Production and biochemical characterization of a novel cellulase-poor alkali-thermo-tolerant xylanase from <Emphasis Type="Italic">Coprinellus disseminatus</Emphasis> SW-1 NTCC 1165

Fungi producing xylanases are plentiful but alkali-thermo-tolerant fungi producing cellulase-poor xylanase are rare. Out of 12 fungal strains isolated from various sources, Coprinellus disseminatus SW-1 NTCC 1165 yielded the highest xylanase activity (362.1 IU/ml) with minimal cellulase contamination (0.64 IU/ml). The solid state fermentation was more effective yielding 88.59% higher xylanase activity than that of submerged fermentation. An incubation period of 7 days at 37°C and pH 6.4 accelerated the xylanase production up to the maximum level. Among various inexpensive agro-residues used as carbon source, wheat bran induced the maximum xylanase titres (469.45 IU/ml) while soya bean meal was the best nitrogen source (478.5 IU/ml). A solid substrate to moisture content ratio of 1:3 was suitable for xylanase production while xylanase titre was repressed with the addition of glucose and lactose. The xylanase and laccase activities under optimized conditions were 499.60 and 25.5 IU/ml, respectively along with negligible cellulase contamination (0.86 IU/ml). Biochemical characterization revealed that optimal xylanase activity was observed at pH 6.4 and temperature 55°C and xylanase is active up to pH 9 (40.33 IU/ml) and temperature 85°C (48.81 IU/ml). SDS–PAGE and zymogram analysis indicated that molecular weight of alkali-thermo-tolerant xylanase produced by C. disseminatus SW-1 NTCC 1165 was 43 kDa.