A highly active extracellular cellulase from the anaerobic rumen fungus Neocallimastix frontalis

Abstract An extracellular cellulase which was highly active in solubilizing the highly hydrogen bond-ordered cellulose in cotton fibre was found in a culture filtrate of the anaerobic fungus, Neocallimastix frontalis , isolated from the rumen of a sheep. The cellulase was several-fold more active in solubilizing cotton fibre per unit of endo-1,4-β-glucanase than the cellulase of the aerobic fungus Trichoderma reesei mutant strain C-30, which is one of the most active cellulases isolated so far.     

Production and regulation of cellulase by two strains of the rumen anaerobic fungus Neocallimastix frontalis

Cellulase production was examined in two strains of Neocallimastix frontalis, namely, PN-1 isolated from the ovine rumen, and PN-2 from the bovine rumen. For both strains, carboxymethylcellulase (CMCase) had a pH optimum of 6.0 and a temperature optimum of 50 degrees C. CMCase resided mainly in the culture fluid, and activities up to 170 U ml-1 (1 U represents 1 microgram of glucose equivalents released per min) were obtained for cultures grown on 2.5 mg of cellulose ml-1. For resting cultures of strain PN-1, the yield of CMCase increased from 9.9 X 10(3) to 10.4 X 10(4) U per g of cellulose degraded, as the initial cellulose concentration decreased from 10 to 0.58 mg ml-1. The range for PN-2 was 8.1 X 10(3) to 11 X 10(4) U g-1. Shaking cultures improved yields for strain PN-1 but not for PN-2. Decreased CMCase production at high initial cellulose concentrations concurred with accumulation of glucose, and addition of glucose (4 mg ml-1) to cultures grown on low cellulose in which none of the sugar accumulated repressed CMCase. Adsorption of CMCase was excluded as a likely explanation for decreased yields at high initial cellulose as only a low proportion (less than 20%) of the enzyme was adsorbed onto the growth substrate. Exoglucanase, measured with alkali-treated Sigmacell or Avicel, gave low levels of activity in the culture fluid (less than 2 U ml-1) and did not appear to be associated with the fungal rhizoid, as treatment with various solubilizing agents failed to give increased activity.(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 250 WORDS)     

Production and regulation of cellulase by two strains of the rumen anaerobic fungus Neocallimastix frontalis.

Cellulase production was examined in two strains of Neocallimastix frontalis, namely, PN-1 isolated from the ovine rumen, and PN-2 from the bovine rumen. For both strains, carboxymethylcellulase (CMCase) had a pH optimum of 6.0 and a temperature optimum of 50 degrees C. CMCase resided mainly in the culture fluid, and activities up to 170 U ml-1 (1 U represents 1 microgram of glucose equivalents released per min) were obtained for cultures grown on 2.5 mg of cellulose ml-1. For resting cultures of strain PN-1, the yield of CMCase increased from 9.9 X 10(3) to 10.4 X 10(4) U per g of cellulose degraded, as the initial cellulose concentration decreased from 10 to 0.58 mg ml-1. The range for PN-2 was 8.1 X 10(3) to 11 X 10(4) U g-1. Shaking cultures improved yields for strain PN-1 but not for PN-2. Decreased CMCase production at high initial cellulose concentrations concurred with accumulation of glucose, and addition of glucose (4 mg ml-1) to cultures grown on low cellulose in which none of the sugar accumulated repressed CMCase. Adsorption of CMCase was excluded as a likely explanation for decreased yields at high initial cellulose as only a low proportion (less than 20%) of the enzyme was adsorbed onto the growth substrate. Exoglucanase, measured with alkali-treated Sigmacell or Avicel, gave low levels of activity in the culture fluid (less than 2 U ml-1) and did not appear to be associated with the fungal rhizoid, as treatment with various solubilizing agents failed to give increased activity.(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 250 WORDS)     

Inhibition of the rumen anaerobic fungus Neocallimastix frontalis by fermentation products

The effects of bacterial fermentation products on cellulose degradation by the rumen fungus Neocallimastix frontalis have been investigated. H₂, formate, lactate and ethanol were strong inhibitors, particularly at high concentrations. Acetate and malate also inhibited, whereas succinate had a variable effect. Butyrate and propionate had no inhibitory effects.     

Breakdown of crystalline cellulose by synergistic action between cellulase components from Clostridium thermocellum and Trichoderma koningii

Abstract Certain isolated components of fungal cellulases, which cannot effect the breakdown of highly ordered cellulose individually, interact together synergistically to do so when recombined. Suprisingly, not all fungal cellulase components exhibit this property, and no such synergism has been observed so far between fungal and bacterial cellulases.
The cellulase complex of Clostridium thermocellum cannot effect the extensive breakdown of highly ordered cellulose unless Ca²⁺ and dithiothreitol (DTT) are present. However, we now report that isolated cellobiohydrolase from Trichoderma koningii can combine with C. thermocellum cellulase to effect the breakdown of cellulose in the absence of Ca²⁺ and DTT. enhanced activity is observed if Ca²⁺ and DTT are present.
This finding may have important applications in industry: it certainly has important implications for those interested in the basic mechanism of cellulase action in C. thermocellum .     

The mechanism of fungal cellulase action. Synergism between enzyme components of Penicillium pinophilum cellulase in solubilizing hydrogen bond-ordered cellulose.

Studies on reconstituted mixtures of extensively purified cellobiohydrolases I and II and the five major endoglucanases of the fungus Penicillium pinophilum have provided some new information on the mechanism by which crystalline cellulose in the form of the cotton fibre is rendered soluble. It was observed that there was little or no synergistic activity either between purified cellobiohydrolases I and II, or, contrary to previous findings, between the individual cellobiohydrolases and the endoglucanases. Cotton fibre was degraded to a significant degree only when three enzymes were present in the reconstituted enzyme mixture: these were cellobiohydrolases I and II and some specific endoglucanases. The optimum ratio of the cellobiohydrolases was 1:1. Only a trace of endoglucanase activity was required to make the mixture of cellobiohydrolases I and II effective. The addition of cellobiohydrolases I and II individually to endoglucanases from other cellulolytic fungi resulted in little synergistic activity; however, a mixture of endoglucanases and both cellobiohydrolases was effective. It is suggested that current concepts of the mechanism of cellulase action may be the result of incompletely resolved complexes between cellobiohydrolase and endoglucanase activities. It was found that such complexes in filtrates of P. pinophilium or Trichoderma reesei were easily resolved using affinity chromatography on a column of p-aminobenzyl-1-thio-beta-D-cellobioside.     

Glycosidases of the rumen anaerobic fungus Neocallimastix frontalis grown on cellulosic substrates

The rumen anaerobic fungus Neocallimastix frontalis was grown on cellulosic substrates, and the cellular distribution and types of glycosidases produced by the organism were studied. Fungal cultures were fractionated into extracellular, insoluble (membrane), and intracellular fractions and assayed for glycosidase activity by using Avicel, carboxymethylcellulose, xylan, starch, polygalacturonic acid, and the p-nitrophenyl derivatives of galactose, glucose, and xylose as substrates. Enzymic activity was highest in the extracellular fraction; however, the membrane fraction also displayed appreciable activity. The intracellular fraction was inactive towards all substrates. Polygalacturonic acid was the only substrate not hydrolyzed by the active fractions, indicating that pectinase was absent. The results show that N. frontalis, a common rumen anaerobic fungus, produces enzymes for degrading cellulose and hemicellulose, key components of plant fiber.     

Supernatant protein and cellulase activities of the anaerobic ruminal fungus Neocallimastix frontalis EB188

Protein and cellulose activities were measured in culture supernatants of the anaerobic ruminal fungus Neocallimastix frontalis EB188 established in glucose medium and switched to either glucose, cellobiose, or cellulose media. Polyacrylamide gel electrophoresis was used to show differences caused by changing medium carbon source. Culture supernatants contained proteins with molecular weights ranging from greater than 116,000 to about 19,000. Low levels of cellulose activity were evident in glucose-grown cultures. Increased amounts of slowly migrating cellulase activities appeared in the supernatants of glucose-grown cultures switched to cellulose. Cellulase activities which reacted differentially during colorimetric and in situ assays were produced. Isoelectric points of cellulase activities varied from 3.7 to 8.3, and activities possessed optimal pHs of between 5.9 and 6.5.     

Glycosidases of the rumen anaerobic fungus Neocallimastix frontalis grown on cellulosic substrates.

The rumen anaerobic fungus Neocallimastix frontalis was grown on cellulosic substrates, and the cellular distribution and types of glycosidases produced by the organism were studied. Fungal cultures were fractionated into extracellular, insoluble (membrane), and intracellular fractions and assayed for glycosidase activity by using Avicel, carboxymethylcellulose, xylan, starch, polygalacturonic acid, and the p-nitrophenyl derivatives of galactose, glucose, and xylose as substrates. Enzymic activity was highest in the extracellular fraction; however, the membrane fraction also displayed appreciable activity. The intracellular fraction was inactive towards all substrates. Polygalacturonic acid was the only substrate not hydrolyzed by the active fractions, indicating that pectinase was absent. The results show that N. frontalis, a common rumen anaerobic fungus, produces enzymes for degrading cellulose and hemicellulose, key components of plant fiber.     

Supernatant protein and cellulase activities of the anaerobic ruminal fungus Neocallimastix frontalis EB188.

Protein and cellulose activities were measured in culture supernatants of the anaerobic ruminal fungus Neocallimastix frontalis EB188 established in glucose medium and switched to either glucose, cellobiose, or cellulose media. Polyacrylamide gel electrophoresis was used to show differences caused by changing medium carbon source. Culture supernatants contained proteins with molecular weights ranging from greater than 116,000 to about 19,000. Low levels of cellulose activity were evident in glucose-grown cultures. Increased amounts of slowly migrating cellulase activities appeared in the supernatants of glucose-grown cultures switched to cellulose. Cellulase activities which reacted differentially during colorimetric and in situ assays were produced. Isoelectric points of cellulase activities varied from 3.7 to 8.3, and activities possessed optimal pHs of between 5.9 and 6.5.     

Direct conversion of cellulose to methane by anaerobic fungus Neocallimastix frontalis and defined methanogens

Co-cultures of N. frontalis with a formate-utilizing methanogen, Methanobacterium formicicum and/or an aceticlastic methanogen, Methanosaeta concilii, were performed for methane production from cellulose. In the co-culture with M. formicicum, ca. 16 mM CH₄ was produced after 7 days without accumulation of H₂ and formate. In the co-culture with M. concilii, 12 mM CH₄ was produced after 17 days with decreasing acetate production. In the tri-culture of N. frontalis with M. formicicum and M. concilii, 24 mM CH₄ was produced after 17 days where acetate still remained at 23 mM, but production of lactate and ethanol decreased. When a 4-times concentrated culture broth of M. concilii was inoculated in this tri-culture system in a bioreactor, 150 mM CH₄ was produced after 24 days by feeding of cellulose, although 57 mM acetate still accumulated.     

The cellulase of Penicillium pinophilum. Synergism between enzyme components in solubilizing cellulose with special reference to the involvement of two immunologically distinct cellobiohydrolases.

Two immunologically unrelated cellobiohydrolases (I and II), isolated from the extracellular cellulase system elaborated by the fungus Penicillum pinophilum, acted in synergism to solubilize the microcrystalline cellulose Avicel; the ratio of the two enzymes for maximum rate of attack was approx. 1:1. A hypothesis to explain the phenomenon of synergism between two endwise-acting cellobiohydrolases is presented. It is suggested that the cellobiohydrolases may be two stereospecific enzymes concerned with the hydrolysis of the two different configurations of non-reducing end groups that would exist in cellulose. Only one type of cellobiohydrolase has been isolated so far from the cellulases of the fungi Fusarium solani and Trichoderma koningii. Only cellobiohydrolase II of P. pinophilum acted synergistically with the cellobiohydrolase of the fungi T. koningii or F. solani to solubilize Avicel. Cellobiohydrolase II showed no capacity for co-operating with the endo-1,4-beta-glucanase of T. koningii or F. solani to solubilize crystalline cellulose, but cellobiohydrolase I did. These results are discussed in the context of the hypothesis presented.     

Purification and characterization of an extracellular β-xylosidase from the rumen anaerobic fungus Neocallimastix frontalis

The purification of beta-xylosidase (beta-D-xyloside xylohydrolase, EC 3.2.1.37) from Neocallimastix frontalis was performed by ammonium sulphate precipitation, ion exchange chromatography, gel filtration and preparative isoelectric focusing. The enzyme had a molecular mass of 180,000 Da, an isoelectric point at pH 4.35 and catalysed the hydrolysis of p-nitrophenyl-beta-D-xylopyranoside optimally at pH 6.5 and 35 degrees C with a Km of 0.33 mg ml-1. The enzymatic activity was strongly increased by the presence of Ca2+, Mn2+, Zn2+, Co2+ or Mg2+ and completely inhibited by Hg2+ and p-chloromercuribenzoate. The purified protein also had a low level of xylanase activity.     

Role of catabolite regulatory mechanisms in control of carbohydrate utilization by the rumen anaerobic fungus Neocallimastix frontalis

Neocallimastix frontalis PN-1 utilized the soluble sugars D-glucose, D-cellobiose, D-fructose, maltose, sucrose, and D-xylose for growth. L-Arabinose, D-galactose, D-mannose, and D-xylitol did not support growth of the fungus. Paired substrate test systems were used to determine whether any two sugars were utilized simultaneously or sequentially. Of the paired monosaccharides tested, glucose was found to be preferentially utilized compared with fructose and xylose. The disaccharides cellobiose and sucrose were preferentially utilized compared with fructose and glucose, respectively, an cellobiose was also the preferred substrate compared with xylose. Xylose was the preferred substrate compared with maltose. In further incubations, the fungus was grown on the substrate utilized last in the two-substrate tests. After moderate growth was attained, the preferred substrate was added to the culture medium. Inhibition of nonpreferred substrate utilization by the addition of the preferred substrate was taken as evidence of catabolite regulation. For the various combinations of substrates tested, fructose and xylose utilization was found to be inhibited in the presence of glucose, indicating that catabolite regulation was involved. No clear-cut inhibition was observed with any of the other substrate combinations tested. The significance of these findings in relation to rumen microbial interactions and competitions is discussed.     

Xylanolysis by cocultures of the rumen fungus Neocallimastix frontalis and ruminal bacteria

The effect of fibrolytic and saccharolytic rumen bacteria on xylanolysis by the rumen fungus Neocallimastix frontalis has been investigated. In cocultivations N. frontalis interacted synergistically with Bacteroides ruminicola, Succinivibrio dextrin-osolvens and Selenomonas ruminantium during xylan utilization. Xylan utilization decreased in cocultures containing Lachnospira multiparus or Streptococcus bovis. Ruminococcus flavefaciens appeared to inhibit fungal growth.     

Role of catabolite regulatory mechanisms in control of carbohydrate utilization by the rumen anaerobic fungus Neocallimastix frontalis.

Neocallimastix frontalis PN-1 utilized the soluble sugars D-glucose, D-cellobiose, D-fructose, maltose, sucrose, and D-xylose for growth. L-Arabinose, D-galactose, D-mannose, and D-xylitol did not support growth of the fungus. Paired substrate test systems were used to determine whether any two sugars were utilized simultaneously or sequentially. Of the paired monosaccharides tested, glucose was found to be preferentially utilized compared with fructose and xylose. The disaccharides cellobiose and sucrose were preferentially utilized compared with fructose and glucose, respectively, an cellobiose was also the preferred substrate compared with xylose. Xylose was the preferred substrate compared with maltose. In further incubations, the fungus was grown on the substrate utilized last in the two-substrate tests. After moderate growth was attained, the preferred substrate was added to the culture medium. Inhibition of nonpreferred substrate utilization by the addition of the preferred substrate was taken as evidence of catabolite regulation. For the various combinations of substrates tested, fructose and xylose utilization was found to be inhibited in the presence of glucose, indicating that catabolite regulation was involved. No clear-cut inhibition was observed with any of the other substrate combinations tested. The significance of these findings in relation to rumen microbial interactions and competitions is discussed.     

Interactions between components of the cellulase complex of Trichoderma koningii on native substrates

Summary The cellulase complex of Trichoderma koningii has been separated into four apparently pure components namely cellobiase, a C₁-like component and two new components, one a CM-cellulase, the other named component C₂. All four are necessary for efficient solubilisation of native cellulose. 2. The two new components together constitute the composite CM-cellulase-short-fibre forming activity described by Halliwell and Riaz (1970). 3. Alone only components C₂ and C₁ have any action on the substrate, the former being somewhat more effective than the C₁ component which shows weak solubilising power. 4. Component C₂ degrades cellulose weakly to short-fibres but synergises extensively with the CM-cellulase in promoting this process. In contrast the CM-cellula se fails to react significantly with component C₁. 6. The interaction of all four components in contributing to the degradation of native cellulose is discussed.     

Influence of the rumen anaerobic fungus Neocallimastix frontalis on the proteolytic activity of a defined mixture of rumen bacteria growing on a solid substrate

A grass + fishmeal ruminant feed was incubated for 7 d in a mineral salts medium with the non-proteolytic rumen bacteria Bacteroides succinogenes, Ruminococcus flavefaciens, Megasphaera elsdenii and proteolytic strains of Bacteroides ruminicola, Selenomonas ruminantium and Streptococcus bovis in the presence and absence of the anaerobic fungus Neocallitnastix frontalis . The fungus increased the dry matter digestion from 65·0 to 69·4%, and more than doubled the proteolytic activity of the culture filtrate. However, a greater difference was observed with the solid material, where the proteolytic activity increased from 0·71 to 6·89 mg ¹⁴C-casein hydrolysed/g/h, due mainly to EDTA-sensitive fungal protease.