Thermostable xylanase from Marasmius sp.: purification and characterization.

Area of Science:

• Biochemistry
• Enzymology
• Microbiology

Background:

• Screening of fungal strains for enzymes capable of functioning under extreme conditions is crucial for industrial biotechnology.
• Xylanases are enzymes that break down xylan, a major component of plant cell walls, with applications in various industries.

Purpose of the Study:

• To identify and characterize novel xylanases with high activity and stability at extreme temperatures and pH.
• To isolate and purify a thermostable xylanase from a fungal strain for potential industrial use.

Main Methods:

• Screening of 766 fungal strains from the BIOTEC Culture Collection (BCC) for xylanase activity under extreme conditions.
• Identification of the producing strain using internal transcribed spacer (ITS) sequencing.
• Enzyme purification via anion exchange and hydrophobic interaction chromatography.
• Characterization of enzyme properties including optimal temperature, pH, stability, and substrate specificity.

Main Results:

• Identified 32 strains producing extreme xylanases, with Marasmius sp. BCC7928 showing high activity at 90°C.
• Purified xylanase (approx. 40 kDa) exhibited optimal activity at 90°C and a broad pH range (4-8).
• The enzyme demonstrated high thermostability, retaining 84% activity after 3h at 70°C, and rapidly hydrolyzed birchwood and beechwood xylans.

Conclusions:

• Marasmius sp. BCC7928 produces a highly thermostable xylanase with significant potential for industrial applications.
• The characterized enzyme's properties make it suitable for use in agriculture, food processing, and biofuel production.
• This discovery contributes to the development of robust enzymes for challenging industrial environments.