Hyperexpression of two Aspergillus Niger Xylanase Genes in Escherichia Coli and Characterization of the Gene Products

Paecilomyces variotii xylanase production, purification and characterization with antioxidant xylo-oligosaccharides production

Paecilomyces variotii xylanase was, produced in stirred tank bioreactor with yield of 760 U/mL and purified using 70% ammonium sulfate precipitation and ultra-filtration causing 3.29-fold purification with 34.47% activity recovery. The enzyme purity was analyzed on sodium dodecyl sulfate-polyacrylamide gel electrophoresis (SDS-PAGE) confirming its monomeric nature as single band at 32 KDa. Zymography showed xylan hydrolysis activity at the same band. The purified enzyme had optimum activity at 60 °C and pH 5.0. The pH stability range was 5-9 and the temperature stability was up 70 °C. Fe²⁺and Fe³⁺ exhibited inhibition of xylanase enzyme while Cu²⁺, Ca²⁺, Mg²⁺ and Mn²⁺ stimulated its activity. Mercaptoethanol stimulated its activity; however, Na₂-EDTA and SDS inhibited its activity. The purified xylanase could hydrolyze beechwood xylan but not carboxymethyl cellulose (CMC), avicel or soluble starch. Paecilomyces variotii xylanase K_m and V_max for beechwood were determined to be 3.33 mg/mL and 5555 U/mg, respectively. The produced xylanase enzyme applied on beech xylan resulted in different types of XOS. The antioxidant activity of xylo-oligosaccharides increased from 15.22 to 70.57% when the extract concentration was increased from 0.1 to 1.5 mg/mL. The enzyme characteristics and kinetic parameters indicated its high efficiency in the hydrolysis of xylan and its potential effectiveness in lignocellulosic hydrolysis and other industrial application. It also suggests the potential of xylanase enzyme for production of XOS from biomass which are useful in food and pharmaceutical industries.

Development and characterization of a thermostable GH11/GH10 xylan degrading chimeric enzyme

Xylanases are categorized into different family groups, two of which are glycoside hydrolases 10 (GH10) and 11 (GH11) families. These well-characterized xylanases demonstrate different modes of action in hydrolysis of xylans. Imitating certain types of microorganisms to produce bifunctional enzymes such as engineered xylanases has gained considerable attention among researchers. In this study, a recombinant chimeric enzyme (X11-10) was designed by fusing two thermostable xylanases through a peptide linker. The recombinant parental enzymes, xylanase 10 from fungus Bispora sp. MEY-1 (X10) and xylanase 11 from bacterium Thermobacillus xylanilyticus (X11), and their chimera were successfully expressed in Pichia pastoris (P. pastoris), purified, and characterized. Being active over a wide pH range, X11-10 chimera showed higher thermal stability, possessed a lower K_m, and a higher catalytic efficiency (k_cat/K_m) in comparison to the parental enzymes. Also, molecular dynamics simulation (MDS) of X11-10 revealed that its active site residues were free to interact with substrate. This novel chimeric xylanase may have potential applications in different industrial processes since it can substitute two separate enzymes and therefore minimize the production costs.

Cloning, Expression, and Characterization of Xylanase G2 from Aspergillus oryzae VTCC-F187 in Aspergillus niger VTCC-F017

The study focuses on engineering of recombinant Aspergillus niger to produce highly active xylanase. The xylanase G2 encoding gene originating from Aspergillus oryzae VTCC-F187 was cloned, amplified, and inserted into the pAN7.1GluA vector with specific primers possessing BamHI. The recombinant plasmid was introduced into Aspergillus niger VTCC-F017 by chemical methods. The recombinant strain was checked by polymerase chain reaction method and Southern blot. Next, the recombinant protein was expressed and purified by His-tag column. The molecular mass of the purified xylanase G2, as determined by sodium dodecyl sulphate polyacrylamide gel electrophoresis (SDS-PAGE), was 21 kDa with a specific activity of 1025 IU/mg towards 0.5% (w/v) of birchwood xylan. The optimal temperature and pH were 55°C and pH 6.5, respectively. The enzyme was stable in a temperature ranges 25–40°C and a pH ranges 5–7. The presence of Tween 80 enhanced xylanase activity. Triton X-100, however, had no impact on the function of the enzyme. The xylanase activity was reduced by Tween 20, SDS, and organic solvents. The enzyme was completely inhibited by Hg2+ and partially by Zn2+, Fe2+, and Ag+, while it was slightly stimulated by K+ and EDTA.

Construction and characterization of a chimeric enzyme of swollenin and xylanase to improve soybean straw hydrolysis

A study was carried out to produce a fusion protein (Swo-Xyn) using the Trichoderma reesei swollenin and Lentinula edodes xylanase and to investigate its characteristics and application in degrading soybean straw. In parallel, L. edodes xylanase (Xyn) alone was used as a control protein in application tests. The Swo-Xyn was recombined, expressed and produced by Pichia pastoris and had the maximum activity at 40 °C and pH 3.0 using xylan as substrate. The Swo-Xyn exhibited preferential hydrolysis of Xylan. The Swo-Xyn had slight low Km value (23.90 vs. 25.36 mg/ml) but significantly low Vmax value (162.4 vs. 227.2 μmol/mg·min) and specific activity (18.82 vs. 38.97 U/mg) relative to the Xyn. The Swo-Xyn activity was enhanced by Zn2+ in dose dependent manners with the peak activity at 30 mM of Zn2+. The Swo-Xyn could tolerate 15% of methanol, ethanol, aceton, and DMSO with >60% residual activity. The Swo-Xyn had the greater tolerance to SDS, EDTA, 2-ME than the Xyn and could be activated by DTT, Triton X-100, and Tween 20. Compared with the Xyn, the hydrolysis and sequent cellulose enzymolysis of soybean straw could be better improved by the Swo-Xyn. The Swo-Xyn should be more useful for improving the utilization of soybean straw.

Molecular structure and catalytic mechanism of fungal family G acidophilic xylanases

Industrial applications of xylanases have made this enzyme an important subject of applied research work. Function of this particular enzyme is to degrade or hydrolyze the plentiful polysaccharide xylan, an important component of hemicellulose. It mainly cleaves the backbone of xylan that is made up of a number of xylose residues connected with β-1,4-glycosidic linkages. Fungi with mycelia are regarded as the best producer of xylanases. These varied xylanases not only differ in their sizes and shapes but also differ in their physicochemical properties. Depending on the optimum pH in which they work best, they have been classified into (1) acidophilic xylanases active at low pH or acidic pH range, (2) alkaliphilic xylanases that are active at high or alkaline pH range and (3) neutral xylanases having pH optima in the neutral range between pH 5 and 7. Other researchers have classified the xylanases also on the basis of their structural properties, kinetic parameters, etc. This review discusses the molecular structures of some acidophilic xylanases and the molecular basis of low pH optima observed for their activities. It also discusses their unique catalytic mechanism and actual role of the catalytic residues found in them. Apart from these, the review also discusses different applications of these acidophilic xylanases in different industries. The article concludes with brief suggestions about how these acidophilic xylanases can be created employing the techniques of genetic engineering and concepts of synthetic evolution, using the traits of the known acidophilic xylanases discussed in the review.

Trends in recombinant protein use in animal production

Recombinant technologies have made possible the production of a broad catalogue of proteins of interest, including those used for animal production. The most widely studied proteins for the animal sector are those with an important role in reproduction, feed efficiency, and health. Nowadays, mammalian cells and fungi are the preferred choice for recombinant production of hormones for reproductive purposes and fibrolytic enzymes to enhance animal performance, respectively. However, the development of low-cost products is a priority, particularly in livestock. The study of cell factories such as yeast and bacteria has notably increased in the last decades to make the new developed reproductive hormones and fibrolytic enzymes a real alternative to the marketed ones. Important efforts have also been invested to developing new recombinant strategies for prevention and therapy, including passive immunization and modulation of the immune system. This offers the possibility to reduce the use of antibiotics by controlling physiological processes and improve the efficacy of preventing infections. Thus, nowadays different recombinant fibrolytic enzymes, hormones, and therapeutic molecules with optimized properties have been successfully produced through cost-effective processes using microbial cell factories. However, despite the important achievements for reducing protein production expenses, alternative strategies to further reduce these costs are still required. In this context, it is necessary to make a giant leap towards the use of novel strategies, such as nanotechnology, that combined with recombinant technology would make recombinant molecules affordable for animal industry.

Expression of Aspergillus niger IA-001 Endo-β-1,4-xylanase in Pichia pastoris and analysis of the enzymic characterization

The xylanaseB (XynB) (JX560731.1) gene of Aspergillus niger IA-001 was optimized according to the codon usage of Pichia pastoris and expressed in P. pastoris GS115. The optimized XynB expression level was increased 2.8 times relative to that of the wild-type XynB, and the dual-copy XynB (optimized) expression level was increased 1.9 times relative to that of the single-copy XynB (optimized). The activity of the dual-copy XynB ((XynB-opt)2) was maximized at 15,158.23 ± 45.11 U/mL after 120 h of shaking. The optimal temperature and pH of (XynB-opt)2 were 50 °C and 5.0, respectively. (XynB-opt)2 showed a high specific activity of 6,853.00 ± 20.08 U/mg. IC analysis of the standard xylooligosaccharides showed that (XynB-opt)2 was an endo-xylanase with X2 as the main degradation product. (XynB-opt)2 was highly specific towards different natural xylans. After 24 h of hydrolysis, more than 90 % of the total hydrolysis products of xylan were X2 and X1, almost no X4 ~ X6. In addition, the enzyme exhibited resistance to many metal ions and low pH values. The superior catalytic properties of (XynB-opt)2 suggested its great potential as an effective additive in animal feed industry.

Molecular characterization of a glycosyl hydrolase family 10 xylanase from Aspergillus niger

A gene coding for an endo-β-1,4-xylanase (XlnA) (glycosyl hydrolase family 10) from Aspergillus niger DSM 1957 was cloned and sequenced. The cDNA sequence (984 bp) and its putative endoxylanase (327 aa protein with a predicted molecular mass of 35.5 kDa and pI 6.23) showed 91.3-99.5% and 96.3-99.1% identities with cDNA sequences and their corresponding endoxylanases from A. niger strains from GenBank, respectively. The cDNA was expressed in Pichia pastoris GS115 under the control of AOX1 promoter at a level of 46.4 U/ml culture supernatant, after 144 h of growth at 30°C in YP medium induced with 0.5% (v/v) of methanol. The molecular mass of the purified XlnA determined by SDS-PAGE was 35.5k Da with a specific activity of 808.5 U/mg towards 1% (w/v) of birch wood xylan. Temperature and pH optimum were observed at 50°C and pH 7.0, respectively. The enzyme was stable over a temperature range of 25-40°C and at pH range of 4.5-8.5 and resistant to Tween 80 and acetone. The K(m) and V(max) value obtained for the purified xylanase were 25.5mg/ml and 5000 μmol/min/mg protein with birch wood xylan as substrate, respectively. The xylanase was free of cellulase and mannanase activity but highly active towards birch wood xylan. The major products of the birch wood xylan hydrolysis were predicted as xylotriose, xylotetraose, and xylopentose. The biochemical characteristics suggested that the recombinant xylanase has a potential application, including use as a feed enzyme.

GH11 xylanases: Structure/function/properties relationships and applications

For technical, environmental and economical reasons, industrial demands for process-fitted enzymes have evolved drastically in the last decade. Therefore, continuous efforts are made in order to get insights into enzyme structure/function relationships to create improved biocatalysts. Xylanases are hemicellulolytic enzymes, which are responsible for the degradation of the heteroxylans constituting the lignocellulosic plant cell wall. Due to their variety, xylanases have been classified in glycoside hydrolase families GH5, GH8, GH10, GH11, GH30 and GH43 in the CAZy database. In this review, we focus on GH11 family, which is one of the best characterized GH families with bacterial and fungal members considered as true xylanases compared to the other families because of their high substrate specificity. Based on an exhaustive analysis of the sequences and 3D structures available so far, in relation with biochemical properties, we assess biochemical aspects of GH11 xylanases: structure, catalytic machinery, focus on their "thumb" loop of major importance in catalytic efficiency and substrate selectivity, inhibition, stability to pH and temperature. GH11 xylanases have for a long time been used as biotechnological tools in various industrial applications and represent in addition promising candidates for future other uses.

A simple and efficient diffusion technique for assay of endo β-1,4-xylanase activity

Endo-β-1, 4-xylanases is thought to be of great significance for several industries namely paper, pharmaceuticals, food, feed etc. in addition to better utilization of lignocellulosic biomass. The present investigation was aimed to develop an easy, simple and efficient assay technique for endo-β-1, 4-xylanases secreted by the aerobic fungi. Under the proposed protocol, 9 g/L xylan containing agar was prepared in 100 mM phosphate buffer at different pH (4.5, 5.5 and 6.5). The sterilized xylan agar was dispensed in 90 mm petri dishes. 100 µl of culture supernatant of 12 fungal isolates was added to the wells and left overnight at 31±1⁰C. The petri dishes were observed for zone of clearance by naked eye and diameter was measured. Congo red solution (1 g/L) was applied over the petri dishes as per the established protocol and thereafter plates were flooded with 1M Sodium chloride solution for the appearance of zone of clearance. The diameter for zone of clearance by the proposed method and the established protocol was almost identical and ranged from 21 to 42 mm at different pH depending upon the activity of endo-β-1, 4-xylanases. Change of pH towards alkaline side enabled similar or marginal decrease of diameter for the zone of clearance in most of the fungal isolates. The specific activities of these fungal isolates varied from 1.85 to 11.47 IU/mg protein. The present investigation revealed that the proposed simple diffusion technique gave similar results as compared to the established Congo red assay for endo-β-1, 4-xylanases. Moreover, the present technique avoided the cumbersome steps of staining by Congo red and de-staining by sodium chloride.