ARS | Publication request: Cellulases and hemicellulases from endophytic Acremonium species and its application on sugarcane bagasse hydrolysis

Submitted to: Applied Biochemistry and Biotechnology
Publication Type: Peer Reviewed Journal
Publication Acceptance Date: May 2, 2011
Publication Date: May 15, 2011
Citation: De Almeida, M.N., Guimaraes, V.M., Bischoff, K.M., Falkoski, D.L., Pereira, O.L., Goncalves, D., De Rezende, S.T. 2011. Cellulases and hemicellulases from endophytic Acremonium species and its application on sugarcane bagasse hydrolysis. Applied Biochemistry and Biotechnology. 165:594-610. DOI: 10.1007/s12010-011-9278-z.

Interpretive Summary: New enzymes that can degrade cellulose and hemicellulose are needed to help overcome some of the technical barriers to using agricultural residues as feedstocks for fuel ethanol production. Fungal micro-organisms that colonize corn plants may be a source of new enzymes. In the present study, two strains of the fungus Acremonium were examined for cellulase and hemicellulase enzymes. The organisms produced a variety of enzymes that can degrade hemicellulose and cellulose, and could release over 60% of the sugars from sugarcane bagasse. Results will be valuable to researchers developing new enzymes to serve as biocatalysts in the conversion of agricultural residues to fermentable sugars.

Technical Abstract: The aim of this work was to have cellulase activity and hemicellulase activity screenings of endophyte Acremonium species (Acremonium zeae EA0802 and Acremonium sp. EA0810). Both fungi were cultivated in submerged culture (SC) containing L-arabinose, D-xylose, oat spelt xylan, sugarcane bagasse, or corn straw as carbon source. In solid-state fermentation, it was tested as carbon source sugarcane bagasse or corn straw. The highest FPase, endoglucanase, and xylanase activities were produced by Acremonium sp. EA0810 cultivated in SC containing sugarcane bagasse as a carbon source. The highest beta-glucosidase activity was produced by Acremonium sp. EA0810 cultivaed in SC using D-xylose as carbon source. A. zeae EA0802 has highest alpha-arabinofuranosidase and alpha-galactosidase activities in SC using xylan as a carbon source. FPase, endoglucanase, beta-glucosidase, and xylanase from Acremonium sp. EA0810 has optimum pH and temperatures of 6.0, 55 deg C; 5.0, 70 deg C; 4.5, 60 deg C; and 6.5, 50 deg C, respectively alpha-Arabinofuranosidase and alpha-galactosidase from A. zeae EA0802 has optimum pH and temperatures of 5.0, 60 deg C and 4.5, 45 deg C, respectively. It was analyzed the application of Acremonium sp. EA0810 to hydrolyze sugarcane bagasse, and it was achieved 63% of conversion into reducing sugar and 42% of conversion into glucose.