Trichoderma reesei has no true exo-cellulase: all intact and truncated cellulases produce new reducing end groups on cellulose

Identification and purification of the main components of cellulases from a mutant strain of Trichoderma viride T 100-14

A new mutant strain of fungus Trichoderma viride T 100-14 was cultivated on 1% microcrystalline cellulose (Avicel) for 120h and the resulting culture filtrate was prepared for protein identification and purification. To identify the predominant catalytic components, cellulases were separated by an adapted two-dimensional electrophoresis technique. The apparent major spots were identified by high performance liquid chromatography electrospray ionization mass (HPLC-ESI-MS). Seven of the components were previously known, i.e., the endoglucanases Cel7B (EG I), Cel12A (EG III), Cel61A (EG IV), the cellobiohydrolases Cel7A (CBH I), Cel6A (CBH II), Cel6B (CBH IIb) and the beta-glucosidase. The seven major components in the fermentation broth of T. viride T 100-14 probably constitute the essential enzymes for crystalline cellulose hydrolysis and they were further purified to electrophoretic homogeneity by a series of chromatography column. Hydrolysis studies of the purified elements revealed that three of the cellulases were classified as cellobiohydrolases due to their main activities on p-nitrophenyl-beta-d-cellobioside (pNPC). Three of the cellulases, with the abilities of hydrolyzing both carboxymethyl-cellulose (CMC) and Avicel indicate their endoglucanase activities. It deserved noting that the beta-glucosidase from the T 100-14 displayed an extremely high activity on p-nitrophenyl-beta-D-glycopyranoside (pNPG), which suggested it was a good candidate for the conversion of cellobiose to glucose.

A novel function for the cellulose binding module of cellobiohydrolase I

A homogeneous cellulose-binding module (CBM) of cellobiohydrolase I (CBHI) from Trichoderma pseudokoningii S-38 was obtained by the limited proteolysis with papain and a series of chromatographs filtration. Analysis of FT-IR spectra demonstrated that the structural changes result from a weakening and splitting of the hydrogen bond network in cellulose by the action of CBM(CBHI) at 40 degrees C for 24 h. The results of molecular dynamic simulations are consistent with the experimental conclusions, and provide a nanoscopic view of the mechanism that strong and medium H-bonds decreased dramatically when CBM was bound to the cellulose surface. The function of CBM(CBHI) is not only limited to locating intact CBHI in close proximity with cellulose fibrils, but also is involved in the structural disruption at the fibre surface. The present studies provided considerable evidence for the model of the intramolecular synergy between the catalytic domain and their CBMs.

Metagenomic and functional analysis of hindgut microbiota of a wood-feeding higher termite

From the standpoints of both basic research and biotechnology, there is considerable interest in reaching a clearer understanding of the diversity of biological mechanisms employed during lignocellulose degradation. Globally, termites are an extremely successful group of wood-degrading organisms and are therefore important both for their roles in carbon turnover in the environment and as potential sources of biochemical catalysts for efforts aimed at converting wood into biofuels. Only recently have data supported any direct role for the symbiotic bacteria in the gut of the termite in cellulose and xylan hydrolysis. Here we use a metagenomic analysis of the bacterial community resident in the hindgut paunch of a wood-feeding 'higher' Nasutitermes species (which do not contain cellulose-fermenting protozoa) to show the presence of a large, diverse set of bacterial genes for cellulose and xylan hydrolysis. Many of these genes were expressed in vivo or had cellulase activity in vitro, and further analyses implicate spirochete and fibrobacter species in gut lignocellulose degradation. New insights into other important symbiotic functions including H2 metabolism, CO2-reductive acetogenesis and N2 fixation are also provided by this first system-wide gene analysis of a microbial community specialized towards plant lignocellulose degradation. Our results underscore how complex even a 1-microl environment can be.

pH dependency of ligand binding to cellobiohydrolase 1 (Cel7A)

The affinity and enantioselectivity have been determined for designed propranolol derivatives as ligands for Cel7A by capillary electrophoresis (CE) at pH 7.0. These results have been compared to measurements at pH 5.0. In agreement with previous studies, the affinity increased at the higher pH. However, the affinity was not as dependent of the ligand structure at pH 7.0 as at pH 5.0, and the selectivity was generally decreased. Instead, at pH 7.0, the changes in binding were mainly dependent on the presence of additional dihydroxyl groups, indicating an increased importance of the electrostatic interactions. To evaluate the pH dependent variations in binding, changes in both the ligand and in the enzyme had to be taken into account. To ensure that the ligands had the same charge in all measurements, pKa-values of all compounds were determined. The ligand-protein interaction has also been studied by inhibition experiments at both pHs to evaluate the specific binding to the active site when competing with the substrate p-nitrophenyl lactoside (pNPL). With support of docking computations we propose a hypothesis on the effect of the ligand structure and pH dependency of the binding and selectivity of amino alcohols to Cel7A.

Costs and benefits of processivity in enzymatic degradation of recalcitrant polysaccharides

Many enzymes that hydrolyze insoluble crystalline polysaccharides such as cellulose and chitin guide detached single-polymer chains through long and deep active-site clefts, leading to processive (stepwise) degradation of the polysaccharide. We have studied the links between enzyme efficiency and processivity by analyzing the effects of mutating aromatic residues in the substrate-binding groove of a processive chitobiohydrolase, chitinase B from Serratia marcescens. Mutation of two tryptophan residues (Trp-97 and Trp-220) close to the catalytic center (subsites +1 and +2) led to reduced processivity and a reduced ability to degrade crystalline chitin, suggesting that these two properties are linked. Most remarkably, the loss of processivity in the W97A mutant was accompanied by a 29-fold increase in the degradation rate for single-polymer chains as present in the soluble chitin-derivative chitosan. The properties of the W220A mutant showed a similar trend, although mutational effects were less dramatic. Processivity is thought to contribute to the degradation of crystalline polysaccharides because detached single-polymer chains are kept from reassociating with the solid material. The present results show that this processivity comes at a large cost in terms of enzyme speed. Thus, in some cases, it might be better to focus strategies for enzymatic depolymerization of polysaccharide biomass on improving substrate accessibility for nonprocessive enzymes rather than on improving the properties of processive enzymes.

Endo/exo mechanism and processivity of family 18 chitinases produced by Serratia marcescens

We present a comparative study of ChiA, ChiB, and ChiC, the three family 18 chitinases produced by Serratia marcescens. All three enzymes eventually converted chitin to N-acetylglucosamine dimers (GlcNAc2) and a minor fraction of monomers. ChiC differed from ChiA and ChiB in that it initially produced longer oligosaccharides from chitin and had lower activity towards an oligomeric substrate, GlcNAc6. ChiA and ChiB could convert GlcNAc6 directly to three dimers, whereas ChiC produced equal amounts of tetramers and dimers, suggesting that the former two enzymes can act processively. Further insight was obtained by studying degradation of the soluble, partly deacetylated chitin-derivative chitosan. Because there exist nonproductive binding modes for this substrate, it was possible to discriminate between independent binding events and processive binding events. In reactions with ChiA and ChiB the polymer disappeared very slowly, while the initially produced oligomers almost exclusively had even-numbered chain lengths in the 2-12 range. This demonstrates a processive mode of action in which the substrate chain moves by two sugar units at a time, regardless of whether complexes formed along the way are productive. In contrast, reactions with ChiC showed rapid disappearance of the polymer and production of a continuum of odd- and even-numbered oligomers. These results are discussed in the light of recent literature data on directionality and synergistic effects of ChiA, ChiB and ChiC, leading to the conclusion that ChiA and ChiB are processive chitinases that degrade chitin chains in opposite directions, while ChiC is a nonprocessive endochitinase.

Characterization of carbohydrate-binding cytochrome b562 from the white-rot fungus Phanerochaete chrysosporium

cDNA encoding a hemoprotein similar to the cytochrome domain of extracellular flavocytochrome cellobiose dehydrogenase (CDH) was cloned from the white-rot fungus Phanerochaete chrysosporium. The deduced amino acid sequence implies that there is a two-domain structure consisting of an N-terminal cytochrome domain and a C-terminal family 1 carbohydrate-binding module (CBM1) but that the flavin-containing domain of CDH is not present. The gene transcripts were observed in cultures in cellulose medium but not in cultures in glucose medium, suggesting that there is regulation by carbon catabolite repression. The gene was successfully overexpressed in Pichia pastoris, and the recombinant protein was designated carbohydrate-binding cytochrome b562 (CBCyt. b562). The resonance Raman spectrum suggested that the heme of CBCyt. b562 is 6-coordinated in both the ferric and ferrous states. Moreover, the redox potential measured by cyclic voltammetry was similar to that of the cytochrome domain of CDH. These results suggest that the redox characteristics may be similar to those of the cytochrome domain of CDH, and so CBCyt. b562 may have an electron transfer function. In a binding study with various carbohydrates, CBCyt. b562 was adsorbed with high affinity on both cellulose and chitin. As far as we know, this is the first example of a CBM1 connected to a domain without apparent catalytic activity for carbohydrate; this CBM1 may play a role in localization of the redox protein on the surface of cellulose or on the fungal sheath in vivo.

Processive action of cellobiohydrolase Cel7A from Trichoderma reesei is revealed as 'burst' kinetics on fluorescent polymeric model substrates

Reaction conditions for the reducing-end-specific derivatization of cellulose substrates with the fluorogenic compound, anthranilic acid, have been established. Hydrolysis of fluorescence-labelled celluloses by cellobiohydrolase Cel7A from Trichoderma reesei was consistent with the active-site titration kinetics (burst kinetics), which allowed the quantification of the processivity of the enzyme. The processivity values of 88+/-10, 42+/-10 and 34+/-2.0 cellobiose units were found for Cel7A acting on labelled bacterial cellulose, bacterial microcrystalline cellulose and endoglucanase-pretreated bacterial cellulose respectively. The anthranilic acid derivatization also provides an alternative means for estimating the average degree of polymerization of cellulose and, furthermore, allows the quantitative monitoring of the production of reducing end groups on solid cellulose on hydrolysis by cellulases. Hydrolysis of bacterial cellulose by cellulases from T. reesei revealed that, by contrast with endoglucanase Cel5A, neither cellobiohydrolases Cel7A nor Cel6A produced detectable amounts of new reducing end groups on residual cellulose.

Toward an aggregated understanding of enzymatic hydrolysis of cellulose: noncomplexed cellulase systems

Information pertaining to enzymatic hydrolysis of cellulose by noncomplexed cellulase enzyme systems is reviewed with a particular emphasis on development of aggregated understanding incorporating substrate features in addition to concentration and multiple cellulase components. Topics considered include properties of cellulose, adsorption, cellulose hydrolysis, and quantitative models. A classification scheme is proposed for quantitative models for enzymatic hydrolysis of cellulose based on the number of solubilizing activities and substrate state variables included. We suggest that it is timely to revisit and reinvigorate functional modeling of cellulose hydrolysis, and that this would be highly beneficial if not necessary in order to bring to bear the large volume of information available on cellulase components on the primary applications that motivate interest in the subject.

Structural basis for ligand binding and processivity in cellobiohydrolase Cel6A from Humicola insolens

The enzymatic digestion of cellulose entails intimate involvement of cellobiohydrolases, whose characteristic active-center tunnel contributes to a processive degradation of the polysaccharide. The cellobiohydrolase Cel6A displays an active site within a tunnel formed by two extended loops, which are known to open and close in response to ligand binding. Here we present five structures of wild-type and mutant forms of Cel6A from Humicola insolens in complex with nonhydrolyzable thio-oligosaccharides, at resolutions from 1.7-1.1 A, dissecting the structural accommodation of a processing substrate chain through the active center during hydrolysis. Movement of ligand is facilitated by extensive solvent-mediated interactions and through flexibility in the hydrophobic surfaces provided by a sheath of tryptophan residues.

Mechanism of substrate inhibition in cellulose synergistic degradation

A comprehensive experimental study of substrate inhibition in cellulose hydrolysis based on a well defined system is presented. The hydrolysis of bacterial cellulose by synergistically operating binary mixtures of cellobiohydrolase I from Trichoderma reesei and five different endoglucanases as well as their catalytic domains displays a characteristic substrate inhibition. This inhibition phenomenon is shown to require the two-domain structure of an intact cellobiohydrolase. The experimental data were in accordance with a mechanism where cellobiohydrolases previously bound to the cellulose by means of their cellulose binding domains are able to find chain ends by lateral diffusion. An increased substrate concentration at a fixed enzyme load will also increase the average diffusion distance/time needed for cellobiohydrolases to reach new chain ends created by endoglucanases, resulting in an apparent substrate inhibition of the synergistic action. The connection between the binding properties and the substrate inhibition is encouraging with respect to molecular engineering of the binding domain for optimal performance in biotechnological processes.

Cellulases from the fungi Phanerochaete chrysosporium and Trichoderma reesei as chiral selectors in capillary electrophoresis: applications with displacer plugs and sample preconcentration

The cellulases CBH 58 from the fungus Phanerochaete chrysosporium and CBH I from the fungus Trichoderma reesei were compared as chiral selectors in capillary electrophoresis (CE) applying the partial filling technique. Amines, e.g., norephedrine, two bambuterol analogs, as well as acids, e.g., di-p-toluoyl tartaric acid and dibenzoyl tartaric acid, which could not be enantioseparated in the liquid chromatographic use of the selectors, could be separated in the corresponding CE experiments. Due to the very high enantioselectivities, terbutaline, alprenolol and propranolol could be completely enantioresolved with selector plugs shorter than the sample plugs. The affinity of propranolol to CBH 58 was so high at pH 7.0 that neither of the enantiomers reached the detector; therefore, a plug of the displacing disaccharide cellobiose was injected after the sample to elute the propranolol enantiomers. The enantiomers could also be made to leave the capillary at opposite ends, thereby causing an infinite enantioresolution. A new preconcentration technique was introduced, which takes advantage of the very high affinity of propranolol to CBH 58 and the eluting ability of cellobiose. A 12.5 cm long plug of rac-propranolol could be preconcentrated and enantioseparated in a single procedure.

Imaging the enzymatic digestion of bacterial cellulose ribbons reveals the endo character of the cellobiohydrolase Cel6A from Humicola insolens and its mode of synergy with cellobiohydrolase Cel7A

Dispersed cellulose ribbons from bacterial cellulose were subjected to digestion with cloned Cel7A (cellobiohydrolase [CBH] I) and Cel6A (CBH II) from Humicola insolens either alone or in a mixture and in the presence of an excess of beta-glucosidase. Both Cel7A and Cel6A were effective in partially converting the ribbons into soluble sugars, Cel7A being more active than Cel6A. In combination, these enzymes showed substantial synergy culminating with a molar ratio of approximately two-thirds Cel6A and one-third Cel7A. Ultrastructural transmission electron microscopy (TEM) observations indicated that Cel7A induced a thinning of the cellulose ribbons, whereas Cel6A cut the ribbons into shorter elements, indicating an endo type of action. These observations, together with the examination of the digestion kinetics, indicate that Cel6A can be classified as an endo-processive enzyme, whereas Cel7A is essentially a processive enzyme. Thus, the synergy resulting from the mixing of Cel6A and Cel7A can be explained by the partial endo character of Cel6A. A preparation of bacterial cellulose ribbons appears to be an appropriate substrate, superior to Valonia or bacterial cellulose microcrystals, to visualize directly by TEM the endo-processivity of an enzyme such as Cel6A.

Imaging the enzymatic digestion of bacterial cellulose ribbons reveals the endo character of the cellobiohydrolase Cel6A from Humicola insolens and its mode of synergy with cellobiohydrolase Cel7A

Dispersed cellulose ribbons from bacterial cellulose were subjected to digestion with cloned Cel7A (cellobiohydrolase [CBH] I) and Cel6A (CBH II) from Humicola insolens either alone or in a mixture and in the presence of an excess of beta-glucosidase. Both Cel7A and Cel6A were effective in partially converting the ribbons into soluble sugars, Cel7A being more active than Cel6A. In combination, these enzymes showed substantial synergy culminating with a molar ratio of approximately two-thirds Cel6A and one-third Cel7A. Ultrastructural transmission electron microscopy (TEM) observations indicated that Cel7A induced a thinning of the cellulose ribbons, whereas Cel6A cut the ribbons into shorter elements, indicating an endo type of action. These observations, together with the examination of the digestion kinetics, indicate that Cel6A can be classified as an endo-processive enzyme, whereas Cel7A is essentially a processive enzyme. Thus, the synergy resulting from the mixing of Cel6A and Cel7A can be explained by the partial endo character of Cel6A. A preparation of bacterial cellulose ribbons appears to be an appropriate substrate, superior to Valonia or bacterial cellulose microcrystals, to visualize directly by TEM the endo-processivity of an enzyme such as Cel6A.

A critical review of cellobiose dehydrogenases

Cellobiose dehydrogenase (CDH) is an extracellular enzyme produced by various wood-degrading fungi. It oxidizes soluble cellodextrins, mannodextrins and lactose efficiently to their corresponding lactones by a ping-pong mechanism using a wide spectrum of electron acceptors including quinones, phenoxyradicals, Fe(3+), Cu(2+) and triiodide ion. Monosaccharides, maltose and molecular oxygen are poor substrates. CDH that adsorbs strongly and specifically to cellulose carries two prosthetic groups; namely, an FAD and a heme in two different domains that can be separated after limited proteolysis. The FAD-containing fragment carries all known catalytic and cellulose binding properties. One-electron acceptors, like ferricyanide, cytochrome c and phenoxy radicals, are, however, reduced more slowly by the FAD-fragment than by the intact enzyme, suggesting that the function of the heme group is to facilitate one-electron transfer. Non-heme forms of CDH have been found in the culture filtrate of some fungi (probably due to the action of fungal proteases) and were for a long time believed to represent a separate enzyme (cellobiose:quinone oxidoreductase, CBQ). The amino acid sequence of CDH has been determined and no significant homology with other proteins was detected for the heme domain. The FAD-domain sequence belongs to the GMC oxidoreductase family that includes, among others, Aspergillus niger glucose oxidase. The homology is most distinct in regions that correspond to the FAD-binding domain in glucose oxidase. A cellulose-binding domain of the fungal type is present in CDH from Myceliophtore thermophila (Sporotrichum thermophile), but in others an internal sequence rich in aromatic amino acid residues has been suggested to be responsible for the cellulose binding. The biological function of CDH is not fully understood, but recent results support a hydroxyl radical-generating mechanism whereby the radical can degrade and modify cellulose, hemicellulose and lignin. CDH has found technical use in highly selective amperometric biosensors and several other applications have been suggested.

Acid hydrolysis of bacterial cellulose reveals different modes of synergistic action between cellobiohydrolase I and endoglucanase I

Intact and partially acid hydrolyzed cellulose from Acetobacter xylinum were used as model substrates for cellulose hydrolysis by 1,4-beta-D-glucan-cellobiohydrolase I (CBH I) and 1,4-beta-D-endoglucanase I (EG I) from Trichoderma reesei. A high synergy between CBH I and EG I in simultaneous action was observed with intact bacterial cellulose (BC), but this synergistic effect was rapidly reduced by acid pretreatment of the cellulose. Moreover, a distinct synergistic effect was observed upon sequential endo-exo action on BC, but not on bacterial microcrystalline cellulose (BMCC). A mechanism for endo-exo synergism on crystalline cellulose is proposed where the simultaneous action of the enzymes counteract the decrease of activity caused by undesirable changes in the cellulose surface microstructure.

Endoglucanase 28 (Cel12A), a new Phanerochaete chrysosporium cellulase

A 28-kDa endoglucanase was isolated from the culture filtrate of Phanerochaete chrysosporium strain K3 and named EG 28. It degrades carboxymethylated cellulose and amorphous cellulose, and to a lesser degree xylan and mannan but not microcrystalline cellulose (Avicel). EG 28 is unusual among cellulases from aerobic fungi, in that it appears to lack a cellulose-binding domain and does not bind to crystalline cellulose. The enzyme is efficient at releasing short fibres from filter paper and mechanical pulp, and acts synergistically with cellobiohydrolases. Its mode of degrading filter paper appears to be different to that of endoglucanase I from Trichoderma reesei. Furthermore, EG 28 releases colour from stained cellulose beads faster than any other enzyme tested. Peptide mapping suggests that it is not a fragment of another known endoglucanases from P. chrysosporium and peptide sequences indicate that it belongs to family 12 of the glycosyl hydrolases. EG 28 is glycosylated. The biological function of the enzyme is discussed, and it is hypothesized that it is homologous to EG III in Trichoderma reesei and the role of the enzyme is to make the cellulose in wood more accessible to other cellulases.

Cellobiose dehydrogenase from Schizophyllum commune: purification and study of some catalytic, inactivation, and cellulose-binding properties

Cellobiose dehydrogenase (CDH) of Schizophyllum commune was purified to homogeneity. It is a glycoprotein with a molecular mass of 102, 000. Cellulosic substrates can serve as substrates for CDH. Cytochrome c, dichlorophenol-indophenol, ferricyanide, and oxygen can be reduced by the enzyme. CDH is stable in the pH range of 4-11 and up to 35 degrees C. The enzyme keeps active at high concentrations of H2O2. In the presence of cellobiose and Fe3+, incubation of CDH resulted in its inactivation and the degree of the inactivation was dependent mainly on the amount of CDH and cellobiose present. CDH has a distinct and specific affinity to cellulose and showed the strongest binding to acid-treated cellulose. The adsorption isotherm data fitted the Langmuir-type equation. The uv-visible spectra of the oxidized and reduced states of CDH showed a typical cytochrome b-type pattern. Addition of dithionite eliminated the adsorption between 440 and 500 nm, which indicates the presence of a flavin group in CDH.

Trichoderma reesei cellobiohydrolase I with an endoglucanase cellulose-binding domain: action on bacterial microcrystalline cellulose

Cellulolytic enzymes consist of distinct catalytic and cellulose-binding domains (CBDs). The presence of a CBD improves the binding and activity of cellulases on insoluble substrates but has no influence on their activities on soluble substrates. Structural and biochemical studies of a fungal CBD from Trichoderma reesei cellobiohydrolase I have revealed a wedge shaped structure with a flat cellulose binding surface containing three essential tyrosine residues. The face of the wedge is strictly conserved in all fungal CBDs while many differences occur on the other face of the wedge. Here we have studied the importance of these differences on the function of the T. reesei CBHI by replacing its CBD by a homologous CBD from the endoglucanase, EGI. Our data shows that, apart from slightly improved affinity of the hybrid enzyme, the domain exchange does not significantly influence the function of CBHI.

Arabinanase A from Pseudomonas fluorescens subsp. cellulosa exhibits both an endo- and an exo- mode of action

Pseudomonas fluorescens subsp. cellulosa expressed arabinanase activity when grown on media supplemented with arabinan or arabinose. Arabinanase activity was not induced by the inclusion of other plant structural polysaccharides, and was repressed by the addition of glucose. The majority of the Pseudomonas arabinanase activity was extracellular. Screening of a genomic library of P. fluorescens subsp. cellulosa DNA constructed in Lambda ZAPII, for recombinants that hydrolysed Red-dyed arabinan, identified five arabinan-degrading plaques. Each of the phage contained the same Pseudomonas arabinanase gene, designated arbA, which was present as a single copy in the Pseudomonas genome. The nucleotide sequence of arbA revealed an open reading frame of 1041 bp encoding a protein, designated arabinanase A (ArbA), of Mr 39438. The N-terminal sequence of ArbA exhibited features typical of a prokaryotic signal peptide. Analysis of the primary structure of ArbA indicated that, unlike most Pseudomonas plant cell wall hydrolases, it did not contain linker sequences or have a modular structure, but consisted of a single catalytic domain. Sequence comparison between the Pseudomonas arabinanase and proteins in the SWISS-PROT database showed that ArbA exhibits greatest sequence identity with arabinanase A from Aspergillus niger, placing the enzyme in glycosyl hydrolase Family 43. The significance of the differing substrate specificities of enzymes in Family 43 is discussed. ArbA purifed from a recombinant strain of Escherichia coli had an Mr of 34000 and an N-terminal sequence identical to residues 32-51 of the deduced sequence of ArbA, and hydrolysed linear arabinan, carboxymethylarabinan and arabino-oligosaccharides. The enzyme displayed no activity against other plant structural polysaccharides, including branched sugar beet arabinan. ArbA produced almost exclusively arabinotriose from linear arabinan and appeared to hydrolyse arabino-oligosaccharides by successively releasing arabinotriose. ArbA and the Aspergillus arabinanase mediated a decrease in the viscosity of linear arabinan that was associated with a significant release of reducing sugar. We propose that ArbA is an arabinanase that exhibits both an endo- and an exo- mode of action.

Cellulase induction in Trichoderma reesei by cellulose requires its own basal expression

The induction of cellulases by cellulose, an insoluble polymer, in the filamentous fungus Trichoderma reesei is puzzling. We previously proposed a mechanism that is based on the presence of low levels of cellulase in the uninduced fungus; this basal cellulase activity would digest cellulose-releasing oligosaccharides that could enter the cell and trigger expression of cellulases. We now present experiments that lend further support to this model. We show here that transcripts of two members of the cellulase system, cbh1 and egl1, are present in uninduced T. reesei cells. These transcripts are induced at least 1100-fold in the presence of cellulose. We also show that a construct containing the hygromycin B resistance-encoding gene driven by the cbh1 promoter confers hygromycin B resistance to T. reesei cells grown in the absence of cellulose. Moreover, cellulose-induced production of the cbh1 transcript was suppressed when antisense RNA against three members of the cellulase system was expressed in vivo. Experiments are presented indicating that extracellular cellulase activity is the rate-limiting event in induction of synthesis of the cellulase transcripts by cellulose. The results reveal a critical requirement for basal expression of the cellulase system for induction of synthesis of its own transcripts by cellulose.

Isotherms for adsorption of cellobiohydrolase I and II from Trichoderma reesei on microcrystalline cellulose

Adsorption to microcrystalline cellulose (Avicel) of pure cellobiohydrolase I and II (CBH I and CBH II) from Trichoderma reesei has been studied. Adsorption isotherms of the enzymes were measured at 4 degrees C using CBH I and CBH II alone and in reconstituted equimolar mixtures. Several models (Langmuir, Freundlich, Temkin, Jovanovic) were tested to describe the experimental adsorption isotherms. The isotherms did not follow the basic (one site) Langmuir equation that has often been used to describe adsorption isotherms of cellulases; correlation coefficients (R2) were only 0.926 and 0.947, for CBH I and II, respectively. The experimental isotherms were best described by a model of Langmuir type with two adsorption sites and by a combined Langmuir-Freundlich model (analogous to the Hill equation); using these models the correlation coefficients were in most cases higher than 0.995. Apparent binding parameters derived from the two sites Langmuir model indicated stronger binding of CBH II compared to CBH I; the distribution coefficients were 20.7 and 3.7 L/g for the two enzymes, respectively. The binding capacity, on the other hand, was higher for CBH I, 1.0 mumol (67 mg) per gram Avicel, compared to 0.57 mumol/g (30 mg/g) for CBH II. The isotherms when analyzed with the combined Langmuir-Freundlich model indicated presence of unequal binding sites on cellulose and/or negative cooperatively in the binding of the enzyme molecules.

The processive endocellulase CelF, a major component of the Clostridium cellulolyticum cellulosome: purification and characterization of the recombinant form

The recombinant form of the cellulase CelF of Clostridium cellulolyticum, tagged by a C-terminal histine tail, was overproduced in Escherichia coli. The fusion protein was purified by affinity chromatography on a Ni-nitrilotriacetic acid column. The intact form of CelF (Mr, 79,000) was rapidly degraded at the C terminus, giving a shorter stable form, called truncated CelF (Mr, 71,000). Both the entire and the truncated purified forms degraded amorphous cellulose (kcat = 42 and 30 min(-1), respectively) and microcrystalline cellulose (kcat = 13 and 10 min(-1), respectively). The high ratio of soluble reducing ends to insoluble reducing ends released by truncated CelF from amorphous cellulose showed that CelF is a processive enzyme. Nevertheless, the diversity of the cellodextrins released by truncated CelF from phosphoric acid-swollen cellulose at the beginning of the reaction indicated that the enzyme might randomly hydrolyze beta-1,4 bonds. This hypothesis was supported by viscosimetric measurements and by the finding that CelF and the endoglucanase CelA are able to degrade some of the same cellulose sites. CelF was therefore called a processive endocellulase. The results of immunoblotting analysis showed that CelF was associated with the cellulosome of C. cellulolyticum. It was identified as one of the three major components of cellulosomes. The ability of the entire form of CelF to interact with CipC, the cellulosome integrating protein, or mini-CipC1, a recombinant truncated form of CipC, was monitored by interaction Western blotting (immunoblotting) and by binding assays using a BIAcore biosensor-based analytical system.

Microbial hydrolysis of polysaccharides

Microorganisms are efficient degraders of starch, chitin, and the polysaccharides in plant cell walls. Attempts to purify hydrolases led to the realization that a microorganism may produce a multiplicity of enzymes, referred to as a system, for the efficient utilization of a polysaccharide. In order to fully characterize a particular enzyme, it must be obtained free of the other components of a system. Quite often, this proves to be very difficult because of the complexity of a system. This realization led to the cloning of the genes encoding them as an approach to eliminating other components. More than 400 such genes have been cloned and sequenced, and the enzymes they encode have been grouped into more than 50 families of related amino acid sequences. The enzyme systems revealed in this manner are complex on two quite different levels. First, many of the individual enzymes are complex, as they are modular proteins comprising one or more catalytic domains linked to ancillary domains that often include one or more substrate-binding domains. Second, the systems are complex, comprising from a few to 20 or more enzymes, all of which hydrolyze a particular substrate. Systems for the hydrolysis of plant cell walls usually contain more components than systems for the hydrolysis of starch and chitin because the cell walls contain several polysaccharides. In general, the systems produced by different microorganisms for the hydrolysis of a particular polysaccharide comprise similar enzymes from the same families.

The Cellulases Endoglucanase I and Cellobiohydrolase II of Trichoderma reesei Act Synergistically To Solubilize Native Cotton Cellulose but Not To Decrease Its Molecular Size

Degradation of cotton cellulose by Trichoderma reesei endoglucanase I (EGI) and cellobiohydrolase II (CBHII) was investigated by analyzing the insoluble cellulose fragments remaining after enzymatic hydrolysis. Changes in the molecular-size distribution of cellulose after attack by EGI, alone and in combination with CBHII, were determined by size exclusion chromatography of the tricarbanilate derivatives. Cotton cellulose incubated with EGI exhibited a single major peak, which with time shifted to progressively lower degrees of polymerization (DP; number of glucosyl residues per cellulose chain). In the later stages of degradation (8 days), this peak was eventually centered over a DP of 200 to 300 and was accompanied by a second peak (DP, (apprx=)15); a final weight loss of 34% was observed. Although CBHII solubilized approximately 40% of bacterial microcrystalline cellulose, the cellobiohydrolase did not depolymerize or significantly hydrolyze native cotton cellulose. Furthermore, molecular-size distributions of cellulose incubated with EGI together with CBHII did not differ from those attacked solely by EGI. However, a synergistic effect was observed in the reducing-sugar production by the cellulase mixture. From these results we conclude that EGI of T. reesei degrades cotton cellulose by selectively cleaving through the microfibrils at the amorphous sites, whereas CBHII releases soluble sugars from the EGI-degraded cotton cellulose and from the more crystalline bacterial microcrystalline cellulose.

Characterization of CenC, an enzyme from Cellulomonas fimi with both endo- and exoglucanase activities

The cenC gene, encoding beta-1,4-glucanase C (CenC) from Cellulomonas fimi, was overexpressed in Escherichia coli with a tac-based expression vector. The resulting polypeptide, with an apparent molecular mass of 130 kDa, was purified from the cell extracts by affinity chromatography on cellulose followed by anion-exchange chromatography. N-terminal sequence analysis showed the enzyme to be properly processed. Mature CenC was optimally active at pH 5.0 and 45 degrees C. The enzyme was extremely active on soluble, fluorophoric, and chromophoric glycosides (4-methylumbelliferyl beta-glycosides, 2'-chloro-4'-nitrophenyl-beta-D-cellobioside, and 2'-chloro-4'-nitrophenyl-lactoside) and efficiently hydrolyzed carboxymethyl cellulose, barley beta-glucan, lichenan, and, to a lesser extent, glucomannan. CenC also hydrolyzed acid-swollen cellulose, Avicel, and bacterial microcrystalline cellulose. However, degradation of the latter was slow compared with its degradation by CenB, another C. fimi cellulose belonging to the same enzyme family. CenC acted with inversion of configuration at the anomeric carbon, in accordance with its classification as a family 9 member. The enzyme released mainly cellobiose from soluble cellodextrins and insoluble cellulose. Attack appeared to be from the reducing chain ends. Analysis of carboxymethyl cellulose hydrolysis suggests that CenC is semiprocessive enzyme with both endo- and exoglucanase activities.

Cellobiohydrolase B, a second exo-cellobiohydrolase from the cellulolytic bacterium Cellulomonas fimi

The gene cbhB from the cellulolytic bacterium Cellulomonas fimi encodes a polypeptide of 1090 amino acids. Cellobiohydrolase B (CbhB) is 1037 amino acids long, with a calculated molecular mass of 109765 Da. The enzyme comprises five domains: an N-terminal catalytic domain of 643 amino acids, three fibronectin type III repeats of 97 amino acids each, and a C-terminal cellulose-binding domain of 104 amino acids. The catalytic domain belongs to family 48 of glycosyl hydrolases. CbhB has a very low activity on CM-cellulose. Viscometric analysis of CM-cellulose hydrolysis indicates that the enzyme is an exoglucanase. Cellobiose is the major product of hydrolysis of cellulose. In common with two other exoglycanases from C. fimi, CbhB has low but detectable endoglucanase activity. CbhB is the second exo-cellobiohydrolase found in C. fimi. Therefore, the cellulase system of C. fimi resembles those of fungi in comprising multiple endoglucanases and cellobiohydrolases.

Substrate-dependent differential splicing of introns in the regions encoding the cellulose binding domains of two exocellobiohydrolase I-like genes in Phanerochaete chrysosporium

Recently, we have shown differential splicing of an intron in the cbhI.2 gene of Phanerochaete chrysosporium ME446; this intron lies within the region of the gene encoding the cellulose binding domain (P.F.G. Sims, M. S. Soares-Felipe, Q. Wang, M.E. Gent, C. Tempelaars, and P. Broda, Mol. Microbiol. 12:209-216, 1994). Here, we show that such differential splicing occurs in the cbhI.1 gene of this fungus as well as in the cbhI.2 gene and that this phenomenon is substrate dependent. Avicel elicits the synthesis of both classes of mRNA transcripts from both of these genes. In contrast, carboxymethyl cellulose predominantly elicits the synthesis of fully spliced transcripts from both genes. Such differential splicing might allow this fungus to regulate the specificities of substrate binding for these cellulases.

Comparison of a fungal (family I) and bacterial (family II) cellulose-binding domain

A family II cellulose-binding domain (CBD) of an exoglucanase/xylanase (Cex) from the bacterium Cellulomonas fimi was replaced with the family I CBD of cellobiohydrolase I (CbhI) from the fungus Trichoderma reesei. Expression of the hybrid gene in Escherichia coli yielded up to 50 mg of the hybrid protein, CexCBDCbhI, per liter of culture supernatant. The hybrid was purified to homogeneity by affinity chromatography on cellulose. The relative association constants (Kr) for the binding of Cex, CexCBDCbhI, the catalytic domain of Cex (p33), and CbhI to bacterial microcrystalline cellulose (BMCC) were 14.9, 7.8, 0.8, and 10.6 liters g-1, respectively. Cex and CexCBDCbhI had similar substrate specificities and similar activities on crystalline and amorphous cellulose. Both released predominantly cellobiose and cellotriose from amorphous cellulose. CexCBDCbhI was two to three times less active than Cex on BMCC, but significantly more active than Cex on soluble cellulose and on xylan. Unlike Cex, the hybrid protein neither bound to alpha-chitin nor released small particles from dewaxed cotton fibers.

Cloning, characterization and functional expression of an endoglucanase-encoding gene from the phytopathogenic fungus Macrophomina phaseolina

An endoglucanase-encoding clone (egl2) was isolated from the phytopathogenic soilborne deuteromycete fungus Macrophomina phaseolina (Mp). Clones were obtained from a cDNA library by functional expression in Escherichia coli. The egl2 clone hybridized to a 1.3-kb mRNA. Expression is induced by carboxymethylcellulose (CMC) and repressed by glucose. The deduced amino acid (aa) sequence revealed strong similarity to the egl3 from Trichoderma reesei (Tr) (72% for identical residues and 81% with conservative substitution over a span of 324 aa). The Mp egl2 lacks the cellulose-binding domain and linker region found in the Tr egl3. Different codon usage between the two fungi resulted in a much shorter span of nucleotide homology. The Egl2 protein cleaves cellodextrins with continguous beta, 1-4 linkages of four and larger, and shows activity against CMC and birchwood xylan.

The cel3 gene of Agaricus bisporus codes for a modular cellulase and is transcriptionally regulated by the carbon source

A 52-kDa protein, CEL3, has been separated from the culture filtrate of Agaricus bisporus during growth on cellulose. A PCR-derived probe was made, with a degenerate oligodeoxynucleotide derived from the amino acid sequence of a CEL3 CNBr cleavage product and was used to select cel3 cDNA clones from an A. bisporus cDNA library. Two allelic cDNAs were isolated. They showed 98.8% identity of their nucleotide sequences. The deduced amino acid sequence and domain architecture of CEL3 showed a high degree of similarity to those of cellobiohydrolase II of Trichoderma reesei. Functional expression of cel3 cDNA in Saccharomyces cerevisiae was achieved by placing it under the control of a constitutive promoter and fusing it to the yeast invertase signal sequence. Recombinant CEL3 secreted by yeast showed enzymatic activity towards crystalline cellulose. At long reaction times, CEL3 was also able to degrade carboxymethyl cellulose. Northern (RNA) analysis showed that cel3 gene expression was induced by cellulose and repressed by glucose, fructose, 2-deoxyglucose, and lactose. Glycerol, mannitol, sorbitol, and maltose were neutral carbon sources. Nuclear run-on analysis showed that the rate of synthesis of cel3 mRNA in cellulose-grown cultures was 13 times higher than that in glucose-grown cultures. A low basal rate of cel3 mRNA synthesis was observed in the nuclei isolated from glucose-grown mycelia.

The three-dimensional crystal structure of the catalytic core of cellobiohydrolase I from Trichoderma reesei

Cellulose is the major polysaccharide of plants where it plays a predominantly structural role. A variety of highly specialized microorganisms have evolved to produce enzymes that either synergistically or in complexes can carry out the complete hydrolysis of cellulose. The structure of the major cellobiohydrolase, CBHI, of the potent cellulolytic fungus Trichoderma reesei has been determined and refined to 1.8 angstrom resolution. The molecule contains a 40 angstrom long active site tunnel that may account for many of the previously poorly understood macroscopic properties of the enzyme and its interaction with solid cellulose. The active site residues were identified by solving the structure of the enzyme complexed with an oligosaccharide, o-iodobenzyl-1-thio-beta-cellobioside. The three-dimensional structure is very similar to a family of bacterial beta-glucanases with the main-chain topology of the plant legume lectins.