Assessment of cellulolytic microorganisms in soils of Nevados Park, Colombia

A systematized survey was conducted to find soil-borne microbes that degrade cellulose in soils from unique ecosystems, such as the Superpáramo, Páramo, and the High Andean Forest in the Nevados National Natural Park (NNNP), Colombia. These high mountain ecosystems represent extreme environments, such as high levels of solar radiation, low atmospheric pressure, and extreme daily changes in temperature. Cellulolytic activity of the microorganisms was evaluated using qualitative tests, such as growth in selective media followed by staining with congo red and iodine, and quantitative tests to determine the activity of endoglucanase, β-glucosidase, exoglucanase, and total cellulase. Microorganisms were identified using molecular markers, such as the 16S rRNA gene for bacteria and the internal transcribed spacer region (ITS) of ribosomal DNA for fungi. Multivariate statistical analysis (MVA) was used to select microorganisms with high cellulolytic capacity. A total of 108 microorganisms were isolated from the soils and, in general, the enzymatic activities of fungi were higher than those of bacteria. Our results also found that none of the organisms studied were able to degrade all the components of the cellulose and it is therefore suggested that a combination of bacteria and/or fungi with various enzymatic activities be used to obtain high total cellulolytic activity. This study gives an overview of the potential microorganism that could be used for cellulose degradation in various biotechnological applications and for sustainable agricultural waste treatment.

Bioprospecting of Cellulase Producing Extremophilic Bacterial Isolates from India.

Aim: To isolate and identify the potential extremophilic cellulase producing strain viz., psychrophiles, halophiles, thermophiles and to compare the Cellulase activity from samples collected from different geographical regions of India. Place and Duration of Study: Bharathiar University, Department of Biotechnology, Molecular Microbiology Lab, Coimbatore, Tamilnadu, India, between January to April 2011. Methodology: Cellulase-producing extremophilic bacteria viz., psychrophiles, halophiles, and thermophiles have been isolated from soil samples. According to morphology and pigmentation, 138 distinct bacteria were isolated and screened for cellulase activity by Gram’s iodine–carboxymethylcellulose plate (CMC) assay. On the basis of the cellulase activity, six potent cellulase-producing isolates from each cluster viz., P14, P36, H6, H13, T2 and T3 were selected for 16S rRNA gene based identification. The strains were optimized for maximum cellulase activity at various temperature and pH range. Results: The phylogenetic relationship revealed that P14 and P36 psychrophilic isolates possessed maximum identity with Bacillus simplex (100%) and Arthrobactercitreus (99%), with a cellulase activity of 14.10± 1.73 and 18.27± 0.71 UmL-1 respectively. Likewise, among halophiles, H6 and H13 were identified as Bacillus subtilis and Bacillus endophyticus (99%), with a cellulase activity of 14.87 ± 0.55 and 16.83 ± 0.44 U mL-1, correspondingly. In thermophiles, T2 and T3 showed close proximity with Bacillus amyloliquefaciens and Bacillus megaterium (99%), with a cellulase activity of 21.53 ± 1.30 and 19.93 ± 0.38 U mL-1 respectively. Conclusion: In the present study, the thermophilic isolates showed promising Cellulase activity compared to psychrophiles and halophiles.

Bioethanol production from rice straw residues

A rice straw -cellulose utilizing mold was isolated from rotted rice straw residues. The efficient rice straw degrading microorganism was identified as Trichoderma reesei. The results showed that different carbon sources in liquid culture such as rice straw, carboxymethyl cellulose, filter paper, sugar cane bagasse, cotton stalk and banana stalk induced T. reesei cellulase production whereas glucose or Potato Dextrose repressed the synthesis of cellulase. T. reesei cellulase was produced by the solid state culture on rice straw medium. The optimal pH and temperature for T. reesei cellulase production were 6 and 25 ºC, respectively. Rice straw exhibited different susceptibilities towards cellulase to their conversion to reducing sugars. The present study showed also that, the general trend of rice straw bioconversion with cellulase was more than the general trend by T. reesei. This enzyme effectively led to enzymatic conversion of acid, alkali and ultrasonic pretreated cellulose from rice straw into glucose, followed by fermentation into ethanol. The combined method of acid pretreatment with ultrasound and subsequent enzyme treatment resulted the highest conversion of lignocellulose in rice straw to sugar and consequently, highest ethanol concentration after 7 days fermentation with S. cerevisae yeast. The ethanol yield in this study was about 10 and 11 g.L-¹.

Study on Thermodynamics and Adsorption kinetics of Purified endoglucanase (CMCase) from Penicillium notatum NCIM NO-923 produced under mixed solid-state fermentation of waste cabbage and Bagasse

In the current study, one thermostable endoglucanase was purified from Penicillium notatum NCIM NO-923 through mixed solid state fermentation of waste cabbage and bagasse. The molecular weight of the purified enzyme was 55kDa as determined by SDS polyacrylamide gel electrophoresis (SDS-PAGE). The enzyme had low activation energy (Ea) of 36.39KJ mol-1 for carboxymethyl cellulose hydrolysis and the enthalpy and entropy for irreversible inactivation was 87 kJ mol −1 and 59.3 J mol −1 K−1 respectively. The enzyme was quite thermostable with a Tm value of 62.2˚C. The pKa1 and pKa2 of ionizable groups of the active sites were 2.5 and 5.3 respectively. Apparent Km, Vmax and Kcat of the enzyme were found to be 5.2 mg mL-1, 80 U/gds and 322.4 sec-1 respectively. The enzyme showed about 1.4 fold increased activity in presence of 10mM MgSO4. Adsorption of endoglucanase on Avicel at wide pH range was studied at different temperatures. Langmuir type adsorption isotherm at 10˚C showed maximum adsorption strength of enzyme at pH 3.0, which was in a range of optimum pH of the enzyme.

Cellulase and xylanase activity during the decomposition of three aquatic macrophytes in a tropical oxbow lagoon

Due to the connection between enzymatic activity and degradation of different fractions of organic matter, enzyme assays can be used to estimate degradation rates of particulate and dissolved organic carbon in freshwater systems. The aim of this study was to quantify and model the enzymatic degradation involving the decomposition of macrophytes, describing temporal activity of cellulases (EC 3.2.1.4 and EC 3.2.1.91) and xylanase (EC 3.2.1.8) during in situ decomposition of three aquatic macrophytes (Salvinia sp., Eichhornia azurea and Cyperus giganteus) on the surface and water-sediment interface (w-s interface) of an oxbow lagoon (Óleo lagoon) within a natural Brazilian Savanna Reserve. Overall, the enzymatic degradation of aquatic macrophytes in Óleo lagoon occurred during the whole year and was initiated together with leaching. Xylanase production was ca. 5 times higher than cellulase values due to easy access to this compound by cellulolytic microorganisms. Enzymatic production and detritus mass decay were similar on the surface and w-s interface. Salvinia sp. was the most recalcitrant detritus, with low mass decay and enzymatic activity. E. azurea and C. giganteus decomposition rates and enzymatic production were high and similar. Due to the physicochemical homogeneity observed in the Óleo lagoon, the differences between the decay rates of each species are mostly related with detritus chemical quality.

Xylanase and cellulase activities during anaerobic decomposition of three aquatic acrophytes

Enzymatic activity during decomposition is extremely important to hydrolyze molecules that are assimilated by microorganisms. During aquatic macrophytes decomposition, enzymes act mainly in the breakdown of lignocellulolytic matrix fibers (i.e. cellulose, hemicellulose and lignin) that encompass the refractory fraction from organic matter. Considering the importance of enzymatic activities role in decomposition processes, this study aimed to describe the temporal changes of xylanase and cellulose activities during anaerobic decomposition of Ricciocarpus natans (freely-floating), Oxycaryum cubense (emergent) and Cabomba furcata (submersed). The aquatic macrophytes were collected in Óleo Lagoon, Luiz Antonio, São Paulo, Brazil and bioassays were accomplished. Decomposition chambers from each species (n = 10) were set up with dried macrophyte fragments and filtered Óleo Lagoon water. The chambers were incubated at 22.5ºC, in the dark and under anaerobic conditions. Enzymatic activities and remaining organic matter were measured periodically during 90 days. The temporal variation of enzymes showed that C. furcata presented the highest decay and the highest maximum enzyme production. Xylanase production was higher than cellulase production for the decomposition of the three aquatic macrophytes species.

Influencia de la concentración de inóculo en la producción de celulasa y xilanasa por aspergillus niger / Influence of inoculum concentration on the cellulase and xylanase production by aspergillus niger

Existe un gran interés por el uso de enzimas lignocelulolíticas en varias industrias, y en la biodegradación de biomasa para la producción de biocombustibles y otras aplicaciones. Entre las fuentes microbianas de enzimas, Aspergillus niger es uno de los microorganismos más utilizados en la producción de enzimas industriales, debido a sus niveles altos de secreción de proteína y a su condición GRAS (generally regarded as safe). El objetivo del presente estudio fue evaluar la influencia de la concentración de inóculo en la morfología y producción de celulasas y xilanasas con A. niger en cultivo sumergido. Para ello, fueron inoculados matraces de 250 mL con 40 mL de medio con 3% (v/v) de una suspensión de 104 o 108 esporas por mililitro e incubados a 28 ºC y 175 rpm durante 120 horas. Se utilizaron 10 g*L-1 de lactosa como fuente de carbono. En cada caso se determinó la cantidad de biomasa, la proteína extracelular soluble, lactosa residual, actividad celulasa total y xilanasa cada 24 horas. Aunque no hubo un efecto notorio en la morfología de crecimiento, salvo en el color y el diámetro de pellets obtenidos, sí se afectó la µmax (0,06 y 0,03 h-1 para 104 y 108 esporas*mL-1, respectivamente) y la concentración máxima de biomasa. Además, mientras que las productividades volumétricas de celulasa (ΓFPA) (8,2 y 8,0 UI.*L-1*h-1 para 104 y 108 esporas*mL-1, respectivamente) fueron similares para ambos inóculos, la productividad de xilanasa (ΓXIL) fue mayor para el inóculo más concentrado (29,7 y 33,4 UI¨*L-1*h-1 para 104 y 108 esporas*mL-1, respectivamente). Los resultados indican que la productividad de celulasas y xilanasas está estrechamente relacionada con la concentración de inóculo.

There is a great interest for the use of lignocellulolytic enzymes in several industries and in biomass degradation for production of biofuels and other applications. Among the microbial sources of enzymes, Aspergillus niger is one of the most used microorganisms in the production of industrial enzymes due to its high levels of protein secretion and its GRAS (generally regarded as safe) condition. The aim of the present study was to evaluate the influence of A. niger inoculum concentration in the morphology and production of cellulases and xylanases in submerged cultures. For this, 250 mL flasks containing 40 mL culture medium were inoculated with a 3% (v/v) of either 104 or 108 spores per milliliter suspension and incubated at 28 º C and 175 rpm during 120 hours. Lactose (10 g*L-1) was used as the carbon source. In each case, the amount of biomass, the extracellular soluble protein, residual lactose, total celullase activity and xylanase activity were determined every 24 hours. Even thought there was not a notorious effect on the growth morphology, except in color and diameter of pellets; µmax was affected (0.06 and 0.03 h-1 for 104 and 108 spores*mL-1, respectively) as well as maximum biomass concentration. In addition, while the volumetric productivity of cellulase (8.2 and 8.0 UI*L-1*h-1 for 104 and 108 spores*mL-1, respectively) were similar for both inocula, the productivity of xylanase was greater for the more concentrated inoculum (29.7 and 33.4 UI*L-1*h-1 for 104 and 108 spores*mL-1, respectively).The results show that cellulase and xylanase productivities are closely related to the inoculum concentration.

Producción y purificación parcial de enzimas hidrolíticas de aspergillus ficuum en fermentación sólida sobre residuos agroindustriales / Production and partial purification of aspergillus ficuum hydrolytic enzymes in solid state fermentation of agroindustrial residues

En el presente trabajo se describe la producción de las enzimas fitasa, celulasa, xilanasa y proteasa con Aspergillus ficuum cepa DSM 932 mediante fermentación en estado sólido (SSF) usando torta de canola y pomaza de cranberry como sustratos. Como medida indirecta de la producción de las enzimas se usó en cada caso la actividad enzimática. la torta de canola resultó ser un mejor sustrato para fitasa, celulasa y xilanasa, en tanto que la pomaza de cranberry resultó ser un sustrato potencial para proteasa. Mediante ultrafiltración escalonada fue posible purificar parcialmente los extractos enzimáticos de fitasa, celulasas y xilanasas, obtenidos a partir de torta de canola. La fitasa resultó tener un tamaño >100 kDa, en tanto que las celulasas y xilanasas presentan actividad en los retenidos de 10, 30 y 50 kDa, lo que indicaría que las isoenzimas de ambos complejos tienen pesos moleculares que oscilan entre 10 y 100 kDa.

In this paper, describes the production of the enzymes phytase, cellulase, xylanase and protease by Aspergillus ficuum DSM 932 strain, in solid state fermentation (SSF) using canola cake and cranberry pomace as substrates. The enzyme activity was used in each case as an indirect measure of the enzymes production. Canola meal turned out to be a better substrate for phytase, cellulase and xylanase, while cranberry pomace was found to be a potential substrate for protease. Various ultrafiltration operations were carried out, decreasing the cut off membranes out in order to purify partially extracts of enzymes phytase, cellulase and xylanase, obtained from canola meal. Phytase was found to have a size >100 kDa, whereas cellulase and xylanase activity present in the retained 10, 30 and 50 kDa, suggesting that isozymes of both complexes have molecular weights ranging between 10 and 100 kDa.

Use of remazol blue dyed avicel for the determination of cellullolytic activity in basidiomycetes

A modified method for direct determination of cellulolytic activity using Avicel colored with Remazol Brilliant Blue R (RBBR) in Agar test tubes in discussed. Refinaments were introduced in a simple method for qunatitation of cellulase activity, based on the release of dye from Avicel-RBBR medium by enzimatic hydrolysis. Modification in Avicel-dye preparation were enhanced and a spectrophotometer improved the precision of the collected data, since absorbance measurements could be done at the maxmum wavelenght for RBBR (595 nm).

Melhoramento genético de microrganismo produtores de celulase / Genetical improvement of cellulolytic microorganisms

A celulose é o recurso orgânico mais abundante existente na natureza. As aplicaçöes econômicas potenciais da degradaçäo enzimática da celulose säo inúmeras. Contudo, nenhum processo significativo utilizando celulases foi até agora elaborado por causa do alto custo da enzima no custo total do alto custo da enzima no custo total do processo. Para superar estes problemas, programas de melhoramento genético foram desenvolvidos visando a seleçäo de microorganismos hipercelulolíticos, fundamentalmente fungos pertencentes ao gênero Trichoderma. Nesse sentido, o objetivo dessa pequena revisäo foi a busca dos principais trabalhos publicados nos últimos anos relativos ao melhoramento genético de microrganismos produtores de celulase