Cellulose hydrolysis by bacteria and fungi

A Novel Three Domains Glycoside Hydrolase Family 3 from Sclerotinia sclerotiorum Exhibits β-Glucosidase and Exoglucanase Activities: Molecular, Biochemical, and Transglycosylation Potential Analysis

The filamentous fungus Sclerotinia sclerotiorum produces a complete set of cellulolytic enzymes. We report here the purification and the biochemical characterization of a new β-glucosidase from S. sclerotiorum which belongs to the family 3 of glycoside hydrolases and that was named as SsBgl3. After two size-exclusion chromatography steps, purified protein bands of 80 and 90 kDa from SDS-PAGE were subjected to a mass spectrometry analysis. The results displayed four peptides from the upper band belonging to a polypeptide of 777 amino acids having a calculated molecular weight of 83.7 kDa. Biochemical analysis has been carried out to determine some properties. We showed that this SsBgl3 protein displayed both β-glucosidase and exoglucanase activities with optimal activity at 55 °C and at pH 5. The transglycosylation activity was investigated using gluco-oligosaccharides TLC analysis. The molecular modeling and comparison with different crystal structures of β-glucosidases showed that SsBgl3 putative protein present three domains. They correspond to an (α/β)8 domain TIM barrel, a five-stranded α/β sandwich domain (both of which are important for active-site organization), and a C-terminal fibronectin type III domain. Enzyme engineering will be soon investigated to identify the key residues for the catalytic reactions.

A Novel GH7 Endo-β-1,4-Glucanase from Neosartorya fischeri P1 with Good Thermostability, Broad Substrate Specificity and Potential Application in the Brewing Industry

An endo-β-1,4-glucanase gene, cel7A, was cloned from the thermophilic cellulase-producing fungus Neosartorya fischeri P1 and expressed in Pichia pastoris. The 1,410-bp full-length gene encodes a polypeptide of 469 amino acids consisting of a putative signal peptide at residues 1–20, a catalytic domain of glycoside hydrolase family 7 (GH7), a short Thr/Ser-rich linker and a family 1 carbohydrate-binding module (CBM 1). The purified recombinant Cel7A had pH and temperature optima of pH 5.0 and 60°C, respectively, and showed broad pH adaptability (pH 3.0–6.0) and excellent stability at pH3.0–8.0 and 60°C. Belonging to the group of nonspecific endoglucanases, Cel7A exhibited the highest activity on barley β-glucan (2020 ± 9 U mg^–1), moderate on lichenan and CMC-Na, and weak on laminarin, locust bean galactomannan, Avicel, and filter paper. Under simulated mashing conditions, addition of Cel7A (99 μg) reduced the mash viscosity by 9.1% and filtration time by 24.6%. These favorable enzymatic properties make Cel7A as a good candidate for applications in the brewing industry.

Endogenous cellulolytic enzyme systems in the longhorn beetle Mesosa myops (Insecta: Coleoptera) studied by transcriptomic analysis

The Cerambycidae (longhorn beetle) is a large family of Coleoptera with xylophagous feeding habits. Cellulose digestion plays an important role in these wood-feeding insects. In this study, transcriptomic technology was used to obtain one glycoside hydrolase family 45 (GH45) cellulase and seven GH5 cellulases from Mesosa myops, a typical longhorn beetle. Analyses of expression dynamics and evolutionary relationships provided a complete description of the cellulolytic system. The expression dynamics related to individual development indicated that endogenous GH45 and GH5 cellulases dominate cellulose digestion in M. myops. Evolutionary analyses suggested that GH45 cellulase gene is a general gene in the Coleoptera Suborder Polyphaga. Evolutionary analyses also indicated that the GH5 cellulase group in Lamiinae longhorn beetles is closely associated with wood feeding. This study demonstrated that there is a complex endogenous cellulolytic system in M. myops that is dominated by cellulases belonging to two glycoside hydrolase families.

Droplet-based microfluidics platform for ultra-high-throughput bioprospecting of cellulolytic microorganisms

Discovery of microorganisms producing enzymes that can efficiently hydrolyze cellulosic biomass is of great importance for biofuel production. To date, however, only a miniscule fraction of natural biodiversity has been tested because of the relatively low throughput of screening systems and their limitation to screening only culturable microorganisms. Here, we describe an ultra-high-throughput droplet-based microfluidic system that allowed the screening of over 100,000 cells in less than 20 min. Uncultured bacteria from a wheat stubble field were screened directly by compartmentalization of single bacteria in 20 pl droplets containing a fluorogenic cellobiohydrolase substrate. Sorting of droplets based on cellobiohydrolase activity resulted in a bacterial population with 17- and 7-fold higher cellobiohydrolase and endogluconase activity, respectively, and very different taxonomic diversity than when selected for growth on medium containing starch and carboxymethylcellulose as carbon source.

Expression of Heterologous Cellulases in Thermotoga sp. Strain RQ2

The ability of Thermotoga spp. to degrade cellulose is limited due to a lack of exoglucanases. To address this deficiency, cellulase genes Csac_1076 (celA) and Csac_1078 (celB) from Caldicellulosiruptor saccharolyticus were cloned into T. sp. strain RQ2 for heterologous overexpression. Coding regions of Csac_1076 and Csac_1078 were fused to the signal peptide of TM1840 (amyA) and TM0070 (xynB), resulting in three chimeric enzymes, namely, TM1840-Csac_1078, TM0070-Csac_1078, and TM0070-Csac_1076, which were carried by Thermotoga-E. coli shuttle vectors pHX02, pHX04, and pHX07, respectively. All three recombinant enzymes were successfully expressed in E. coli DH5α and T. sp. strain RQ2, rendering the hosts with increased endo- and/or exoglucanase activities. In E. coli, the recombinant enzymes were mainly bound to the bacterial cells, whereas in T. sp. strain RQ2, about half of the enzyme activities were observed in the culture supernatants. However, the cellulase activities were lost in T. sp. strain RQ2 after three consecutive transfers. Nevertheless, this is the first time heterologous genes bigger than 1 kb (up to 5.3 kb in this study) have ever been expressed in Thermotoga, demonstrating the feasibility of using engineered Thermotoga spp. for efficient cellulose utilization.

Characterization of Cryptopygus antarcticus endo-β-1,4-glucanase from Bombyx mori expression systems

Endo-β-1,4-glucanase (CaCel) from Antarctic springtail, Cryptopygus antarcticus, a cellulase with high activity at low temperature, shows potential industrial use. To obtain sufficient active cellulase for characterization, CaCel gene was expressed in Bombyx mori-baculovirus expression systems. Recombinant CaCel (rCaCel) has been expressed in Escherichia coli (Ec-CaCel) at temperatures below 10°C, but the expression yield was low. Here, rCaCel with a silkworm secretion signal (Bm-CaCel) was successfully expressed and secreted into pupal hemolymph and purified to near 90% purity by Ni-affinity chromatography. The yield and specific activity of rCaCel purified from B. mori were estimated at 31 mg/l and 43.2 U/mg, respectively, which is significantly higher than the CaCel yield obtained from E. coli (0.46 mg/l and 35.8 U/mg). The optimal pH and temperature for the rCaCels purified from E. coli and B. mori were 3.5 and 50°C. Both rCaCels were active at a broad range of pH values and temperatures, and retained more than 30% of their maximal activity at 0°C. Oligosaccharide structural analysis revealed that Bm-CaCel contains elaborated N- and O-linked glycans, whereas Ec-CaCel contains putative O-linked glycans. Thermostability of Bm-CaCel from B. mori at 60°C was higher than that from E. coli, probably due to glycosylation.

Purification and simultaneous immobilization of Arabidopsis thaliana hydroxynitrile lyase using a family 2 carbohydrate-binding module

Tedious, time- and labor-intensive protein purification and immobilization procedures still represent a major bottleneck limiting the widespread application of enzymes in synthetic chemistry and industry. We here exemplify a simple strategy for the direct site-specific immobilization of proteins from crude cell extracts by fusion of a family 2 carbohydrate-binding module (CBM) derived from the exoglucanase/xylanase Cex from Cellulomonas fimi to a target enzyme. By employing a tripartite fusion protein consisting of the CBM, a flavin-based fluorescent protein (FbFP), and the Arabidopsis thaliana hydroxynitrile lyase (AtHNL), binding to cellulosic carrier materials can easily be monitored via FbFP fluorescence. Adsorption properties (kinetics and quantities) were studied for commercially available Avicel PH-101 and regenerated amorphous cellulose (RAC) derived from Avicel. The resulting immobilizates showed similar activities as the wild-type enzyme but displayed increased stability in the weakly acidic pH range. Finally, Avicel, RAC and cellulose acetate (CA) preparations were used for the synthesis of (R)-mandelonitrile in micro-aqueous methyl tert-butyl ether (MTBE) demonstrating the applicability and stability of the immobilizates for biotransformations in both aqueous and organic reaction systems.

Marine extremophiles: a source of hydrolases for biotechnological applications

The marine environment covers almost three quarters of the planet and is where evolution took its first steps. Extremophile microorganisms are found in several extreme marine environments, such as hydrothermal vents, hot springs, salty lakes and deep-sea floors. The ability of these microorganisms to support extremes of temperature, salinity and pressure demonstrates their great potential for biotechnological processes. Hydrolases including amylases, cellulases, peptidases and lipases from hyperthermophiles, psychrophiles, halophiles and piezophiles have been investigated for these reasons. Extremozymes are adapted to work in harsh physical-chemical conditions and their use in various industrial applications such as the biofuel, pharmaceutical, fine chemicals and food industries has increased. The understanding of the specific factors that confer the ability to withstand extreme habitats on such enzymes has become a priority for their biotechnological use. The most studied marine extremophiles are prokaryotes and in this review, we present the most studied archaea and bacteria extremophiles and their hydrolases, and discuss their use for industrial applications.

Cellulose degradation: a therapeutic strategy in the improved treatment of Acanthamoeba infections

Acanthamoeba is an opportunistic free-living amoeba that can cause blinding keratitis and fatal brain infection. Early diagnosis, followed by aggressive treatment is a pre-requisite in the successful treatment but even then the prognosis remains poor. A major drawback during the course of treatment is the ability of the amoeba to enclose itself within a shell (a process known as encystment), making it resistant to chemotherapeutic agents. As the cyst wall is partly made of cellulose, thus cellulose degradation offers a potential therapeutic strategy in the effective targeting of trophozoite encased within the cyst walls. Here, we present a comprehensive report on the structure of cellulose and cellulases, as well as known cellulose degradation mechanisms with an eye to target the Acanthamoeba cyst wall. The disruption of the cyst wall will make amoeba (concealed within) susceptible to chemotherapeutic agents, and at the very least inhibition of the excystment process will impede infection recurrence, as we bring these promising drug targets into focus so that they can be explored to their fullest.

Development of cellobiose-degrading ability in Yarrowia lipolytica strain by overexpression of endogenous genes

BACKGROUND

Yarrowia lipolytica, one of the most widely studied "nonconventional" oleaginous yeast species, is unable to grow on cellobiose. Engineering cellobiose-degrading ability into this yeast is a vital step towards the development of cellulolytic biocatalysts suitable for consolidated bioprocessing.

RESULTS

In the present work, we identified six genes encoding putative β-glucosidases in the Y. lipolytica genome. To study these, homologous expression was attempted in Y. lipolytica JMY1212 Zeta. Two strains overexpressing BGL1 (YALI0F16027g) and BGL2 (YALI0B14289g) produced β-glucosidase activity and were able to degrade cellobiose, while the other four did not display any detectable activity. The two active β-glucosidases, one of which was mainly cell-associated while the other was present in the extracellular medium, were purified and characterized. The two Bgls were most active at 40-45°C and pH 4.0-4.5, and exhibited hydrolytic activity on various β-glycoside substrates. Specifically, Bgl1 displayed 12.5-fold higher catalytic efficiency on cellobiose than Bgl2. Significantly, in experiments where cellobiose or cellulose (performed in the presence of a β-glucosidase-deficient commercial cellulase cocktail produced by Trichoderma reseei) was used as carbon source for aerobic cultivation, Y. lipolytica ∆pox co-expressing BGL1 and BGL2 grew better than the Y. lipolytica strains expressing single BGLs. The specific growth rate and biomass yield of Y. lipolytica JMY1212 co-expressing BGL1 and BGL2 were 0.15 h(-1) and 0.50 g-DCW/g-cellobiose, respectively, similar to that of the control grown on glucose.

CONCLUSIONS

We conclude that the bi-functional Y. lipolytica developed in the current study represents a vital step towards the creation of a cellulolytic yeast strain that can be used for lipid production from lignocellulosic biomass. When used in combination with commercial cellulolytic cocktails, this strain will no doubt reduce enzyme requirements and thus costs.

Plant biotechnology for lignocellulosic biofuel production

Lignocelluloses from plant cell walls are attractive resources for sustainable biofuel production. However, conversion of lignocellulose to biofuel is more expensive than other current technologies, due to the costs of chemical pretreatment and enzyme hydrolysis for cell wall deconstruction. Recalcitrance of cell walls to deconstruction has been reduced in many plant species by modifying plant cell walls through biotechnology. These results have been achieved by reducing lignin content and altering its composition and structure. Reduction of recalcitrance has also been achieved by manipulating hemicellulose biosynthesis and by overexpression of bacterial enzymes in plants to disrupt linkages in the lignin-carbohydrate complexes. These modified plants often have improved saccharification yield and higher ethanol production. Cell wall-degrading (CWD) enzymes from bacteria and fungi have been expressed at high levels in plants to increase the efficiency of saccharification compared with exogenous addition of cellulolytic enzymes. In planta expression of heat-stable CWD enzymes from bacterial thermophiles has made autohydrolysis possible. Transgenic plants can be engineered to reduce recalcitrance without any yield penalty, indicating that successful cell wall modification can be achieved without impacting cell wall integrity or plant development. A more complete understanding of cell wall formation and structure should greatly improve lignocellulosic feedstocks and reduce the cost of biofuel production.

Purification and characterization of recombinant Cel7A from maize seed

The corn grain biofactory was used to produce Cel7A, an exo-cellulase (cellobiohydrolase I) from Hypocrea jecorina. The enzymatic activity on small molecule substrates was equivalent to its fungal counterpart. The corn grain-derived enzyme is glycosylated and 6 kDa smaller than the native fungal protein, likely due to more sugars added in the glycosylation of the fungal enzyme. Our data suggest that corn seed-derived cellobiohydrolase (CBH) I performs as well as or better than its fungal counterpart in releasing sugars from complex substrates such as pre-treated corn stover or wood. This recombinant protein product can enter and expand current reagent enzyme markets as well as create new markets in textile or pulp processing. The purified protein is now available commercially.

Expression and functional analysis of a glycoside hydrolase family 45 endoglucanase from Rhizopus stolonifer

A novel endoglucanase gene was cloned from Rhizopus stolonifer and expressed in Escherichia coli, the gene product EG II (45 kDa) was assigned to Glycoside Hydrolase Family 45 (GH45), and its specific activity on phosphoric acid-swollen cellulose (PASC) was 48 IU/mg. To solve the problem of substrate accumulation in the cellulose hydrolysis and enhance the catalytic efficiency of endoglucanase, the eg2 gene was modified by site directed mutagenesis. Mutations generated by overlapping PCR have been proven to increase its catalytic activity on carboxymenthyl cellulose, microcrystalline cellulose (Avicel) and PASC, among which the mutant EG II-E containing all 6 mutations (N39S, V136D, T251G, D255G, P256S and E260D) peaked 121 IU/mg on PASC. The bioinformatic analysis showed that 2 key catalytic residues (D136 and D260) moved closer with the opening of a loop after mutagenesis, and a tunnel was formed by structural transformation. This structure was conducive for the substrate to access the active centre, and D136 played an indispensable role in the substrate recognition.

Characterization of a GHF45 cellulase, AkEG21, from the common sea hare Aplysia kurodai

The common sea hare Aplysia kurodai is known to be a good source for the enzymes degrading seaweed polysaccharides. Recently four cellulases, i.e., 95, 66, 45, and 21 kDa enzymes, were isolated from A. kurodai (Tsuji et al., 2013). The former three cellulases were regarded as glycosyl-hydrolase-family 9 (GHF9) enzymes, while the 21 kDa cellulase was suggested to be a GHF45 enzyme. The 21 kDa cellulase was significantly heat stable, and appeared to be advantageous in performing heterogeneous expression and protein-engineering study. In the present study, we determined some enzymatic properties of the 21 kDa cellulase and cloned its cDNA to provide the basis for the protein engineering study of this cellulase. The purified 21 kDa enzyme, termed AkEG21 in the present study, hydrolyzed carboxymethyl cellulose with an optimal pH and temperature at 4.5 and 40°C, respectively. AkEG21 was considerably heat-stable, i.e., it was not inactivated by the incubation at 55°C for 30 min. AkEG21 degraded phosphoric-acid-swollen cellulose producing cellotriose and cellobiose as major end products but hardly degraded oligosaccharides smaller than tetrasaccharide. This indicated that AkEG21 is an endolytic β-1,4-glucanase (EC 3.2.1.4). A cDNA of 1013 bp encoding AkEG21 was amplified by PCR and the amino-acid sequence of 197 residues was deduced. The sequence comprised the initiation Met, the putative signal peptide of 16 residues for secretion and the catalytic domain of 180 residues, which lined from the N-terminus in this order. The sequence of the catalytic domain showed 47–62% amino-acid identities to those of GHF45 cellulases reported in other mollusks. Both the catalytic residues and the N-glycosylation residues known in other GHF45 cellulases were conserved in AkEG21. Phylogenetic analysis for the amino-acid sequences suggested the close relation between AkEG21 and fungal GHF45 cellulases.

Purification and characterization of β-glucosidase from greater wax moth Galleria mellonella L. (Lepidoptera: Pyralidae)

The greater wax moth, Galleria mellonella, is one of the most ruinous pests of honeycomb in the world. Beta-glucosidases are a type of digestive enzymes that hydrolytically catalyzes the beta-glycosidic linkage of glycosides. Characterization of the beta-glucosidase in G. mellonella could be a significant stage for a better comprehending of its role and establishing a safe and effective control procedure primarily against G. mellonella and also some other insect pests. Laboratory reared final instar stage larvae were randomly selected and homogenized for beta-glucosidase activity assay and subsequent analysis. The enzyme was purified to apparent homogeneity by salting out with ammonium sulfate and using sepharose-4B-l-tyrosine-1-naphthylamine hydrophobic interaction chromatography. The purification was 58-fold with an overall enzyme yield of 29%. The molecular mass of the protein was estimated as ca. 42 kDa. The purified beta-glucosidase was effectively active on para/ortho-nitrophenyl-beta-d-glucopyranosides (p-/o-NPG) with Km values of 0.37 and 1.9 mM and Vmax values of 625 and 189 U/mg, respectively. It also exhibits different levels of activity against para-nitrophenyl-β-d-fucopyranoside (p-NPF), para/ortho-nitrophenyl β-d-galactopyranosides (p-/o-NPGal) and p-nitrophenyl 1-thio-β-d-glucopyranoside. The enzyme was competitively inhibited by beta-gluconolactone and also was very tolerant to glucose against p-NPG as substrate. The Ki and IC50 values of δ-gluconolactone were determined as 0.021 and 0.08 mM while the enzyme was more tolerant to glucose inhibition with IC50 value of 213.13 mM for p-NPG.

Monomer structure of a hyperthermophilic β-glucosidase mutant forming a dodecameric structure in the crystal form

A protein-engineering study revealed that the C-terminal domain of a thermostable β-glucosidase contributes to its polymeric state.

One of the β-glucosidases from Pyrococcus furiosus (BGLPf) is found to be a hyperthermophilic tetrameric enzyme that can degrade cellooligosaccharides. Recently, the crystal structures of the tetrameric and dimeric forms were solved. Here, a new monomeric form of BGLPf was constructed by removing the C-terminal region of the enzyme and its crystal structure was solved at a resolution of 2.8 Å in space group P1. It was discovered that the mutant enzyme forms a unique dodecameric structure consisting of two hexameric rings in the asymmetric unit of the crystal. Under biological conditions, the mutant enzyme forms a monomer. This result helps explain how BGLPf has attained its oligomeric structure and thermostability.

Structural basis for glucose tolerance in GH1 β-glucosidases

Product inhibition of β-glucosidases (BGs) by glucose is considered to be a limiting step in enzymatic technologies for plant-biomass saccharification. Remarkably, some β-glucosidases belonging to the GH1 family exhibit unusual properties, being tolerant to, or even stimulated by, high glucose concentrations. However, the structural basis for the glucose tolerance and stimulation of BGs is still elusive. To address this issue, the first crystal structure of a fungal β-glucosidase stimulated by glucose was solved in native and glucose-complexed forms, revealing that the shape and electrostatic properties of the entrance to the active site, including the +2 subsite, determine glucose tolerance. The aromatic Trp168 and the aliphatic Leu173 are conserved in glucose-tolerant GH1 enzymes and contribute to relieving enzyme inhibition by imposing constraints at the +2 subsite that limit the access of glucose to the −1 subsite. The GH1 family β-glucosidases are tenfold to 1000-fold more glucose tolerant than GH3 BGs, and comparative structural analysis shows a clear correlation between active-site accessibility and glucose tolerance. The active site of GH1 BGs is located in a deep and narrow cavity, which is in contrast to the shallow pocket in the GH3 family BGs. These findings shed light on the molecular basis for glucose tolerance and indicate that GH1 BGs are more suitable than GH3 BGs for biotechnological applications involving plant cell-wall saccharification.

Molecular evolution of glycoside hydrolase genes in the Western corn rootworm (Diabrotica virgifera virgifera)

Cellulose is an important nutritional resource for a number of insect herbivores. Digestion of cellulose and other polysaccharides in plant-based diets requires several types of enzymes including a number of glycoside hydrolase (GH) families. In a previous study, we showed that a single GH45 gene is present in the midgut tissue of the western corn rootworm, Diabrotica virgifera virgifera (Coleoptera: Chrysomelidae). However, the presence of multiple enzymes was also suggested by the lack of a significant biological response when the expression of the gene was silenced by RNA interference. In order to clarify the repertoire of cellulose-degrading enzymes and related GH family proteins in D. v. virgifera, we performed next-generation sequencing and assembled transcriptomes from the tissue of three different developmental stages (eggs, neonates, and third instar larvae). Results of this study revealed the presence of seventy-eight genes that potentially encode GH enzymes belonging to eight families (GH45, GH48, GH28, GH16, GH31, GH27, GH5, and GH1). The numbers of GH45 and GH28 genes identified in D. v. virgifera are among the largest in insects where these genes have been identified. Three GH family genes (GH45, GH48, and GH28) are found almost exclusively in two coleopteran superfamilies (Chrysomeloidea and Curculionoidea) among insects, indicating the possibility of their acquisitions by horizontal gene transfer rather than simple vertical transmission from ancestral lineages of insects. Acquisition of GH genes by horizontal gene transfers and subsequent lineage-specific GH gene expansion appear to have played important roles for phytophagous beetles in specializing on particular groups of host plants and in the case of D. v. virgifera, its close association with maize.

Structural analysis of β-glucosidase mutants derived from a hyperthermophilic tetrameric structure

Substitutive mutations that convert a tetrameric β-glucosidase into a dimeric state lead to improvement of its crystal quality.

β-Glucosidase from Pyrococcus furiosus (BGLPf) is a hyperthermophilic tetrameric enzyme which can degrade cellooligosaccharides to glucose under hyperthermophilic conditions and thus holds promise for the saccharification of lignocellulosic biomass at high temperature. Prior to the production of large amounts of this enzyme, detailed information regarding the oligomeric structure of the enzyme is required. Several crystals of BGLPf have been prepared over the past ten years, but its crystal structure had not been solved until recently. In 2011, the first crystal structure of BGLPf was solved and a model was constructed at somewhat low resolution (2.35 Å). In order to obtain more detailed structural data on BGLPf, the relationship between its tetrameric structure and the quality of the crystal was re-examined. A dimeric form of BGLPf was constructed and its crystal structure was solved at a resolution of 1.70 Å using protein-engineering methods. Furthermore, using the high-resolution crystal structural data for the dimeric form, a monomeric form of BGLPf was constructed which retained the intrinsic activity of the tetrameric form. The thermostability of BGLPf is affected by its oligomeric structure. Here, the biophysical and biochemical properties of engineered dimeric and monomeric BGLPfs are reported, which are promising prototype models to apply to the saccharification reaction. Furthermore, details regarding the oligomeric structures of BGLPf and the reasons why the mutations yielded improved crystal structures are discussed.

Saccharification of pumpkin residues by coculturing of Trichoderma reesei RUT-C30 and Phanerochaete chrysosporium Burdsall with delayed inoculation timing

Trichoderma reesei and Phanerochaete chrysosporium with different lignocellulose-degrading enzyme systems have received much attention due to their ability to biodegrade lignocellulosic biomass. However, the synergistic effect of the two fungi on lignocellulose degradation is unknown. Herein, a cocultivation of T. reesei RUT-C30 and P. chrysosporium Burdsall for biodegradation of lignocellulosic pumpkin residues (PRS) was developed to produce soluble saccharide. Results indicated that a cocultivation of the two fungi with P. chrysosporium Burdsall inoculation delayed for 1.5 days produced the highest saccharide yield of 53.08% (w/w), and only 20.83% (w/w) of PRS were left after one batch of fermentation. In addition, this strategy increased the activities of secreted cellulases (endoglucanase, cellobiohydrolase, and β-glucosidase) and ligninases (lignin peroxidase and manganese peroxidase), which correlated to the increased saccharide yield. Besides, the resulting monosaccharides including glucose (1.23 mg/mL), xylose (0.13 mg/mL), arabinose (0.46 mg/mL), and fructose (0.21 mg/mL) from cocultures exhibited much higher yields than those from monoculture, which provides basal information for further fermentation research. This bioconversion of PRS into soluble sugars by cocultured fungal species provides a low cost method based on lignocellulose for potential biofuels or other bioproduct production.

β -Glucosidases from the fungus trichoderma: an efficient cellulase machinery in biotechnological applications

β-glucosidases catalyze the selective cleavage of glucosidic linkages and are an important class of enzymes having significant prospects in industrial biotechnology. These are classified in family 1 and family 3 of glycosyl hydrolase family. β-glucosidases, particularly from the fungus Trichoderma, are widely recognized and used for the saccharification of cellulosic biomass for biofuel production. With the rising trends in energy crisis and depletion of fossil fuels, alternative strategies for renewable energy sources need to be developed. However, the major limitation accounts for low production of β-glucosidases by the hyper secretory strains of Trichoderma. In accordance with the increasing significance of β-glucosidases in commercial applications, the present review provides a detailed insight of the enzyme family, their classification, structural parameters, properties, and studies at the genomics and proteomics levels. Furthermore, the paper discusses the enhancement strategies employed for their utilization in biofuel generation. Therefore, β-glucosidases are prospective toolbox in bioethanol production, and in the near future, it might be successful in meeting the requirements of alternative renewable sources of energy.

The cellulolytic system of the termite gut

The demand for the usage of natural renewable polymeric material is increasing in order to satisfy the future needs for energy and chemical precursors. Important steps in the hydrolysis of polymeric material and bioconversion can be performed by microorganisms. Over about 150 million years, termites have optimized their intestinal polysaccharide-degrading symbiosis. In the ecosystem of the "termite gut," polysaccharides are degraded from lignocellulose, such as cellulose and hemicelluloses, in 1 day, while lignin is only weakly attacked. The understanding of the principles of cellulose degradation in this natural polymer-degrading ecosystem could be helpful for the improvement of the biotechnological hydrolysis and conversion of cellulose, e.g., in the case of biogas production from natural renewable plant material in biogas plants. This review focuses on the present knowledge of the cellulose degradation in the termite gut.

Role of cysteine residues in thermal inactivation of fungal Cel6A cellobiohydrolases

Numerous protein engineering studies have focused on increasing the thermostability of fungal cellulases to improve production of fuels and chemicals from lignocellulosic feedstocks. However, the engineered enzymes still undergo thermal inactivation at temperatures well below the inactivation temperatures of hyperthermophilic cellulases. In this report, we investigated the role of free cysteines in the thermal inactivation of wild-type and engineered fungal family 6 cellobiohydrolases (Cel6A). The mechanism of thermal inactivation of Cel6A is consistent with disulfide bond degradation and thiol-disulfide exchange. Circular dichroism spectroscopy revealed that a thermostable variant lacking free cysteines refolds to a native-like structure and retains activity after heat treatment over the pH range 5-9. Whereas conserved disulfide bonds are essential for retaining activity after heat treatment, free cysteines contribute to irreversible thermal inactivation in engineered thermostable Cel6A as well as Cel6A from Hypocrea jecorina and Humicola insolens.

Engineered thermostable fungal Cel6A and Cel7A cellobiohydrolases hydrolyze cellulose efficiently at elevated temperatures

Thermostability is an important feature in industrial enzymes: it increases biocatalyst lifetime and enables reactions at higher temperatures, where faster rates and other advantages ultimately reduce the cost of biocatalysis. Here we report the thermostabilization of a chimeric fungal family 6 cellobiohydrolase (HJPlus) by directed evolution using random mutagenesis and recombination of beneficial mutations. Thermostable variant 3C6P has a half-life of 280 min at 75°C and a T(50) of 80.1°C, a ~15°C increase over the thermostable Cel6A from Humicola insolens (HiCel6A) and a ~20°C increase over that from Hypocrea jecorina (HjCel6A). Most of the mutations also stabilize the less-stable HjCel6A, the wild-type Cel6A closest in sequence to 3C6P. During a 60-h Avicel hydrolysis, 3C6P released 2.4 times more cellobiose equivalents at its optimum temperature (T(opt)) of 75°C than HiCel6A at its T(opt) of 60°C. The total cellobiose equivalents released by HiCel6A at 60°C after 60 h is equivalent to the total released by 3C6P at 75°C after ~6 h, a 10-fold reduction in hydrolysis time. A binary mixture of thermostable Cel6A and Cel7A hydrolyzes Avicel synergistically and released 1.8 times more cellobiose equivalents than the wild-type mixture, both mixtures assessed at their respective T(opt). Crystal structures of HJPlus and 3C6P, determined at 1.5 and 1.2 Å resolution, indicate that the stabilization comes from improved hydrophobic interactions and restricted loop conformations by introduced proline residues.

Optimization of cellulase production from bacteria isolated from soil

Cellulase-producing bacteria were isolated from soil and identified as Pseudomonas fluorescens, Bacillus subtilIs, E. coli, and Serratia marcescens. Optimization of the fermentation medium for maximum cellulase production was carried out. The culture conditions like pH, temperature, carbon sources, and nitrogen sources were optimized. The optimum conditions found for cellulase production were 40°C at pH 10 with glucose as carbon source and ammonium sulphate as nitrogen source, and coconut cake stimulates the production of cellulase. Among bacteria, Pseudomonas fluorescens is the best cellulase producer among the four followed by Bacillus subtilis, E. coli, and Serratia marscens.

Cloning, molecular characterization, and mRNA expression of the thermostable family 3 β-glucosidase from the rare fungus Stachybotrys microspora

The filamentous fungus Stachybotrys microspora possess a rich β-glucosidase system composed of five β-glucosidases. Three of them were already purified to homogeneity and characterized. In order to isolate the β-glucosidase genes from S. microspora and study their regulation, a PCR strategy using consensus primers was used as a first step. This approach enabled the isolation of three different fragments of family 3 β-glucosidase gene. A representative genomic library was constructed and probed with one amplified fragment gene belonging to family 3 of β-glucosidase. After two rounds of hybridization, seven clones were obtained and the analysis of DNA plasmids leads to the isolation of one clone (CF3) with the largest insert of 7 kb. The regulatory region shows multiple TC-rich elements characteristic of constitutive promoter, explaining the expression of this gene under glucose condition, as shown by zymogram and RT-PCR analysis. The tertiary structure of the deduced amino acid sequence of Smbgl3 was predicted and has shown three conserved domains: an (α/β)8 triose phosphate isomerase (TIM) barrel, (α/β)5 sandwich, and fibronectin type III domain involved in protein thermostability. Zymogram analysis highlighted such thermostable character of this novel β-glucosidase.

A tale of two tissues: AtGH9C1 is an endo-β-1,4-glucanase involved in root hair and endosperm development in Arabidopsis

Arabidopsis AtGH9C1 is an endo-β-1,4-glucanase possessing a carbohydrate-binding domain (CBM49). Analysis of AtGH9C1 expression by promoter-reporter GUS, RT-PCR, public transcriptome databases and GFP protein tagging demonstrated a high and selective expression of AtGH9C1 in root hairs and in the endosperm. Expression in root hair cells started prior to bulge formation and continued during hair elongation. AtGH9C1 expression increased with treatments that increase density (ACC) or length (sucrose) of root hairs. Expression in the endosperm extended sequentially to the micropylar, peripheral and chalazal compartments. A mutant with reduced AtGH9C1 expression had a delay in germination and a marked reduction in root hair presence. Complementation of the mutant partially improved both germination and root hair density. Experiments with ectopically expressed AtGH9C1-GFP with and without the CBM49, demonstrated that both forms of the protein are secreted and that CBM49 targets the protein to specific regions of the cell wall, but what makes these regions special is still unknown. The amino acid alignment of angiosperm GH9 genes with C-terminal extensions illustrate that AtGH9C1 belongs to a different clade than its tomato homolog, S1GH9C1. The latter has a CBM49 that was shown to bind crystalline cellulose. We suggest that AtGH9C1 is associated with the weakening of the cell wall during formation and growth of the root hair as well as with the sequential anterior-posterior breakdown of the endosperm cell wall that provides space for the growing embryo. Thus, is likely that the CBM49 of AtGH9C1 recognizes a form of cellulose or glucan polymer that is prevalent in the wall of these specialized tissues and that is different than the one recognized by S1GH9C1.

Purification and biochemical characterization of a novel thermo-stable carboxymethyl cellulase from Azorean isolate Bacillus mycoides S122C

Bacillus mycoides S122C was identified as carboxymethyl cellulase (CMcellulase)-producing bacteria from the Azorean Bacillus collection (Lab collection), which was isolated from local soil samples. The bacteria was identified by 16S rRNA sequence and designated as B. mycoides S122C. NCBI blast analysis showed that the B. mycoides S122C 16S rRNA sequence has high identity compared to other B. mycoides strains. CMcellulase was purified from the culture filtrates using anion-exchange chromatography. After mono-Q purification, the protein folds and recovery were 13.7 and 0.76 %, respectively. SDS-PAGE analysis showed that the molecular weight of the purified CMcellulase protein was estimated to be about 62 kDa and that it was composed of a single subunit. MALDI-MS/MS analysis yielded each four peptides of the purified protein; it has identity to other cellulases. The purified CMcellulase showed high activity with CMcellulose followed by β-glucan as a substrate. Optimum temperature and pH for the purified CMcellulase activity were found to be at 50 °C and pH 7.0, respectively. The purified CMcellulase was stable with about 60 % activity in broad pH ranges from 5 to 10 and temperature of 40 to 60 °C. However, purified CMcellulase was stable at about 70 % at 70 °C and also stable overall at 78 % for surfactants. CMcellulase activity was inhibited by ions such as HgCl(2), followed by CuSo(4), FeCl(2), and MnCl(2), while CoCl(2) activated CMcellulase activity. The purified CMcellulase activity was strongly inhibited by EDTA.

Cloning, purification, and characterization of a heat- and alkaline-stable endoglucanase B from Aspergillus niger BCRC31494

Endoglucanase B (EGLB) derived from Aspergillus niger BCRC31494 has been used in the food fermentation industry because of its thermal and alkaline tolerance. It was cloned and expressed in Pichia pastoris. According to sequence analysis, the gene open reading frame comprises 1,217 bp with five introns (GenBank GQ292753). According to sequence and protein domain analyses, EGLB was assigned to glycosyl hydrolase family 5 of the cellulase superfamily. Several binding sites were found in the promoter region. The purified recombinant enzyme was induced by 0.5% methanol, and it exhibited optimal activity at 70 °C and pH 4. EGLB was stable for 3 h at temperatures below 60 °C, with more than 90% of its activity remaining. The enzyme was specific for substrates with β-1,3 and β-1,4 linkages. In Lineweaver-Burk plot analysis, the K_m and V_max values of EGLB for β-D-glucan were 134 mg/mL and 4.68 U/min/mg, respectively. The enzyme activity was increased by 1.86-fold by Co²⁺ and by 2-fold by Triton X-100 and Tween 80. These favorable properties make EGLB a potential candidate for use in laundry and textile industrial applications.

A highly efficient β-glucosidase from the buffalo rumen fungus Neocallimastix patriciarum W5

BACKGROUND

Cellulose, which is the most abundant renewable biomass on earth, is a potential bio-resource of alternative energy. The hydrolysis of plant polysaccharides is catalyzed by microbial cellulases, including endo-β-1,4-glucanases, cellobiohydrolases, cellodextrinases, and β-glucosidases. Converting cellobiose by β-glucosidases is the key factor for reducing cellobiose inhibition and enhancing the efficiency of cellulolytic enzymes for cellulosic ethanol production.

RESULTS

In this study, a cDNA encoding β-glucosidase was isolated from the buffalo rumen fungus Neocallimastix patriciarum W5 and is named NpaBGS. It has a length of 2,331 bp with an open reading frame coding for a protein of 776 amino acid residues, corresponding to a theoretical molecular mass of 85.1 kDa and isoelectric point of 4.4. Two GH3 catalytic domains were found at the N and C terminals of NpaBGS by sequence analysis. The cDNA was expressed in Pichia pastoris and after protein purification, the enzyme displayed a specific activity of 34.5 U/mg against cellobiose as the substrate. Enzymatic assays showed that NpaBGS was active on short cello-oligosaccharides from various substrates. A weak activity in carboxymethyl cellulose (CMC) digestion indicated that the enzyme might also have the function of an endoglucanase. The optimal activity was detected at 40°C and pH 5 ~ 6, showing that the enzyme prefers a weak acid condition. Moreover, its activity could be enhanced at 50°C by adding Mg2+ or Mn2+ ions. Interestingly, in simultaneous saccharification and fermentation (SSF) experiments using Saccharomyces cerevisiae BY4741 or Kluyveromyces marxianus KY3 as the fermentation yeast, NpaBGS showed advantages in cell growth, glucose production, and ethanol production over the commercial enzyme Novo 188. Moreover, we showed that the KY3 strain engineered with the NpaNGS gene can utilize 2 % dry napiergrass as the sole carbon source to produce 3.32 mg/ml ethanol when Celluclast 1.5 L was added to the SSF system.

CONCLUSION

Our characterizations of the novel β-glucosidase NpaBGS revealed that it has a preference of weak acidity for optimal yeast fermentation and an optimal temperature of ~40°C. Since NpaBGS performs better than Novo 188 under the living conditions of fermentation yeasts, it has the potential to be a suitable enzyme for SSF.

Expression of an Acidothermus cellulolyticus endoglucanase in transgenic rice seeds

The thermostable endo-1,4-β-glucanase (E1) from Acidothermus cellulolyticus, is a useful enzyme for commercial hydrolysis of cellulose into glucose. A codon-optimized synthetic gene encoding this enzyme was transformed into rice (Oryza sativa L. ssp. japonica) under the control of the rice seed storage protein Gt1 promoter. The transgenic line C19 was identified as the one with the highest endoglucanase activity among the total of 36 independent transgenic lines obtained. The cellulase activity in the C19 seeds was estimated at about 830U/g of dried seeds using CMC as substrate. The enzymes produced in the seeds had an optimum pH of 5.0 and optimum temperature of 80°C, which is similar to the enzymes produced by the native bacterium host. This study demonstrates that the transgenic rice seeds could be used as a bioreactor for production of enzymes for cellulosic biomass conversion.

Structure of hyperthermophilic β-glucosidase from Pyrococcus furiosus

Recombinant hyperthermophilic β-glucosidase from P. furiosus was crystallized. The crystal structure was solved to a resolution of 2.35 Å.

Three categories of cellulases, endoglucanases, cellobiohydrolases and β-glucosidases, are commonly used in the process of cellulose saccharification. In particular, the activity and characteristics of hyperthermophilic β-glucosidase make it promising in industrial applications of biomass. In this paper, the crystal structure of the hyperthermophilic β-glucosidase from Pyrococcus furiosus (BGLPf) was determined at 2.35 Å resolution in a new crystal form. The structure showed that there is one tetramer in the asymmetric unit and that the dimeric molecule exhibits a structure that is stable towards sodium dodecyl sulfate (SDS). The dimeric molecule migrated in reducing SDS polyacrylamide gel electrophoresis (SDS–PAGE) buffer even after boiling at 368 K. Energy calculations demonstrated that one of the two dimer interfaces acquired the largest solvation free energy. Structural comparison and sequence alignment with mesophilic β-glucosidase A from Clostridium cellulovorans (BGLACc) revealed that the elongation at the C-terminal end forms a hydrophobic patch at the dimer interface that might contribute to hyperthermostability.