The hydrolysis of agro-industrial residues by holocellulose-degrading enzymes

Holocellulose structures from agro-industrial residues rely on main and side chain attacking enzymes with different specificities for complete hydrolysis. Combinations of crude enzymatic extracts from different fungal species, including Aspergillus terreus, Aspergillus oryzae, Aspergillus niger and Trichoderma longibrachiatum, were applied to sugar cane bagasse, banana stem and dirty cotton residue to investigate the hydrolysis of holocellulose structures. A. terreus and A. oryzae were the best producers of FPase and xylanase activities. A combination of A. terreus and A. oryzae extracts in a 50% proportion provided optimal hydrolysis of dirty cotton residue and banana stem. For the hydrolysis of sugar cane bagasse, the best results were obtained with samples only containing A. terreus crude extract.

Production and characterization of an enzyme complex from a new strain of Clostridium thermocellum with emphasis on its xylanase activity

A new bacterial strain (ISO II) was isolated from manure cow and identified as phylogenetically close to the thermophilic cellulolytic bacterium Clostridium thermocellum. The new strain produced extracellular xylanase, pectinase, mannanase and cellulase activities when grown in liquid culture medium containing banana stem as carbon source. The enzyme production profile after growth on banana stem showed that xylanase and cellulase activities were detected in different incubation periods. An enzyme complex containing xylanase, cellulase and mannanase activities was isolated from culture supernatant samples of strainISO II. The complex was partially purified by ultrafiltration and gel filtration chromatography on Sephacryl S-300. Zymogram analysis after SDS-PAGE presented at least 05 subunits with xylanase activity. The enzyme showed single protein and xylanase activity bands after electrophoresis under non-denaturing conditions. The hydrolysis of xylan was optimal at temperature range of 55-75°C and pH 6.0. Xylanase activity was quite stable at 65°C, retaining 80 percent of its original activity after 12 h incubation. The apparent Km values, using insoluble and soluble arabinoxylans as substrates, were 1.54 and 11.53 mg/mL, respectively. Xylanase was activated by dithiothreitol, L-tryptophan and L-cysteine and strongly inhibited by N-bromosuccinimide and CoCl2. The characterization of mannanase showed Km and temperature optimum of 0.846 mg/mL and 65°C, respectively and pH 8.0. By contrast to xylanase, it was less stable at 65°C with half-life of 2.5 h and inhibited by dithiothreitol and Ca2+.

Uma nova linhagem de bactéria (ISO II) foi isolada de esterco bovino e identificada como filogeneticamente próxima à bactéria termofílica Clostridium thermocellum. A nova linhagem produziu atividades de xilanase, mananase, pectinase e celulase quando cultivada em meio de cultura líquido contendo engaço de bananeira como fonte de carbono. O perfil de produção enzimática após crescimento em engaço de bananeira mostrou que as atividades de xilanase e celulase foram detectadas em diferentes períodos de incubação. Um complexo enzimático, contendo atividades de xilanase, celulase e mananase, foi isolado de amostras de sobrenadante do meio de cultura da linhagem ISO II crescida em engaço de bananeira. O complexo foi parcialmente purificado por ultrafiltração e cromatografia de filtração em gel em coluna de Sephacryl S-300. Análise de zimograma mostrou 05 sub-unidades com atividade de xilanase. A amostra enzimática apresentou bandas únicas de proteína e atividade de xilanase após eletroforese sob condições não-desnaturantes. A hidrólise de xilana foi ótima no intervalo de temperatura de 55-75°C e pH 6,0. A xilanase foi estável a 65°C, mantendo 80 por cento de sua atividade original após 12 h de incubação. Os valores de Km aparente, usando arabinoxilanas insolúveis e solúveis como substratos, foram 1,54 and 11,53 mg/mL, respectivamente. A xilanase foi ativada por ditiotreitol, L-triptofano and L-cisteina e fortemente inibida por N-bromosuccinamida e CoCl2. A caracterização da mananase do complexo mostrou Km e temperatura ótima de 0,846 mg/mL e 65°C, respectivamente e pH 8,0. Ao contrário da xilanase, a mananase foi menos estável a 65°C com meia vida de 2,5 h e inibida por ditiotreitol e Ca2+.