the xylanase on to porous glass beads; t1/2 (105 degrees C) is 10 min. Several additives, such as sorbitol and xylan, were also found to increase the thermostability. At 130 degrees C, the half-life of immobilized xylanase in the presence of 90% sorbitol was 1.3 min. At 130 degrees C in molten sorbitol half of the enzyme denatured rapidly, but the remainder appeared to have a half-life of about 60 min.

Purification and Cooperative Activity of Enzymes Constituting the Xylan-Degrading System of Thermomonospora fusca.

Abstract: The thermophilic actinomycete Thermomonospora fusca produced endoxylanase, alpha-arabinofuranosidase, beta-xylosidase, and acetyl esterase activities maximally during growth on xylan Growth yields on glucose, xylose, or arabinose were comparable, but production of endoxylanase and beta-xylosidase was not induced on these substrates The crude xylanase activity was thermostable and relatively resistant to end product inhibition by xylobiose and xylan hydrolysis products Six proteins with xylanase activity were identified by zymogram analysis of isoelectric focusing gels, but only a 32-kDa protein exhibiting three isomeric forms could be purified by fast protein liquid chromatography Endoglucanases were also identified in carboxymethylcellulose-grown cultures, and their distinction from endoxylanases was confirmed alpha-Arabinofuranosidase activity was due to a single dimeric protein of 92 kDa, which was particularly resistant to end product inhibition by arabinose Three bands of acetyl esterase activity were detected by zymogram analysis, and there was evidence that these mainly consisted of an intracellular 80-kDa protein secreted to yield active 40-kDa subunits in the culture supernatant The acetyl esterases were found to be responsible for acetyl xylan esterase activity in T fusca, in contrast to the distinction proposed in some other systems The addition of purified betaxylosidase to endoxylanase increased the hydrolysis of xylan, probably by relieving end product inhibition The enhanced saccharification of wheat straw caused by the addition of purified alpha-arabinofuranosidase to T fusca endoxylanase suggested a truly synergistic relationship, in agreement with proposals that arabinose side groups on the xylan chain participate in cross-linking within the plant cell wall structure

Two beta-glycanase genes are clustered in Bacillus polymyxa: molecular cloning, expression, and sequence analysis of genes encoding a xylanase and an endo-beta-(1,3)-(1,4)-glucanase.

Abstract: Two genes, xynD and gluB, encoding a xylanase and an endo-beta-(1,3)-(1,4)-glucanase (lichenase) from Bacillus polymyxa have been cloned and expressed in Escherichia coli and Bacillus subtilis. A sequenced DNA fragment of 4,466 bp contains both genes, which are separated by 155 bp. The xynD and gluB genes encode proteins of 67.8 kDa (XYND) and 27 kDa (GLUB). Two peptides with molecular masses of 62 and 53 kDa appear in cell extracts of E. coli and culture supernatants of B. subtilis clones containing the xynD gene. Both peptides show xylanase activity in zymogram analysis. The XYND enzyme also shows alpha-L-arabinofuranosidase activity. The XYND peptide and the xylanase XYNZ from Clostridium thermocellum (O. Grepinet, M. C. Chebrou, and P. Beguin, J. Bacteriol. 170:4582-4588, 1988) show 64% homology in a stretch of about 280 amino acids.

Identification of a specific manganese peroxidase among ligninolytic enzymes secreted by Phanerochaete chrysosporium during wood decay.

Abstract: The specific enzymes associated with lignin degradation in solid lignocellulosic substrates have not been identified. Therefore, we examined extracts of cultures of Phanerochaete chrysosporium that were degrading a mechanical pulp of aspen wood. Western blot (immunoblot) analyses of the partially purified protein revealed lignin peroxidase, manganese-dependent peroxidase (MnP), and glyoxal oxidase. The dominant peroxidase, an isoenzyme of MnP (pI 4.9), was isolated, and its N-terminal amino acid sequence and amino acid composition were determined. The results reveal both similarities to and differences from the deduced amino acid sequences from cDNA clones of dominant MnP isoenzymes from liquid cultures. Our results suggest, therefore, that the ligninolytic-enzyme-encoding genes that are expressed during solid substrate degradation differ from those expressed in liquid culture or are allelic variants of their liquid culture counterparts. In addition to lignin peroxidase, MnP, and glyoxal oxidase, xylanase and protease activities were present in the extracts of the degrading pulp.

Isolation and characterization of p-coumaroyl esterase from the anaerobic fungus Neocallimastix strain MC-2.

Abstract: An extracellular p-coumaroyl esterase produced by the anaerobic fungus Neocallimastix strain MC-2 released p-coumaroyl groups from 0-[5-0-((E)-p-coumaroyl)-alpha-L-arabinofuranosyl]-(1----3)-0-beta -D-xylopyranosyl-(1----4)-D-xylopyranose (PAXX). The esterase was purified 121-fold from culture medium in successive steps involving ultrafiltration column chromatography on S-sepharose and hydroxylapatite, isoelectric focusing, and gel filtration. The native enzyme had an apparent mass of 11 kDa under nondenaturing conditions and a mass of 5.8 kDa under denaturing conditions, suggesting that the enzyme may exist as a dimer. The isoelectric point was 4.7, and the pH optimum was 7.2. The purified esterase had 100 times more activity towards PAXX than towards the analogous feruloyl ester (FAXX). The apparent Km and Vmax of the purified p-coumaroyl esterase for PAXX at pH 7.2 and 40 degrees C were 19.4 microM and 5.1 microM min(-1), respectively. p-Coumaroyl tetrasaccharides isolated from plant cell walls were hydrolyzed at rates similar to that for PAXX, whereas a dimer of PAXX was hydrolyzed at a rate 20-fold lower, yielding 4,4'-dihydroxy-alpha-truxillic acid as an end product. Ethyl and methyl p-coumarates were hydrolyzed at very slow rates, if at all. The purified esterase released p-coumaroyl groups from finely, but not coarsely, ground plant cell walls, and this activity was enhanced by the addition of xylanase and other cell wall-degrading enzymes.

Kinetics of wheat straw solid-state fermentation with Trametes versicolor and Pleurotus ostreatus — lignin and polysaccharide alteration and production of related enzymatic activities

Abstract: The kinetics of straw solid-state fermentation (SSF) with Trametes versicolor and Pleurotus ostreatus was investigated to characterize the delignification processes by these white-rot fungi. Two successive phases could be defined during straw transformation, characterized by changes in respiratory activity, changes in lignin and polysaccharide content and composition, increase in in-vitro digestibility, and enzymatic activities produced by the fungi. Lignin composition was analysed after CuO alkaline degradation, and decreases in syringyl/guaiacyl and syringyl/p-hydroxyphenyl ratios and cinnamic acid content were observed during the fungal treatment. An increase in the phenolic acid yield, revealing fungal degradation of side-chains in lignin, was produced by P. ostreatus. The highest xylanase level was produced by P. ostreatus, and exocellulase activity was nearly absent from straw treated with this fungus. Lactase activity was found in straw treated with both fungi, but lignin peroxidase was only detected during the initial phase of straw transformation with T. versicolor. High levels of H2O2-producing aryl-alcohol oxidase occurred throughout the straw SSF with P. ostreatus.

Xylanase production by Aspergillus awamori. Development of a medium and optimization of the fermentation parameters for the production of extracellular xylanase and beta-xylosidase while maintaining low protease production.

Abstract: A growth medium was developed for maximal production in batch culture of extracellular xylanase and β-xylosidase by Aspergillus awamori CMI 142717 and a mutant (AANTG 43) derived from the wild-type strain. The optimum pH for the production of xylanase and β-xylosidase was 4.0. The best temperature of xylanase production was 30°C; 35°C was optimal for β-xylosidase. Protease production was never completely suppressed under any of the conditions tested. However, protease titre was 3.5-fold less than the control in medium in which proteose peptone and yeast extract were omitted: the level of xylanase was not affected (8.6 U mL−1) but β-xylosidase titre was increased 4.7-fold to 1.5 U mL−1. When corn steep liquor was used as the sole nitrogen source, xylanse and β-xylosidase titres were further increased by 1.5- and 1.9-fold, respectively. Of the carbon sources investigated, ball-milled oat straw or oat spelt xylan produced the highest titres of xylanse and β-xylosidase. None of the soluble carbon sources investigated produced the high titres of xylanase or β-xylosidase induced by either oat straw for xylanse and β-xylosidase was 2% and the optimum spore inoculum was between 106 and 107 spores/mL−1 final concentration. The level of xylanse activity obtained in the culture filtrates of the mutant was a remarkable 820 U mL−1 when the reducing sugar released was measured by the dinitrosalicylic acid method. This enzyme titre would appear to be the highest reported so far. The xylanases system contained the correct balance of enzymes to effect extensive hydrolysis of oat spelt xylan. The protease titre was very low.

An analysis of the extracellular xylanases and cellulases of Butyrivibrio fibrisolvens H17c.

Abstract: The extracellular xylanase and cellulase components of Butyrivibrio fibrisolvens H17c were investigated. Two major peaks of enzyme activity were eluted by hydroxylapatite chromatography and designated complex A (CA), having cellulase activity, and complex B (CB) having predominantly xylanase activity but with some activity on carboxymethyl cellulose (CMC). CB was further purified on a DE-52 column and subjected to gel filtration. The xylanase and CMCase activities eluted in a single peak with an apparent molecular mass greater than thyroglobulin (Mr 669 000). CMC xymograms of polyacrylamide gels electrophoresed under non-denaturing conditions indicated the presence of five bands with CMCase activity from CA and eight from CB. Xylan xymograms under the same conditions indicated the presence of four bands of activity in CB. Under mild denaturing conditions the xylanase activity in CB was found in 11 bands with molecular mass ranging from 45 to 180 and the CMCase activity in three bands with molecular mass ranging from 45 kDa to 60 kDa. This indicates that CB exists as a multi-subunit protein aggregate of xylanases, some of which also have cellulase activity.

Production, Purification, and Characterization of β-(1-4)-Endoxylanase of Streptomyces roseiscleroticus

Abstract: Twelve species of Streptomyces that formerly belonged to the genus Chainia were screened for the production of xylanase and cellulase. One species, Streptomyces roseiscleroticus (Chainia rosea) NRRL B-11019, produced up to 16.2 IU of xylanase per ml in 48 h. A xylanase from S. roseiscleroticus was purified and characterized. The enzyme was a debranching beta-(1-4)-endoxylanase showing high activity on xylan but essentially no activity against acid-swollen (Walseth) cellulose. It had a very low apparent molecular weight of 5,500 by native gel filtration, but its denatured molecular weight was 22,600 by sodium dodecyl sulfate-polyacrylamide gel electrophoresis. It had an isoelectric point of 9.5. The pH and temperature optima for hydrolysis of arabinoxylan were 6.5 to 7.0 and 60 degrees C, respectively, and more than 75% of the optimum enzyme activity was retained at pH 8.0. The xylanase had a K(m) of 7.9 mg/ml and an apparent V(max) of 305 mumol . min . mg of protein. The hydrolysis rate was linear for xylan concentrations of less than 4 mg/ml, but significant inhibition was observed at xylan concentrations of more than 10 mg/ml. The predominant products of arabinoxylan hydrolysis included arabinose, xylobiose, and xylotriose.

Low-molecular-weight xylanase from Trichoderma viride.

Abstract: An endo-1,4-beta-xylanase (1,4-beta-D-xylan xylanohydrolase, EC 3.2.1.8) has been isolated from a commercial preparation of Trichoderma viride. The molecular weight was 22,000 by sodium dodecyl sulfate-polyacrylamide gel electrophoresis, and the pI value was 9.3. The xylanase was a true xylanase without cellulase activity. When the N-terminal amino acid sequence of the first 50 residues was compared with that of a xylanase from Schizophyllum commune, strong evidence for homology was found, with more than 50% amino acid identity. T. viride xylanase also possessed extensive identity with a proposed amino-terminal consensus sequence of xylanases from bacteria.

Allergy from cellulase and xylanase enzymes.

Abstract: Modern biotechnical methods have enabled production of many new types of potentially allergenic proteins. Enzymes have long been known to be respiratory allergens, but relatively few cases of skin allergy have been reported. Here we describe four patients who developed occupational allergic respiratory symptoms, three with bronchial asthma and one with allergic rhinitis, caused by cellulase and/or xylanase enzymes. Each patient also had urticarial symptoms after skin contact with these enzymes. In addition, one of the patients had allergic contact dermatitis from cellulase, and one from xylanase. Allergic contact dermatitis was verified by positive patch tests with the enzymes, and the immediate allergy was revealed by skin prick tests, specific IgE determinations (RAST) and RAST-inhibition tests. All patients had positive RASTs to both cellulase and xylanase. In the RAST inhibition test 20 microliters of cellulase brought about a 94% inhibition, indicating the specificity of the RAST. Xylanase (20 microliters, 5% w/v) gave an 92% inhibition of cellulase RAST, indicating cross-reactivity between cellulase and xylanase. Three patients have been able to continue at their previous places of work, but at different worksites. One of the patients requires continuous medication for asthma and had to change her job because of persistent symptoms.

Expression of two xylanase genes from the rumen cellulolytic bacterium Ruminococcus flavefaciens 17 cloned in pUC13.

Abstract: Summary: Two distinct xylanase genes (designated xynA and xynB) were subcloned in pUC13 from non-homologous restriction fragments of Ruminococcus flavefaciens 17 DNA originally isolated in olD EMBL3. The products of the two genes showed similar pH optima for hydrolysis of oat spelt xylan (around 5·5) and had little or no activity against carboxymethylcellulose. Trace activities against p-nitrophenyl (pNP) cellobioside and pNP-xyloside were detected in clones containing xynA, but not in one harbouring xynB. The xylanase associated with clones carrying xynA produced mainly xylobiose and xylose from xylan and did not give hydrolysis of xylobiose, while that encoded by xynB produced mainly xylobiose and higher xylo-oligosaccharides from xylan. There was evidence of increased expression, at the RNA level, of these two genes, and of another cloned region encoding multiple activities including xylanase, in R. flavefaciens 17 grown with xylan, as compared with cellobiose, as energy source. Total cell-associated xylanase and β-xylosidase activities, and supernatant xylanase activity, were shown to be similarly induced in xylan-grown R. flavefaciens, 17.

Xylanase enzymes promote pulp bleaching

Abstract: On passe en revue les possibilites de blanchiment des pâtes kraft a l'aide d'hemicellulases en vue de reduire la consommation de chlore: mecanismes du pretraitement enzymatique, comparaison des enzymes commerciales disponibles, considerations economiques

Purification and properties of an extracellular xylanase from the thermophilic fungus Humicola grisea var. thermoidea

Abstract: Humicola grisea var. thermoidea mycelium grown on xylan as the sole source of carbon produced at least two extracellular xylanases. The main xylanolytic component (form 2; 90% of recovered activity...

Cloning, sequencing and expression of a gene encoding a 73 kDa xylanase enzyme from the rumen anaerobe Butyrivibrio fibrisolvens H17c

Abstract: The cloning, expression and nucleotide sequence of a 3 kb DNA segment on pLS206 containing a xylanase gene (xynB) from Butyrivibrio fibrisolvens H17c was investigated. The open reading frame (ORF) of 1905 by encoded a xylanase of 635 amino acid residues (Mr 73156). At least 850 by at the 3′ end of the gene could be deleted without loss of xylanase activity. The deduced amino acid sequence was confirmed by purifying the enzyme and subjecting it to N-terminal amino acid sequence analysis. In Escherichia coli C600 (pLS206) cells the xylanase was localized in the cytoplasm. Its optimum pH for activity was between pH 5.4 and 6, and optimum temperature 55° C. The primary structure of the xylanase showed a significant level of identity with a cellobiohydrolase/endoglucanase of Caldocellum saccharolyticum, as well as with the xylanases of the alkaliphilic Bacillus sp. strain C-125, B. fibrisolvens strain 49, and Pseudomonas fluorescens subsp. cellulosa.

Fermentation of cellulose and production of cellulolytic and xylanolytic enzymes by anaerobic fungi from ruminant and non-ruminant herbivores.

Abstract: Four anaerobic fungi were grown on filter paper cellulose and monitored over a 7-8 days period for substrate utilisation, fermentation products, and secretion of cellulolytic and xylanolytic enzymes. Two of the fungi (N1 and N2) were Neocallimastix species isolated from a ruminant (sheep) and the other two fungi were Piromyces species (E2 and R1) isolated from an Indian Elephant and an Indian Rhinoceros, respectively. The tested anaerobic fungi degraded the filter paper cellulose almost completely and estimated cellulose digestion rates were 0.25, 0.13, 0.21 and 0.18 g.l-1.h-1 for strains E2, N1, N2, R1, respectively. All strains secreted cellulolytic and xylanolytic enzymes, including endoglucanase, exoglucanase, beta-glucosidase and xylanase. Strain E2 secreted the highest levels of enzymes in a relatively short time. The product formation on avicel by enzymes secreted by the four fungi was studied. Both in the presence and absence of glucurono-1,5-delta-lactone, a specific inhibitor of beta-glucosidase, mainly glucose was formed but no cellobiose. Therefore the exoglucanase secreted by the four fungi is probably a glucohydrolase.

Xylan-hydrolysing enzymes from thermophilic and mesophilic fungi.

Abstract: Screening of 40 mesophilic and 13 thermophilic fungi indicated that enzyme activities capable of degrading oat spelt xylan extensively were produced by only a few of the mesophilic species investigated. The relatively low degree of hydrolysis effected by the enzymes from thermophilic organisms could be explained, in part, by their lack of β-xylosidase. Several strains of Aspergillus awamori and Aspergillus phoenicis were notable in producing high xylanase and β-xylosidase and low protease activities. Of the fungl tested, 13 produced activities capable of removing O-acetyl, arabinosyl, 4-O-methylglucuronyl, feruloyl and coumaroyl substituents from the backbone of xylan polysaccharides as well as endo-1,4-β-d-xylanase and β-1,4-xylosidase. When the growth medium contained oat spelt xylan as carbon source, higher levels of xylanase, β-xylosidase and acetyl xylan esterase were found than in cultures containing meadow fescue grass but the latter were richer in ferulic acid and coumaric acid esterases and 4-O-methylglucuronidase. No single organism or carbon source used was capabie of producing high levels of all the debranching enzymes as well as high levels of enzymes capable of cleaving the glycosidic linkages of the xylan backbone. The best ballnce of enzymes was obtained in cultures of A. awamori IMI 142717 and NRRL 2276 and A. phoenicis IMI 214827. Either of these would be suitable for strain improvement studies.

Production and properties of xylanases from thermophilic actinomycetes

Abstract: 30 strains of xylanolytic thermophilic actinomycetes were isolated from composted grass and cattle manure and identified as members of the generaThermomonospora, Saccharomonospora, Microbispora, Streptomyces andActinomadura. Screening of these strains for extracellular xylanase indicated that strains ofSaccharomonospora andMicrobispora generally were poor xylanase producers (0.5–1.5 U/ml) whereas relatively high activities were observed in cultures ofStreptomyces andActionomadura (4–12 U/ml). A preliminary characterization of the enzymes of strains of the latter genera suggested that xylanases of all the strains ofActinomadura exhibited higher thermostabilities than those ofStreptomyces. To evaluate the potential of thermophilicActinomadura for industrial applications, xylanases of three strains were studied in more detail. The highest activity levels for xylanases were observed in cultures grown on xylan and wheat bran. The optimal pH and temperature for xylanase activities ranged from 6.0 to 7.0 and 70 to 80°C. The enzymes exhibited considerable thermostability at their optimum temperature. The half-lives at 75°C were in the range from 6.5 to 17h. Hydrolysis of xylan by extracellular xylanases yielded xylobiose, xylose and arabinose as principal products. Estimated by the amount of reducing sugars liberated the degree of hydrolysis was 55 to 65%. Complete utilization of xylan is presumably achieved by β-xylosidase activities which could be shown to be largely cell-associated in the 3Actinomadura strains.

Optimization of cellulase production by Aspergillus niger NCIM 1207.

Abstract: Aspergillus niger NCIM 1207 produces high levels of extracellular β-glucosidase and xylanase activities in submerged fermentation Among the nitrogen sources, ammonium sulfate, ammonium dihy-drogen orthophosphate, and corn-steep liquor were the best for the production of cellulolytic enzymes by A niger The optimum pH and temperature for cellulase production were 30-55 and 28°C, respectively The cellulase complex of this strain was found to undergo catabolite repression in the presence of high concentrations of glucose Glycerol at all concentrations caused catabolite repression of cellulase production The addition of glucose (up to 1% concentration) enhanced the production of cellulolytic enzymes, but a higher concentration of glucose effected the pronounced repression of enzymes Generally the growth on glucose- or glycerol-containing medium was accompanied by a sudden drop in the pH of the fermentation medium to 20

Purification and characterization of an endoxylanase from Trichoderma koningii G-39

Abstract: Trichoderma koningii G-39 produced xylanases in submerged culture using oat spelt xylan or crystalline cellulose, Avicel, as the sole carbon source. A low-Mr xylanase was purified from the culture filtrate by ion-exchange chromatography on SP-Trisacryl-M and gel filtration on Fractogel TSK HW-50F. It was homogeneous on SDS/PAGE and isoelectric focusing. A typical procedure provided about 11-fold purification with 4.5% protein yield and 50% activity recovery. The purified enzyme has an Mr value of about 21,500 and a pI of 8.9. Its specific activity was 6100 units/mg of protein, with optimal activity towards 0.5% xylan at about pH 5.5 and 60 degrees C. The purified enzyme had no activity against CM-cellulose with a degree of substitution of 0.63. It also showed no beta-xylosidase activity. The Km and Vmax. values, as determined with the soluble fraction of oat spelt xylan as substrate, were 0.70 mg/ml and 1.85 x 10(6) mumol/min per mg of enzyme respectively. Hg2+ (1 mM) and SDS (10 mM) completely inhibited xylanase activity, whereas Ca2+ showed no significant effect on the enzyme activity at 1 mM, but gave 80% inhibition at 10 mM. The enzyme contained about 4.4% carbohydrate and showed an immunological relationship to a cellobiohydrolase from the same fungal strain.

The characteristics of a new non‐spore‐forming cellulolytic mesophilic anaerobe strain CM126 isolated from municipal sewage sludge

Abstract: A new mesophilic anaerobic cellulolytic bacterium, CM126, was isolated from an anaerobic sewage sludge digester. The organism was non-spore-forming, rod-shaped, Gram-negative and motile with peritrichous flagella. It fermented microcrystalline Avicel cellulose, xylan, Solka floc cellulose, filter paper, L-arabinose, D-xylose, beta-methyl xyloside, D-glucose, cellobiose and xylitol and produced indole. The % G + C content was 36. Acetic acid, ethanol, lactic acid, pyruvic acid, carbon dioxide and hydrogen were produced as metabolic products. This strain could grow at 20-44.5 degrees C and at pH values 5.2-7.4 with optimal growth at 37-41.5 degrees C and pH 7. Both endoglucanase and xylanase were detected in the supernatant fluid of a culture grown on medium containing Avicel cellulose and cellobiose. Exoglucanase could not be found in either supernatant fluid or the cell lysate. When cellulose and cellobiose fermentation were compared, the enzyme production rate in cellobiose fermentation was higher than in cellulose fermentation. The optimum pH for both enzyme activities was 5.0, the optimum temperature was 40 degrees C for the endoglucanase and 50 degrees C for the xylanase. Both enzyme activities were inhibited at 70 degrees C Co-culture of this organism with a Methanosarcina sp. (A145) had no effect on cellulose degradation and both endoglucanase and xylanase were stable in the co-culture.

Purification and characterization of two xylanases from Trichoderma longibrachiatum.

Abstract: Two endoxylanases were purified from the culture medium of Trichoderma longibrachiatum. Both enzymes were highly basic, and lacked activity on carboxymethyl-cellulose. An enzyme of 21.5 kDa (xylanase A) had a specific activity of 510 U/mg protein, a Km of 0.15 mg soluble xylan/ml, possessed transglycosidase activity and generated xylobiose and xylotriose as the major endproducts from xylan or xylose oligomers. A larger enzyme of 33 kDa (xylanase B) had a specific activity of 131 U/mg protein, a Km of 0.19 mg soluble xylan/ml, lacked detectable transglycosidase activity and generated xylobiose and xylose as major endproducts from xylan and xylose oligomers. Xylotriose was the smallest oligomer attacked by both enzymes. In addition, xylotriose inhibited hydrolysis of xylopentanose by both enzymes, while xylobiose appeared to inhibit xylanase B, but not xylanase A.

The interaction of xylanases with commercial pulps.

Abstract: When purified xylanases from Trichoderma harzianum E58 or from a clone of Bacillus circulans were incubated with various low-yield wood pulps, little of the original enzyme activity could be detected in the filtrate at the end of the reaction. Partial bleaching of the pulps prior to enzymatic treatment generally resulted in an increased recovery of the xylanase activity. It appears that both nonspecific adsorption and soluble inhibitors may be responsible for the loss of much of the xylanase activity. However, xylanases from Aureobasidium pullulans and Schizophyllum commune were not as inhibited by the pulps, and the activity of the latter enzyme actually increased after incubation with several high-yield pulps. Although a lignin preparation from spent sulfite liquor at a concentration of 0.06 mg/mL could inhibit the xylanase activity of T. harzianum and B. circulans by 65% and 50%, respectively, xylanases from Thermoascus aurantiacus, S. commune, and A. pullulans were activated at similar lignin concentrations. At higher concentrations these latter xylanases were also inhibited. Water-soluble lignins extracted from a variety of pulps and used at a lignin concentration of 2.5 mug/mL resulted in inhibition of more than 65% of the original activity of the xylanase from T. harzianum. Kinetic studies showed that lignin from spent sulfite liquor resulted in noncompetitive inhibition of this enzyme.

Purification and properties of two xylanases from Aspergillus oryzae

Abstract: Culture filtrates of Aspergillus foetidus VTT-D-71002, A. oryzae VTT-D-85248, and A. fumigatus VTT-D-82195 contained two proteins harboring xylanase activity and a single β-xylosidase. The two xylanases of A. oryzae were purified to homogeneity by two-stage ion exchange chromatography on DEAE- and CM Sepharose. Both xylanases hydrolyzed soluble 4-O-methylglucuronoxylan with apparently equal efficiency, but xylanase I (pI 7.0) was considerably more effective in the hydrolysis of insoluble, unsubstituted xylan than xylanase II (pI 4.9)

α-Glucuronidase and Other Hemicellulase Activities of Fibrobacter succinogenes S85 Grown on Crystalline Cellulose or Ball-Milled Barley Straw

Abstract: Fibrobacter succinogenes produces an α-glucuronidase which cleaves 4-O-methyl-α-d-glucuronic acid from birch wood 4-O-methyl-α-d-glucuronoxylan Very low levels of α-glucuronidase activity were detected in extracellular enzyme preparations of F succinogenes on birch wood xylan substrate The release of 4-O-methyl-α-d-glucuronic acid was enhanced when the birch wood xylan substrate was predigested by either a purified Schizophyllum commune xylanase or a cloned F succinogenes S85 xylanase These data suggest that the α-glucuronidase is unable to cleave 4-O-methyl-α-d-glucuronic acid from intact xylan but can act on unique low-molecular-weight glucuronoxylan fragments created by the cloned F succinogenes xylanase The cloned xylanase presumably must account for a small proportion of the indigenous xylanase activity of F succinogenes cultures, since this xylanase source does not support high glucuronidase activity The α-glucuronidase and associated hemicellulolytic enzymes exhibited higher activities in culture fluid from cells grown on ball-milled barley straw than in that of cellulose-grown cells The profile of xylanases separated by isoelectric focusing (zymogram) of culture filtrate from cells grown on barley straw was more complex than that of culture filtrates from cells grown on cellulose These data demonstrate that F succinogenes produces an α-glucuronidase with an exacting substrate specificity which enables extensive cleavage of glucuronic acid residues from xylan as a consequence of synergistic xylanase action