Cellulase production in continuous culture by Trichoderma reesei on xylose-based media

Trichoderma reesei (QM 9414) produced cellulase in continuous culture, on media containing xylose (1%) supplemented with sorbose (0.3%) to induce cellulase production. Maximum cell mass of 4.54 kg/m(3) occurred at pH 4.0 and a dilution rate of 0.0391 h(-1) where residual substrate was 0.43 kg/m(3), but no cellulase was produced. Maximum cellulase production of 0.69 FPU occurred at pH 3.5 and a dilution rate of 0.0110 h(-1), where cell mass production was 2.56 kg/m(3) and residual substrate was 0.15 kg/m(3). Monod kinetic constants, corrected for endogenous metabolism, were 0.091 h(-1), 0.469 kg/m(3), 0.00923 h(-1), and 0.470 kg cells/kg xylose at pH 3.5, for the maximum specific growth rate, Michaelis-Menten coefficient, endogenous metabolism coefficient, and yield coefficient, respectively. Specific growth rate fitted a maturation time model, which predicted decreasing maturation time with increasing pH.     

Production of extracellular enzymes by immobilizedTrichoderma reesei in shake flask cultures

Polyurethane foam and nylon-web carriers were compared for simultaneous production of endo-1, 4-β-glucanase and xylanase by immobilizedTrichoderma reesei on a medium based on lactose (27 g/l), cellulose (3 g/l) and sorbose (0.3 g/l). Nylon sheet with 1.2 cm² carrier surface/ml medium was superior to the others, and it was selected for further studies. The carbon source had a marked effect on enzyme production by the immobilized fungus. With pure cellulose (10 g/l) as substrate, the maximum endoglucanase activity was 690 nkat/ml and xylanase activity 4800 nkat/ml. Supplementation with 0.5 g/l of sorbose resulted in an increase in both endoglucanase and xylanase activities in all media studied. A more detailed study on the effect of sorbose on a lactose(7 g/l)-and cellulose(3 g/l)-based medium revealed a clear optimum sorbose concentration of 1.5 g/l, with a maximum endoglucanase activity of 660 nkat/ml, xylanase activity of 3670 nkat/ml, and filter-paper activity (overall cellulolytic activity) of 2.0 filter-paper units/ml. However, the addition of 1.5 g/l sorbose to the pure-cellulose(10 g/l)-based medium resulted in a slight decrease in the enzyme production.     

Polysaccharide-hydrolyzing enzymes ofFrankia (Actinomycetales)

Studies were made of the polysaccharide-hydrolyzing activity inFrankia (Actinomycetales) grown in synthetic media using modifications of three standard assay procedures. In screening five different strains ofFrankia for cellulase activity, based on the method of utilization of cellulose in liquid culture, only one strain, CcI3, degraded filter paper cellulose to complete disintegration and only under very specific conditions of pH and primary carbon source. When carboxymethylcellulose (CMC) at 1% was used as substrate, all five strains showed the capacity to produce reducing sugars as hydrolytic products. Microcystalline cellulose, xylans and gum arabic were hydrolyzed to a lesser extent. Optimum activity depended upon pH and primary carbon source with pH 5.0 and pyruvate or propionate producing highest activities. In fractionation studies of culturedFrankia, assays for hydrolysis of 1% CMC in liquid medium showed that highest activity was in the enzyme preparation supernatant with lesser activity in the cell-free extract and cell wall fractions.Frankia strain CpI1 showed the greatest total hydrolytic activity against CMC after 2 weeks of culture. Strains ArI3 and CcI3 also showed good activity. The agar plate method for direct dye-polysaccharide interaction proved to be the least sensitive assay method with only ArI3 showing significant activity using CMC as substrate. It appears that theFranka strains grown in synthetic media all showed hydrolytic activity but the degree of hydrolysis of polysaccharides to reducing sugars depends upon strain of bacteria and very specific cultural conditions.     

Sorbose mediated enhancement of cellulase biosynthesis inTrichoderma reesei

Addition of L-sorbose, a non-metabolizable non-inducing ketohexose, toTrichoderma reesei cultures growing on cellobiose or Avicel-cellulose lead to increased cellulase activities. Addition of sorbose resulted in a 6-fold increase in cellodextrins (cellotriose, cellotetraose, cellopentaose) concentration on day 3 in cellobiose cultures and 1.3-fold increase in cellodextrins concentrations on day 4 in Avicel cellulose cultures. This increase in intracellular cellodextrins concentration matched closely with the increase in endoglucanase activity at these time points. Treatment of the cell-free extracts with cellulase preparation led to disappearance of the cellodextrins and increase of glucose. These observations suggested a more direct involvement of cellodextrins in cellulase induction process. The cellulases produced in sorbose-supplemented cellobiose medium hydrolyzed microcrystalline cellulose as effectively as the ones produced on Avicel cellulose medium.     

培养条件对棘孢曲霉SM-L22所产纤维素酶系组成的影响*

本文研究了影响棘孢曲霉SM-L22纤维素酶系组成的培养条件。研究结果表明,碳源、氮源和初始pH对棘孢曲霉所产生纤维素酶的内、外切酶组分的比例有明显的影响。在2%麸皮,1%CF11,0.5%尿素或含尿素的复合氮源为氮源,初始pH为4.5时,28℃培养120h后,内、外切酶的比值最大,内切酶活可达到3.1 IU/ml,FPA为0.105 IU/ml,CMCase/FPase的比值为30.6。     

培养条件对棘孢曲霉SM-L22所产纤维素酶系组成的影响

本文研究了影响棘孢曲霉SM-L22纤维素酶系组成的培养条件。研究结果表明,碳源、氮源和初始pH对棘孢曲霉所产生纤维素酶的内、外切酶组分的比例有明显的影响。在2%麸皮,1%CF11,0.5%尿素或含尿素的复合氮源为氮源,初始pH为4.5时,28℃培养120h后,内、外切酶的比值最大,内切酶活可达到3.1 IU/ml,FPA为0.105 IU/ml,CMCase/FPase的比值为30.6。     

Isolation and characterization of acid-tolerant, thermophilic bacteria for effective fermentation of biomass-derived sugars to lactic acid

Biomass-derived sugars, such as glucose, xylose, and other minor sugars, can be readily fermented to fuel ethanol and commodity chemicals by the appropriate microbes. Due to the differences in the optimum conditions for the activity of the fungal cellulases that are required for depolymerization of cellulose to fermentable sugars and the growth and fermentation characteristics of the current industrial microbes, simultaneous saccharification and fermentation (SSF) of cellulose is envisioned at conditions that are not optimal for the fungal cellulase activity, leading to a higher-than-required cost of cellulase in SSF. We have isolated bacterial strains that grew and fermented both glucose and xylose, major components of cellulose and hemicellulose, respectively, to l(+)-lactic acid at 50 degrees C and pH 5.0, conditions that are also optimal for fungal cellulase activity. Xylose was metabolized by these new isolates through the pentose-phosphate pathway. As expected for the metabolism of xylose by the pentose-phosphate pathway, [(13)C]lactate accounted for more than 90% of the total (13)C-labeled products from [(13)C]xylose. Based on fatty acid profile and 16S rRNA sequence, these isolates cluster with Bacillus coagulans, although the B. coagulans type strain, ATCC 7050, failed to utilize xylose as a carbon source. These new B. coagulans isolates have the potential to reduce the cost of SSF by minimizing the amount of fungal cellulases, a significant cost component in the use of biomass as a renewable resource, for the production of fuels and chemicals.     

Cellulases and xylanase of an anaerobic rumen fungus grown on wheat straw, wheat straw holocellulose, cellulose, and xylan

The activities of cellulolytic and xylanolytic enzymes produced by an anaerobic fungus (R1) which resembled Neocallimastix sp. were investigated. Carboxymethylcellulase (CMCase), cellobiase, and filter paper (FPase) activities had pH optima of 6.0, 5.5, and 6.0, respectively. CMCase and cellobiase activities both had a temperature optimum of 50 degrees C, whereas FPase had an optimum of 45 degrees C. The pH and temperature optima for xylanase activity were pH 6.0 and 50 degrees C, respectively. Growth of the fungus on wheat straw, wheat straw holocellulose, or cellulose resulted in substantial colonization, with at least 43 to 58% losses in substrate dry matter and accumulation of comparable amounts of formate. This end product was correlated to apparent loss of substrate dry weight and could be used as an indicator of fungal growth. Milling of wheat straw did not enhance the rate or extent of substrate degradation. Growth of the R1 isolate on the above substrates or xylan also resulted in accumulation of high levels of xylanase activity and lower cellulase activities. Of the cellulases, CMCase was the most active and was associated with either low or trace amounts of cellobiase and FPase activities. During growth on xylan, reducing sugars, including arabinose and xylose, rapidly accumulated in the medium. Xylose and other reducing sugars, but not arabinose, were subsequently used for growth. Reducing sugars also accumulated, but not as rapidly, when the fungus was grown on wheat straw, wheat straw holocellulose, or cellulose. Xylanase activities detected during growth of R1 on media containing glucose, xylose, or cellobiose suggested that enzyme production was constitutive.(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 250 WORDS)     

Cellulases and xylanase of an anaerobic rumen fungus grown on wheat straw, wheat straw holocellulose, cellulose, and xylan.

The activities of cellulolytic and xylanolytic enzymes produced by an anaerobic fungus (R1) which resembled Neocallimastix sp. were investigated. Carboxymethylcellulase (CMCase), cellobiase, and filter paper (FPase) activities had pH optima of 6.0, 5.5, and 6.0, respectively. CMCase and cellobiase activities both had a temperature optimum of 50 degrees C, whereas FPase had an optimum of 45 degrees C. The pH and temperature optima for xylanase activity were pH 6.0 and 50 degrees C, respectively. Growth of the fungus on wheat straw, wheat straw holocellulose, or cellulose resulted in substantial colonization, with at least 43 to 58% losses in substrate dry matter and accumulation of comparable amounts of formate. This end product was correlated to apparent loss of substrate dry weight and could be used as an indicator of fungal growth. Milling of wheat straw did not enhance the rate or extent of substrate degradation. Growth of the R1 isolate on the above substrates or xylan also resulted in accumulation of high levels of xylanase activity and lower cellulase activities. Of the cellulases, CMCase was the most active and was associated with either low or trace amounts of cellobiase and FPase activities. During growth on xylan, reducing sugars, including arabinose and xylose, rapidly accumulated in the medium. Xylose and other reducing sugars, but not arabinose, were subsequently used for growth. Reducing sugars also accumulated, but not as rapidly, when the fungus was grown on wheat straw, wheat straw holocellulose, or cellulose. Xylanase activities detected during growth of R1 on media containing glucose, xylose, or cellobiose suggested that enzyme production was constitutive.(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 250 WORDS)     

β-Glucanase expression by Ruminococcus flavefaciens FD-1

Abstract Ruminococcus flavefaciens has been hypothesized to produce cellulase constitutively. We have studied the effect of carbon source, either cellobiose or cellulose, on the production of cellulase in batch cultures of R. flavefaciens FD-1. Total CMCase and ¹⁴C-cellulase activity was approximately 2-fold higher in cellobiose grown cells than in cellulose grown cells, whereas p-nitrophenyl-β- d -cellobiosidase (PNPCase) activity was not affected by culture conditions. The addition of cellulose to cells growing on cellobiose did not alter the amount or rate of PNPCase and ¹⁴C-cellulase production. Northern blot analysis of mRNAs produced by R. flavefaciens FD-1 grown using either cellobiose or cellulose as the substrate indicated that two of the four β-glucanase genes cloned from R. flavefaciens FD-1 were only expressed in cells grown with cellulose as the substrate. Although the adherence of cells and cellulase enzyme to native cellulose can complicate interpretations of these data, the results indicate that cellulase synthesis by R. flavefaciens is differentially regulated by carbon source.     

降解棉秸秆耐热菌株的鉴定及降解条件优化

【目的】鉴定从新疆棉花秸秆高温堆肥中分离出的两株耐热真菌Z1、Z2的属种,并通过优化影响菌株产生纤维素酶的因素来提高菌株对秸秆的降解率。【方法】经形态学和菌株的ITS区克隆与序列分析确定属种,以液体摇瓶发酵产滤纸酶活性(FPA)变化为衡量指标,对Z1、Z2以及二者混合菌(MS)的纤维素酶产生条件进行优化。【结果】菌株Z1为曲霉属烟曲霉(Aspergillus fumigatus Fresen),Z2为蚀丝霉属(Myceliophthora Cost.)。确定Z1以棉秸秆为碳源、以NaNO3为氮源、起始pH 9.5、接种量11%、50°C摇床培养10 d,对棉秸秆降解率为10.19%;Z2以麦秸秆为碳源、以NaNO3为氮源、起始pH 5.5、接种量9%、50°C摇床培养10 d,对麦秆降解率为27.50%;MS以棉花秸秆为碳源、以蛋白胨为氮源、起始pH 5.5、接种量11%、50°C摇床培养10 d,对棉秸秆的降解率为53.45%。【结论】实验表明,MS(Z1、Z2混合)对秸秆的降解效果优于单株菌,降解率达到一半以上,本研究中的两株耐热真菌在降解棉花秸秆、小麦秸秆等农作物废弃秸秆中具有较高的应用价值。     

Study of cellulases from a newly isolated thermophilic and cellulolytic <Emphasis Type="Italic">Brevibacillus</Emphasis> sp. strain JXL

A potentially novel aerobic, thermophilic, and cellulolytic bacterium designated as Brevibacillus sp. strain JXL was isolated from swine waste. Strain JXL can utilize a broad range of carbohydrates including: cellulose, carboxymethylcellulose (CMC), xylan, cellobiose, glucose, and xylose. In two different media supplemented with crystalline cellulose and CMC at 57°C under aeration, strain JXL produced a basal level of cellulases as FPU of 0.02 IU/ml in the crude culture supernatant. When glucose or cellobiose was used besides cellulose, cellulase activities were enhanced ten times during the first 24 h, but with no significant difference between these two simple sugars. After that time, however, culture with glucose demonstrated higher cellulase activities compared with that from cellobiose. Similar trend and effect on cellulase activities were also obtained when glucose or cellobiose served as a single substrate. The optimal doses of cellobiose and glucose for cellulase induction were 0.5 and 1%. These inducing effects were further confirmed by scanning electron microscopy (SEM) images, which indicated the presence of extracellular protuberant structures. These cellulosome-resembling structures were most abundant in culture with glucose, followed by cellobiose and without sugar addition. With respect to cellulase activity assay, crude cellulases had an optimal temperature of 50°C and a broad optimal pH range of 6–8. These cellulases also had high thermotolerance as evidenced by retaining more than 50% activity at 100°C after 1 h. In summary, this is the first study to show that the genus Brevibacillus may have strains that can degrade cellulose.     

The effect of temperature on growth and cellulase (β-1,4-endoglucanase) production in the compost fungusChaetomium thermophile var.dissitum

Chaetomium thermophile var.dissitum, isolated from an experimental urban refuse compost, had the following growth characteristics: Minimum temperature, 27±1°C; optimum, 45–50°C; maximum, 57±1°C; pH optimum 5.5–6.0.A number of carbohydrates could be used for growth, but cellulase formation measured with carboxymethylcellulose as substrate was initiated only on cellulose or xylan. With cellulose as the carbon source, cellulase accumulation in the culture filtrate followed closely that of growth, when the temperature was varied. pH optimum for the cellulase system was 5.0.The optimum temperature for cellulase activity with carboxymethylcellulose as substrate varied between 77°C with 1/2 h incubation time and 58°C with 10 h incubation time.With cotton as substrate, the optimum temperature was 58°C regardless of incubation time. Carboxymethylcellulose had a higher stabilizing effect on the enzyme than cotton. The temperature stability of the cellulase was highest at pH 6.0.     

Effect of pH on production of xylanase by Trichoderma reesei on xylan- and cellulose-based media

Trichoderma reesei VTT-D-86271 (Rut C-30) was cultivatedon media based on cellulose and xylan as the main carbon source in fermentors with different pH minimum controls. Production of xylanase was favoured by a rather high pH minimum control between 6.0 and 7.0 on both cellulose- and xylan-based media. Although xylanase was produced efficiently on cellulose as well as on xylan as the carbon source, significant production of cellulose was observed only on the cellulose-based medium and best production was at lower pH (4.0 minimum). Production of xylanase at pH 7.0 was shown to be dependent on the nature of the xylan in the cultivation medium but was independent of other organic components. Best production of xylanase was observed on insoluble, unsubstituted beech xylan at pH 7.0. Similar results were obtained in laboratory and pilot (200-l) fermentors. Downstream processing of the xylanase-rich, low-cellulose culture filtrate presented no technical problems despite apparent autolysis of the fungus at the high pH. Enzyme produced in the 200-l pilot fermentor was shown to be suitable for use in enzyme-aided bleaching of kraft pulp. Due to the high xylanase/cellulase ratio of enzyme activities in the culture filtrate, pretreatment for removal of cellulase activity prior to pulp bleaching was unnecessary. Correspondence to: M. J. Bailey     

Regulation of xylanase activity in cellulomonas sp. IIbc

The regulation mechanism governing the xylanolytic activity in the strain Cellulomonas sp. IIbc was studied. High levels of activity were detected during the cultivation on cellulose as the only carbon source. No activity was produced with glucose, xylose or cellobiose cultures, but in the last one, the synthesis was de-repressed when the sugar concentration dropped to 0.2%. The activity was not inhibited by glucose, cellobiose and xylose up to 1% concentration. A basal constitutive synthesis was detected in nutrient broth cultures. At the same time, xylose and cellobiose acted as inducers of the xylanase activity.     

Method for the rapid screening of cellulolytic streptomycetes and their mutants.

A method for the rapid screening of cellulolytic streptomycetes and their mutants is reported. The technique consists of a plate assay on media containing filter paper fibres as cellulose substrate. The cellulolytic activity is detected and measured by the formation of clearing zones around the streptomycete colonies. The sensitivity of the method is increased considerably by subjecting the plates to an additional incubation period at 43 degrees C in the presence of a buffer at pH 5.3. by replicating these colonies on other Petri plates containing the appropriate media, it is possible to assess rapidly, not only the degree of catabolic repression of the cellulase production by glucose, but also, in a semiquantitative way, the amount of enzymes produced.     

A Comparison between the Cellulolytic Activity of White and Brown Rot Fungi. I. The Activity on Insoluble Cellulose

About 70 strains of white and brown rot fungi were cultivated on media, containing filter paper cellulose as the main carbon source. The cellulolytic activity of the culture filtrates was measured after different periods of growth by means of the turbidimetric method. The results obtained indicate a difference between the two types of wood decay fungi as to the capacity of attacking the cellulose used in the medium and in the cellulase test. No significant C₁activity was found in any of the brown rot cultures whereas all white rot fungi tested exerted a measurable activity on the test substrate. The effect of various carbohydrates and some proteins as inducers of cellulase activity was studied. Especially cellobiose and lactose were active on white rot fungi in this respect, particularly in the presence of yeast extract. Also some brown rot fungi exerted C₁-activity after incubation on glucose or cellobiose.     

Expression of an endoglucanase from Tribolium castaneum (TcEG1) in Saccharomyces cerevisiae

Insects are a largely unexploited resource in prospecting for novel cellulolytic enzymes to improve the production of ethanol fuel from lignocellulosic biomass. The cost of lignocellulosic ethanol production is expected to decrease by the combination of cellulose degradation (saccharification) and fermentation of the resulting glucose to ethanol in a single process, catalyzed by the yeast Saccharomyces cerevisiae transformed to express efficient cellulases. While S. cerevisiae is an established heterologous expression system, there are no available data on the functional expression of insect cellulolytic enzymes for this species. To address this knowledge gap, S. cerevisiae was transformed to express the full‐length cDNA encoding an endoglucanase from the red flour beetle, Tribolium castaneum (TcEG1), and evaluated the activity of the transgenic product (rTcEG1). Expression of the TcEG1 cDNA in S. cerevisiae was under control of the strong glyceraldehyde‐3 phosphate dehydrogenase promoter. Cultured transformed yeast secreted rTcEG1 protein as a functional β‐1,4‐endoglucanase, which allowed transformants to survive on selective media containing cellulose as the only available carbon source. Evaluation of substrate specificity for secreted rTcEG1 demonstrated endoglucanase activity, although some activity was also detected against complex cellulose substrates. Potentially relevant to uses in biofuel production rTcEG1 activity increased with pH conditions, with the highest activity detected at pH 12. Our results demonstrate the potential for functional production of an insect cellulase in S. cerevisiae and confirm the stability of rTcEG1 activity in strong alkaline environments.     

Degradation of cellulosic materials by Sporotrichum thermophile culture filtrate for sugar production

Sporotrichum thermophile Apinis, was the most active carboxymethyl-cellulose (CMC)-ase producer among seven thermophilic and four thermotolerant fungal species isolated from Egyptian soil and screened for their ability to produce extracellular cellulase in culture media containing CMC as a sole carbon source. The fungus also efficiently hydrolysed filter paper cellulose. Comparison of various untreated and alkali-treated cellulosic and lignocellulosic materials as substrates for cellulase production by S. thermophile revealed the most easily degraded substrate was sugarcane bagasse at 2% concentration. This substrate when alkali treated was the most susceptible to enzymic hydrolysis by culture filtrates of S. thermophile grown on untreated bagasse. Optimum hydrolysis was obtained after 18 h incubation with the filtrate at pH 3·5–4 and 45°C. Alkali treatment of bagasse reduced its lignin content significantly and the culture filtrate of S. thermophile grown on untreated bagasse was found to contain xylanase and polygalacturonase in addition to cellulase and cellobiase.     

High-yield cellulase production by Trichoderma reesei ZU-02 on corn cob residue

Cellulase production using corn cob residue from xylose manufacture as substrate was carried out by Trichoderma reesei ZU-02. It was found that on the same cellulose basis, the cellulase activity and yield produced on corn cob residue were comparable with that on purified cellulose. Under batch process, the optimum concentration of substrate was 40 g/l and the optimum C/N ratio was 8.0. In 500 ml flasks, cellulase activity reached 5.25 IU/ml (213.4 IU/g cellulose) after seven days' cultivation. In a 30 m(3) stirred fermenter for large scale production, cellulase and cellobiase activity were 5.48 IU/ml (222.8 IU/g cellulase) and 0.25 IU/ml (10.2 IU/g cellulose), respectively, after four days' submerged fermentation. The produced cellulase could effectively hydrolyze the corn cob residue, and the yield of enzymatic hydrolysis reached 90.4% on 10% corn cob residue (w/v) when the cellulase dosage was 20 IU/g substrate.