On the mode of action of fungal cellulases

Summary The mode of action of the cellulolytic enzymes of two strong cellulose decomposing fungi, Penicillium oxalicum Curie et Thom and Helminthosporium cyclops Drechsler, was studied. The culture filtrates and enzyme preparations obtained from them showed high cellulase activity and very weak cellobiase activity. The cellulolytic system of both experimental organisms seems to be multicomponent. The cellulase component showed its activity mainly extracellulary and the cellobiase component, mainly intracellulary. It seems, therefore, that during growth of both fungi on a cellulose medium, the extracellular cellulase acts hydrolytically on the cellulose substrate forming cellobiose which is further acted upon by intracellular cellobiase to form glucose. Paper chromatographic assay of the products of the enzymatic reaction sub-stantiated this conclusion.     

Precipitation and kinetics of fungal cellulases

Summary The cellulases of two mould fungi namely Penicillium oxalicum Curie et Thom and Helminthosporium cyclops Drechsler were precipitated either by organic solvents or inorganic salts. Acetone seems to be the most suitable precipitant for these enzymes. The action of some factors including temperature, p_H value, enzyme concentration and reaction time on the enzymatic activity was also investigated.     

Cell wall-degrading enzymes produced by Penicillium oxalicum Curie et Thom

Penicillium oxalicum Curie et Thom produced an exo-polygalacturonase, an endo-polygalacturonase and an endo-pectate lyase. It also produced cellulase C_x, cellobiase, B-glucosidase, xylanase, galactanase and arabinanase in culture and in infected yam tissues.The exo-polygalacturonase was unstable. It has a molecular weight of about 38 000 daltons. The endopolygalacturonase and endo-pectate lyase had an optimal pH of 5.0 and 8.5 and an isoelectric point (pI) at pH 3.6 and 4.9 respectively. Molecular weights of both enzymes were about 28 500 and 30 000 daltons respectively. The end products of the reaction were oligogalacturonides and revealed that cellulose was degraded to glucose, with cellobiose as an intermediate product. The end products of the degradation of hemicelluloses were xylose, galactose and arabinose.     

Seasonal fluctuations of aerobic cellulolytic bacteria,and cellulase and respiratory activities in a soil profile under a forest

The amount of cellulase activity and¹⁴CO₂ evolution declined with profile depth. These properties varied seasonally, being highest in autumn and lowest in winter. Cytophaga hutchinsonii andCytophaga rubra were the most common species of cellulolytic bacteria found by the dilution-plate method;Bacillus circulans andCellulomonas fimi were also isolated.Cellulolytic bacterial numbers-¹⁴CO₂ evolution, cellulolytic bacterial numbers-cellulase activity and¹⁴CO₂ evolution-cellulase activity were correlated positive-linear and significantly.     

草酸青霉的植物多糖降解酶基因表达调控的研究进展

植物生物质是地球上最丰富的可再生资源,对其生物炼制可生产高附加值的生物基产品。生物炼制需要使用植物多糖降解酶(plant-polysaccharide-degrading enzymes,PPDEs),如纤维素酶、木聚糖酶和生淀粉酶。丝状真菌草酸青霉(Penicillium oxalicum)能分泌完整的具有高活力的植物多糖降解酶,但其产量低限制了大规模生产及应用。草酸青霉中植物多糖降解酶的生物合成受到多种调控因子包括转录因子的严格调控。本文主要介绍在以植物生物质甘蔗渣和木薯生淀粉为原料的生物炼制中,涉及的一些关键微生物方面的问题,如从高产植物多糖降解酶的真菌菌株的筛选、育种,到草酸青霉植物多糖降解酶合成及其基因表达的调控基因的鉴定,以及酶产量提高的工程菌株的构建等,为丝状真菌资源的开发与利用提供理论指导。     

Cellulolytic Actitivity of Penicillium digitatum and P. italicum Related to Fungal Growth and to Pathogenesis in Citrus Fruits

Cultural conditions under which Penicillium digitatum and P. italicum develop were an important factor in determining the extent of their cellulolytic activity. At pH 5.5–7.5 of the culture medium, Cx-cellulase activity was correlated with mycelial dry weight. However, at pH 4.5 and more so at pH 3.5, activity was markedly reduced while fungal growth was not affected. Cx-cellulases of both species were not induced by the presence of carboxymethyl cellulose as a carbon source and were defined as constituent enzymes. Cellulase activity of the two Penicillia on different carbon sources was detected prior to the initiation of sporulation. A sporeless mutant of P. digitatum exhibited cellulolytic activity similar to that of the normal strain, suggesting no role for sporulation in the Cx-cellulase synthesis. Cx-cellulase activity in Valencia oranges started during the early stages of pathogenesis, before the appearance of disease symptoms. Correlation between the cellulase activity and the severity of the disease symptoms was apparent during the first three days after inoculation. At the end of the incubation period both fungi almost reached their maximum enzymatic activity, whereas the disease index continued to rise gradually until total fruit rot was achieved. A possible role of Cx-cellulases of the two Penicillia in the early stages of pathogenesis was suggested.     

An aldonolactonase AltA from Penicillium oxalicum mitigates the inhibition of β-glucosidase during lignocellulose biodegradation

Efficient deconstruction of lignocellulose is achieved by the synergistic action of various hydrolytic and oxidative enzymes. However, the aldonolactones generated by oxidative enzymes have inhibitory effects on some cellulolytic enzymes. In this work, d-glucono-1,5-lactone was shown to have a much stronger inhibitory effect than d-glucose and d-gluconate on β-glucosidase, a vital enzyme during cellulose degradation. AltA, a secreted enzyme from Penicillium oxalicum, was identified as an aldonolactonase which can catalyze the hydrolysis of d-glucono-1,5-lactone to d-gluconic acid. In the course of lignocellulose saccharification conducted by cellulases from P. oxalicum or Trichoderma reesei, supplementation of AltA was able to relieve the decrease of β-glucosidase activity obviously with a stimulation of glucose yield. This boosting effect disappeared when sodium azide and ethylenediaminetetraacetic acid (EDTA) were added to the saccharification system to inhibit the activities of oxidative enzymes. In summary, we describe the first heterologous expression of a fungal secreted aldonolactonase and its application as an efficient supplement of cellulolytic enzyme system for lignocellulose biodegradation.

     

Influence of different chemical pretreatments of elephant grass (<Emphasis Type="Italic">Pennisetum purpureum</Emphasis>, Schum.) used as a substrate for cellulase and xylanase production in submerged cultivation

This study evaluated the potential use of elephant grass biomass, a highly productive species, for cellulase and xylanase production by the cellulolytic mutant Penicillium echinulatum 9A02S1 in submerged cultivation, using untreated biomass, biomass pretreated with different concentrations of NaOH, H₂SO₄ or NH₄OH, or biomass pretreated with H₂O at 121 °C. For filter paper activity, all cultivation carried out with pretreated elephant grass under the evaluated conditions showed superior activity when compared with the control (untreated elephant grass). The activities of endoglucanases and β-glucosidases were higher in the cultivation prepared from pretreated samples than the control made with cellulose (Celuflok^®). Without pretreatment, elephant grass can be used for xylanase production, enabling similar activities to those obtained in the cultivation with cellulose, reducing the enzyme production cost. These results indicate that the pretreatment of elephant grass, especially when pretreated with H₂SO₄, may be used as a partial or total replacement for cellulose to cellulase production, and untreated elephant grass may be used for xylanase production.     

Utilization of agro-industrial orange peel and sugar beet pulp wastes for fungal endo- polygalacturonase production

The pectinase enzymes are involved in several industrial applications, and industrial waste is one of the largest environmental pollutants, so this study aims to Endo-polygalacturonase (endo-PG) producing using Aspergillus niger AUMC 4156, Penicillium oxalicum AUMC 4153 and P. variotii AUMC 4149 by using some agro-industrial wastes (dried orange peel and sugar beet pulp) as a sole raw carbon source for degradation these waste in the process of urban wastes disposal. The fermentation process was carried out as a submerged culture technique under both shaken and static culture conditions. A. niger AUMC 4156 was the most promising producer of endo-PG under static conditions while P. oxalicum AUMC 4153 was the highest producer of endo-PG under shaken conditions. Sugar beet pulp proved to be the most preferable to orange peel as the only source of carbon in both shaken and static cultures. The medium that encompassing orange peel as a single carbon source afforded the highest protein content with all tested fungal strains in stirred and static cultures in comparison with sugar beet pulp. The highest activity of endo-polygalacuronase that produced using A. niger AUMC 4156 and P. oxalicum AUMC 4153 was achieved by using sugar beet pulp at 3% concentration under static cultures, meanwhile maximal enzyme activity produced by both fungal strains required 2% sugar beet pulp under shaken cultures. Sugar beet pulp showed promised potential as a good inducer for endo-polygalacturoase production, and enzymes production depended on fungal strains, culture medium, and submerged fermentation conditions.     

Resuscitation of viable but non‐culturable bacteria to enhance the cellulose‐degrading capability of bacterial community in composting

Nowadays, much of what we know regarding the isolated cellulolytic bacteria comes from the conventional plate separation techniques. However, the culturability of many bacterial species is controlled by resuscitation‐promoting factors (Rpfs) due to entering a viable but non‐culturable (VBNC) state. Therefore, in this study, Rpf from Micrococcus luteus was added in the culture medium to evaluate its role in bacterial isolation and enhanced effects on cellulose‐degrading capability of bacterial community in the compost. It was found that Proteobacteria and Actinobacteria were two main phyla in the compost sample. The introduction of Rpf could isolate some unique bacterial species. The cellulase activity of enrichment cultures with and without Rpf treatment revealed that Rpf treatment significantly enhanced cellulase activity. Ten isolates unique in Rpf addition displayed carboxymethyl‐cellulase (CMCase) activity, while six isolates possessed filter paper cellulase (FPCase) activity. This study provides new insights into broader cellulose degraders, which could be utilized for enhancing cellulosic waste treatment.     

Plant Growth‐promoting Fungus Penicillium oxalicum Enhances Plant Growth and Induces Resistance in Pearl Millet Against Downy Mildew Disease

Plant Growth‐promoting Fungus (PGPF) Penicillium oxalicum was isolated from rhizosphere soil of pearl millet and was tested for its ability to promote growth and induce systemic resistance in pearl millet against downy mildew disease. The fungal isolate P. oxalicum UOM PGPF 16 was identified as P. oxalicum using ITS sequencing and morphological analysis and sequence was deposited at NCBI with accession number KF150220. Pearl millet susceptible seeds were treated with three different inducers (CS, CF and LCF) of PGPF P. oxalicum and all the inducers significantly reduced the downy mildew disease and enhanced plant growth. Among the inducers tested, CS treatment recorded highest seed germination of 91% and 1427 seedling vigour followed by LCF and CF treatments. The vegetative growth parameter and NPK uptake studies under greenhouse conditions revealed that the CS treatment of P. oxalicum remarkably enhanced the parameters tested when compared to control plants. A significant disease protection of 62% and 58% against downy mildew disease was observed in plants pretreated with CS of P. oxalicum under greenhouse and field conditions, respectively. The spatio‐temporal studies revealed that inducers P. oxalicum required a minimum of 3 days for developing maximum disease resistance which was maintained thereafter. The maximum Peroxidase (POX) activity (62.7 U) was observed at 24 h in seedlings treated with CS of PGPF P. oxalicum and the activity gradually reduced at later time points after pathogen inoculation. Chitinase (CHT) activity was significantly higher in inducer treated seedlings when compared to control seedlings inoculated with pathogen after 48 h and remained constant at all time points.     

Enzymatic degradation of steam-pretreated Lespedeza stalk (Lespedeza crytobotrya) by cellulosic-substrate induced cellulases

The cellulase production by Trichoderma viride, cultivated on different substrates, namely steam-pretreated Lespedeza, filter paper, microcrystalline cellulose (MCC) or carboxymethyl cellulose (CMC), was studied. Different cellulase systems were secreted when cultivated on different substrates. The cellulolytic enzyme from steam-pretreated Lespedeza medium performed the highest filter paper activity, exoglucanase and endoglucanase activities, while the highest β-glucosidase activity was obtained from the enzyme produced on filter paper medium. The hydrolytic potential of the enzymes produced from different media was evaluated on steam-pretreated Lespedeza. The cellulase from steam-pretreated Lespedeza was found to have the most efficient hydrolysis capability to this specific substrate. The molecular weights of the cellulases produced on steam-pretreated Lespedeza, filter paper and MCC media were 33, 37 and 40 kDa, respectively, and the cellulase from CMC medium had molecular weights of 20 and 43 kDa. The degree of polymerization, crystallinity index and micro structure scanned by the scanning electron microscopy of degraded steam-pretreated Lespedeza residues were also studied.     

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.     

Biodegradation of plant wastes to sugars and protein by microorganisms

Inoculation of different plant wastes with microorganisms resulted in a release of maximum reducing sugars (33%) from sugar-cane leaves when subjected toPenicillium oxalicum. Maximum protein was formed from sugar-cane bagasse inoculated withAspergillus fumigatus. Association of sugar-cane leaves withP. oxalicum showed the highest digestibility. The use of such microorganisms may help to provide additional and valuable proteins ultimately for human use.     

Cellulase from Ruminococcus albus and Mixed Rumen Microorganisms

Cellulase in the cultural filtrates of Ruminococcus albus and cellulase extracted from mixed rumen microorganisms were investigated with acid-swollen cellulose and carboxymethylcellulose as substrates. Maximal activity occurred at approximately pH 5.8 and 47 C. Apparent Michaelis constants (K_m) varied between 0.53 and 0.02% carboxymethylcellulose, depending on the level of activity and the method of assay. R. albus cellulase has a lower K_m value than the enzyme extracted from mixed rumen microorganisms. Antisera from rabbits immunized with a cellulase preparation from R. albus inhibited the cellulolytic activity of both systems. Based on the relative degree of inhibition, approximately 20% of the cellulase of the mixed rumen microorganisms was immunologically similar to R. albus cellulase. Ratios of activity in different assay techniques showed the two sources of activity to be similar in the mechanisms of degradation. However, glucose is the main product of cellulose degradation by mixed rumen microorganisms, and cellobiose is the product of degradation by R. albus.     

Biological pretreatment of rice straw with Streptomyces griseorubens JSD-1 and its optimized production of cellulase and xylanase for improved enzymatic saccharification efficiency

Biological pretreatment of rice straw and production of reducing sugars by hydrolysis of bio-pretreated material with Streptomyces griseorubens JSD-1 was investigated. After 10 days of incubation, various chemical compositions of inoculated rice straw were degraded and used for further enzymatic hydrolysis studies. The production of cellulolytic enzyme by S. griseorubens JSD-1 favored the conversion of cellulose to reducing sugars. The culture medium for cellulolytic enzyme production by using agro-industrial wastes was optimized through response surface methodology. According to the response surface analysis, the concentrations of 11.13, 20.34, 4.61, and 2.85 g L^?1 for rice straw, wheat bran, peptone, and CaCO₃, respectively, were found to be optimum for cellulase and xylanase production. Then the hydrolyzed spent Streptomyces cells were used as a nitrogen source and the maximum filter paper cellulase, carboxymethylcellulase, and xylanase activities of 25.79, 78.91, and 269.53 U mL^?1 were achieved. The crude cellulase produced by S. griseorubens JSD-1 was subsequently used for the hydrolysis of bio-pretreated rice straw, and the optimum saccharification efficiency of 88.13% was obtained, indicating that the crude enzyme might be used instead of commercial cellulase during a saccharification process. These results give a basis for further study of bioethanol production from agricultural cellulosic waste.