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.