Characterization of the cellulolytic enzyme system from the brown-rot fungus Coniophora puteana

Summary The cellulolytic enzymes of various strains of the brown-rot fungus Coniophora puteana were studied. The organism was grown in an air-lift fermentor in mineral medium containing glucose, cellobiose or amorphous cellulose. The specific growth rate varied between 0.082 and 0.062 h^–1. On amorphous cellulose as sole carbon source, the organism secreted various proteins, some of which were characterized. The mixture contained inter alia four endocellulases, two exo-cellobiohydrolases and a cellobiose dehydrogenase. Three endocellulases (named type I) were active on soluble cellulose derivatives but inactive on p-nitrophenyllactoside (p-NPL), whereas a fourth endocellulase (named type II) was active on both. The two exo-cellobiohydrolases released cellobiose from amorphous cellulose; they were inactive on soluble cellulose derivatives but hydrolyzed p-NPL with strong cellobiose inhibition. A cellobiose dehydrogenase having spectral characteristics compatible with a flavo b-cytochrome was also identified. Neither the exo-cellobiohydrolase nor the type II endocellulase were secreted during growth on cellobiose whereas type I endocellulases and cellobiose dehydrogenase were formed at a reduced rate. No formation of cellulolytic enzymes was observed during growth on glucose alone. Correspondence to: G. Canevascini     

Simple method for determination of patulin production by Penicillium griseofulvum Dierckx.

The growth of several cellulolytic species of ruminal bacteria was measured in media containing either cellobiose or cellulose as the energy source and with or without added 3-phenylpropanoic acid (PPA). With Ruminoccoccus albus 7 and 8, the addition of PPA greatly enhanced the rate of cellulose utilization but had little effect on the rate of growth when cellobiose was the energy source. Comparative rates of growth obtained on either cellobiose or cellulose for Ruminococcus flavefaciens FD1 or C94 and Butyrivibrio fibrisolvens 12, 49, or A38 were similar regardless of the PPA content of the growth medium.     

Component-specific stimulation of cellulase secretion in Thermomonospora curvata by the surfactant Tween 80

The non-ionic surfactant, Tween 80, stimulated the secretion of extracellular proteins by 35–140% in Thermomonospora curvata during growth on a variety of substrates. Cellulase secretion was also stimulated but fractionation of extracellular proteins by ion-exchange high performance liquid chromatography showed that this stimulation was largely confined to a single enzymatic component (or group of closely related components) active against crystalline cellulose. The surfactant's effect was more pronounced during growth on cellobiose octaacetate than on the soluble sugar, cellobiose, or on crystalline cellulose.     

Regulation of cellulase synthesis in batch and continuous cultures of Clostridium thermocellum

Regulation of cell-specific cellulase synthesis (expressed in milligrams of cellulase per gram [dry weight] of cells) by Clostridium thermocellum was investigated using an enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay protocol based on antibody raised against a peptide sequence from the scaffoldin protein of the cellulosome (Zhang and Lynd, Anal. Chem. 75:219-227, 2003). The cellulase synthesis in Avicel-grown batch cultures was ninefold greater than that in cellobiose-grown batch cultures. In substrate-limited continuous cultures, however, the cellulase synthesis with Avicel-grown cultures was 1.3- to 2.4-fold greater than that in cellobiose-grown cultures, depending on the dilution rate. The differences between the cellulase yields observed during carbon-limited growth on cellulose and the cellulase yields observed during carbon-limited growth on cellobiose at the same dilution rate suggest that hydrolysis products other than cellobiose affect cellulase synthesis during growth on cellulose and/or that the presence of insoluble cellulose triggers an increase in cellulase synthesis. Continuous cellobiose-grown cultures maintained either at high dilution rates or with a high feed substrate concentration exhibited decreased cellulase synthesis; there was a large (sevenfold) decrease between 0 and 0.2 g of cellobiose per liter, and there was a much more gradual further decrease for cellobiose concentrations >0.2 g/liter. Several factors suggest that cellulase synthesis in C. thermocellum is regulated by catabolite repression. These factors include: (i) substantially higher cellulase yields observed during batch growth on Avicel than during batch growth on cellobiose, (ii) a strong negative correlation between the cellobiose concentration and the cellulase yield in continuous cultures with varied dilution rates at a constant feed substrate concentration and also with varied feed substrate concentrations at a constant dilution rate, and (iii) the presence of sequences corresponding to key elements of catabolite repression systems in the C. thermocellum genome.     

Growth properties of Cellulomonas flavigena mutants affected in cellulose utilization.

The role of cellobiose metabolism in cellulose utilization by Cellulomonas flavigena was investigated by studying mutants unable to grow on cellobiose or cellulose. The results show that the ability to utilize cellulose is strictly dependent on the ability to utilize cellobiose.     

Physiological properties of Cellulomonas fermentans,a mesophilic cellulolytic bacterium

Summary The fermentation of cellobiose, glucose and cellulose MN 300 by Cellulomonas fermentans was studied. The molar growth yields (i.e. grams of cells per mole of hexose equivalent) were similar on cellobiose and cellulose at low sugar consumption levels (47.8 and 46.5 respectively), but was lower on glucose (38.0). The occurrence of cellobiose phosphorylase activity, detected in cellobiose- and cellulose-grown cells, might explain this result. The specific growth rates measured in cultures on cellobiose, glucose and cellulose were 0.055 h^-1, 0.040 h^-1 and 0.013 h^-1 respectively. Growth inhibition was observed, and a drop in Y_H occurred after relatively low but different quantities of hexose were consumed (2.2 mM, 5 mM and 8 mM hexose equivalent with cellulose, glucose and cellobiose respectively), which coincided with a change in the fermentative metabolism from a typical mixed acid metabolism (1 ethanol, 1 acetate and 2 formate synthesized by consumed hexose) to a more ethanolic fermentation. When growth ceased in cellulose cultures, consumption of cellulose continued, as did production of ethanol.Molar growth yields of C. fermentans were similar in anaerobic and aerobic cellobiose cultures (47.8 g/mol and 42.2 g/mol respectively). Specific growth rates were also quite similar under both culture conditions (0.055±0.013 h^-1 and 0.070±0.007 h^-1 respectively). Aerobic metabolism was studied using ¹⁴C glucose. During the exponential growth phase, acetate, succinate and nonidentified compound(s) accumulated in the supernatant, but no ¹⁴CO₂ was produced. During the stationary phase, acetate was oxidized and ¹⁴CO₂ produced, but without any further biomass synthesis. It seems that a blocking of metabolite oxidation may have occurred in C. fermentans except in the case of acetate, but acetate oxidation was apparently not coupled with production of energy utilizable in biosynthesis.     

Kinetics of the utilization of different C sources and the cellulose formation by Acetobacter xylinum

Different methylated glucose derivatives and cellobiose were examined as the carbon sources for growth and cellulose formation by Acetobacter xylinum. HPLC studies were carried out to gain information about the kinetics of the utilization of the C sources used. The type and yields of the synthesized cellulose were described. Besides glucose, cellobiose was a substrate for the synthesis of this polysaccharide by the bacteria. Other methylated derivatives of glucose were not accepted for a comparable synthesis of this polymer. An estimation of citrate in an unmodified culture liquid (SH medium) showed utilization in a late phase of cultivation. The influence of this organic acid on the pH value, cellulose synthesis and growth is described. By the application of citric acid as a sole carbon source “gel-like” forms of cellulose were formed generally.     

Utilization of cellobiose and D-glucose by Clostridium thermocellum ATCC-27405

Cultures of Clostridium thermocellum ATCC-27405, maintained on cellulose and not adapted to grow on glucose utilize cellobiose preferentially over D-glucose, and are only able to initiate growth on D-glucose when the cellobiose has been exhausted from the growth medium. However, D-glucose is the carbon source preferentially utilized when cultures of this microorganism, previously adapted for growth on glucose, are transferred to a medium with equivalent concentrations of both sugars. One reason for the preferential utilization of glucose over that of cellobiose might be the competitive inhibition of cellobiose phosphorylase by intracellular glucose accumulation. When in the glucose-adapted cultures the pressure to grow on glucose as the sole carbon source is again released, both sugars can be simultaneously utilized.     

Yersinia kristensenii: A new species of enterobacteriaceae composed of sucrose-negative strains (formerly called atypicalYersinia enterocolitica orYersinia enterocolitica-Like)

Induction of cellulase was observed inFusarium sp. with reduction in lag period by lactose-pregrown cells as compared with glucose-pregrown cells. Insoluble cellulose (Sigmacell) induced maximum cellulase production in the induction medium. Supplementation of the culture growing on cellulose by cellobiose or glucose resulted in increased cellular growth and decreased cellulase production. Stepfeeding of cellobiose to the culture growting on carboxymethyl cellulose resulted in decreased cellulase production. Significant cellulase activity was detected in the culture filtrate of cells growing on Sigmacell supplemented with glucose, only when the glucose disappeared from the medium. This suggests that cellulase production may in part be regulated by catabolite repression.     

β-葡萄糖苷酶在酿酒酵母表面的表达

应用表面表达技术对来自Trichodermareesei的β-葡萄糖苷酶在酿酒酵母表面的表达及后期性质进行了研究。实验结果表明酵母表面表达酶有活性,该酶的最佳诱导时间为24h,最适温度是70℃,而酶活的最适pH是5．5。使异源表面表达了Bgl1的酵母在以纤维二糖为唯一碳源的培养基中生长,发酵结果表明纤维二糖被明显利用了,但在培养186h后,发酵液中仍残留一定量的纤维二糖。这种技术对纤维素发酵系统中纤维二糖酶活性低的现状有所帮助。     

Differential protein phosphorylation-dephosphorylation in response to carbon source in Ruminococcus flavefaciens FD-1

AIMS: The aims of this study were to study the effect of cellobiose or cellulose as a carbon source on the differential protein phosphorylation-dephosphorylation of cytoplasmic and membrane-associated proteins from Ruminococcus flavefaciens FD-1. METHODS AND RESULTS: SDS-PAGE analysis was used to compare in vitro labelled proteins (32P-ATP) isolated from R. flavefaciens FD-1 grown on either cellobiose or cellulose as the carbon source. Distinctly different protein phosphorylation patterns were detected depending on carbon source and cell fraction. Analysis of the nature of the phosphorylated proteins indicates that phosphorylated proteins from cellobiose grown cultures are phosphorylated on serine residues, whereas phosphorylated proteins from cellulose grown cultures are phosphorylated on threonine residues. CONCLUSIONS: The results of this comparative analysis show a shift from serine phosphorylation of proteins to a threonine phosphorylation when R. flavefaciens FD-1 cells are grown on cellulose as opposed to cellobiose. There appears to be a role for these phosphorylation events in sensing the carbon source for growth and regulating co-ordinated metabolism in R. flavefaciens FD-1. SIGNIFICANCE AND IMPACT OF THE STUDY: We have demonstrated that there is a protein phosphorylation system in R. flavefaciens FD-1 that may be the primary sensing system for carbon source by R. flavefaciens FD-1 and the further regulation of gene expression related to cellulose degradation.     

Mechanism of cellobiose inhibition in cellulose hydrolysis by cellobiohydrolase

An experimental study of cellobiose inhibition in cellulose hydrolysis by synergism of cellobiohydrolyse I and endoglucanase I is presented. Cellobiose is the structural unit of cellulose molecules and also the main product in enzymatic hydrolysis of cellulose. It has been identified that cellobiose can strongly inhibit hydrolysis reaction of cellulase, whereas it has no effect on the adsorption of cellulase on cellulose surface. The experimental data of FT-IR spectra, fluorescence spectrum and circular dichroism suggested that cellobiose can be combined with tryptophan residue located near the active site of cellobiohydrolase and then form steric hindrance, which prevents cellulose molecule chains from diffusing into active site of cellulase. In addition, the molecular conformation of cellobiohydrolase changes after cellobiose binding, which also causes most of the non-productive adsorption. Under these conditions, microfibrils cannot be separated from cellulose chains, thus further hydrolysis of cellulose can hardly proceed.     

Mechanism of cellobiose inhibition in cellulose hydrolysis by cellobiohydrolase

An experimental study of cellobiose inhibition in cellulose hydrolysis by synergism of cellobiohydrolyse I and endoglucanase I is presented. Cellobiose is the structural unit of cellulose molecules and also the main product in enzymatic hydrolysis of cellulose. It has been identified that cellobiose can strongly inhibit hydrolysis reaction of cellulase, whereas it has no effect on the adsorption of cellulase on cellulose surface. The experimental data of FT-IR spectra, fluorescence spectrum and circular dichroism suggested that cellobiose can be combined with trypto-phan residue located near the active site of cellobiohydrolase and then form steric hindrance, which prevents cellulose molecule chains from diffusing into active site of cellulase. In addition, the molecular conformation of cellobiohydrolase changes after cellobiose binding, which also causes most of the non-productive adsorption. Under these conditions, microfibrils cannot be separated from cellulose chains, thus further hydrolysis of cell     

Host and cell type affect the mode of degradation by Meripilus giganteus

Wood degradation by the white-rot basidiomycete Meripilus giganteus (Pers.: Pers.) Karst. was studied in naturally infected and artificially inoculated wood of beech ( Fagus sylvatica L.) and large-leaved lime ( Tilia platyphyllos Scop.). Semi-thin sections revealed that the secondary walls of most fibres contained internal cavities. Three distinct types of cavity formation, which differed not only between hosts, but also between cell type and location in the annual ring, were identified.
Within discoloured wood of naturally infected beech, the structure of the cavities and their formation by the associated hyphae were reminiscent of a soft-rot. By contrast, cavity formation in artificially inoculated beech and large-leaved lime wood differed from a soft-rot mode of attack as extensive delignification always preceded cavity formation, and neither T-branching, L-bending, nor hyphal growth were found within cell walls. The formation of half-moon shaped cavities in beech wood was present only in tension-wood fibres. From large diameter hyphae, growing within the fibre lumen, numerous fine perforation hyphae extended transversely via helical cracks into the cell wall. Subsequent degradation of cellulose within concentric layers of the tension-wood fibres commenced from the apices of perforation hyphae.
Sections stained with ruthenium red and hydroxlamine-ferric chloride, revealed that M. giganteus preferentially degrades pectin-rich regions of the middle lamellae in xylary ray cells. In large-leaved lime, such regions were uniformly located in the middle lamellae of axial and ray parenchyma. In beech wood, degradation of pectin-rich middle lamellae regions commenced after the delignification of secondary walls and resulted in a conspicuous hollowing of multiseriate xylem rays. Plasticity in wood degradation modes by M. giganteus in large-leaved lime and beech wood reflects variations in cell wall structure and/or prevailing wood conditions.     

Utilization of glucose and cellobiose by the microflora of soil enriched with cellulose

The ability of soil microflora to utilize glucose or celloboise was found to depend on previous incubation of the soil with glucose, celloboise or cellulose. Glucose was utilized more rapidly than cellobiose in soil preincubated with glucose or cellobiose. The opposite situation was observed in soil preincubated with cellulose. In the presence of a mixture of both sugars the rate of utilization of one of them was decreased by the second and this decrease could be characterized as competitive inhibition. Glucose accumulated in the medium during utilization of cellobiose alone in soil preincubated with cellulose. This phenomenon was not observed during the utilization of cellobiose in soil preincubated with glucose or cellobiose.     

Cellulase enzyme production during continuous culture growth of Sporotrichum (Chrysosporium) thermophile

Summary The cellulolytic fungus Sporotrichum (Chrysosporium) thermophile produces an extracellular cellobiose dehydrogenase during batch culture on cellulose or cellobiose. In chemostat culture at pH 5.6 on cellobiose this enzyme was produced in parallel with endo-cellulase. At pH 5.0 in continuous or fed-batch culture such a pattern was not evident. At constant growth rate in a chemostat with varying pH, activity of these enzymes was found to be poorly correlated. Thus the induction of cellobiose dehydrogenase shows a dependence on pH and cellobiose concentration which is different to that for endo-cellulase. The natural inducer of these enzymes and the role of cellobiose dehydrogenase remain to be elucidated.     

Cellulose digestion and cellulase regulation and distribution in Fibrobacter succinogenes subsp. succinogenes S85

Fibrobacter succinogenes subsp. succinogenes S85 initiated growth on microcrystalline cellulose without a lag whether inoculated from a glucose, cellobiose, or cellulose culture. During growth on cellulose, there was no accumulation of soluble carbohydrate. When the growth medium contained either glucose or cellobiose in combination with microcrystalline cellulose, there was a lag in cellulose digestion until all of the soluble sugar had been utilized, suggesting an end product feedback mechanism that affects cellulose digestion. Cl-stimulated cellobiosidase and periplasmic cellodextrinase were produced under all growth conditions tested, indicating constitutive synthesis. Both cellobiosidases were cell associated until the stationary phase of growth, whereas proteins antigenically related to the Cl-stimulated cellobiosidase and a proportion of the endoglucanase were released into the extracellular culture fluid during growth, irrespective of the substrate. Immunoelectron microscopy of cells with a polyclonal antibody to Cl-stimulated cellobiosidase as the primary antibody and 10-nm-diameter gold particles conjugated to goat anti-rabbit antibodies as the second antibody revealed protrusions of the outer surface which were selectively labeled with gold, suggesting that Cl-stimulated cellobiosidase was located on the protrusions. These data support the contention that the protrusions have a role in cellulose hydrolysis; however, this interpretation is complicated by reactivity of the antibodies with a large number of other proteins that possess related antigenic epitopes.     

Fermentation of cellulose and cellobiose by Clostridium thermocellum in the absence of Methanobacterium thermoautotrophicum.

The fermentation of cellulose and cellobiose by Clostridium thermocellum monocultures and C. thermocellum/Methanobacterium thermoautotrophicum cocultures was studied. All cultures were grown under anaerobic conditions in batch culture at 60 degrees C. When grown on cellulose, the coculture exhibited a shorter lag before initiation and growth and celluloysis than did the monoculture. Cellulase activity appeared earlier in the coculture than in the monoculture; however, after growth had ceased, cellulase activity was greater in the monoculture. Monocultures produced primarily ethanol, acetic acid, H2 and CO2. Cocultures produced more H2 and acetic acid and less ethanol than did the monoculture. In the coculture, conversion of H2 to methane was usually complete, and most of the methane produced was derived from CO2 reduction rather than from acetate conversion. Agents of fermentation stoppage were found to be low pH and high concentrations of ethanol in the monoculture and low pH in the coculture. Fermentation of cellobiose was more rapid than that of cellulose. In cellobiose medium, the methanogen caused only slight changes in the fermentation balance of the Clostridium, and free H2 was produced.     

Cellulose digestion and cellulase regulation and distribution in Fibrobacter succinogenes subsp. succinogenes S85.

Fibrobacter succinogenes subsp. succinogenes S85 initiated growth on microcrystalline cellulose without a lag whether inoculated from a glucose, cellobiose, or cellulose culture. During growth on cellulose, there was no accumulation of soluble carbohydrate. When the growth medium contained either glucose or cellobiose in combination with microcrystalline cellulose, there was a lag in cellulose digestion until all of the soluble sugar had been utilized, suggesting an end product feedback mechanism that affects cellulose digestion. Cl-stimulated cellobiosidase and periplasmic cellodextrinase were produced under all growth conditions tested, indicating constitutive synthesis. Both cellobiosidases were cell associated until the stationary phase of growth, whereas proteins antigenically related to the Cl-stimulated cellobiosidase and a proportion of the endoglucanase were released into the extracellular culture fluid during growth, irrespective of the substrate. Immunoelectron microscopy of cells with a polyclonal antibody to Cl-stimulated cellobiosidase as the primary antibody and 10-nm-diameter gold particles conjugated to goat anti-rabbit antibodies as the second antibody revealed protrusions of the outer surface which were selectively labeled with gold, suggesting that Cl-stimulated cellobiosidase was located on the protrusions. These data support the contention that the protrusions have a role in cellulose hydrolysis; however, this interpretation is complicated by reactivity of the antibodies with a large number of other proteins that possess related antigenic epitopes.