Title:Characterization and Evaluation of Cellulases and Hemicellulases Produced by Diverse Fungal Strains
VOLUME: 3 ISSUE: 3
Author(s):Amandeep Monga and B.S. Chadha
Affiliation:Department of Microbiology, Guru Nanak Dev University, Amritsar, Punjab, India.
Keywords:Enzyme activities, ethanol production, glycosyl hydrolases, PAGE, secretome.
Abstract:Sixteen mesophilic fungal strains of Aspergilli (10) and Penicilli (3) and Cochliobolus lunatus isolated from
deciduous green forests and wetlands were characterized at molecular level and screened for cellulases (endoglucanase, β-
glucosidase (cellobiase), cellobiohydrolase (CBHI/EGI) and FPase) and hemicellulase (xylanase, α -Larabinofuranosidase,
β -xylosidase, acetyl xylan esterase and feruloyl esterase) production on rice straw & wheat bran
containing solidified substrate. Penicillium janthinellum (3CHP) was found to produce high levels of β-glucosidase and α-
L-arabinofuranosidase activities, whereas, Aspergillus tubingensis (8 DAL) produced maximal levels of endoglucanase,
Fpase, xylanase and β-xylosidase. The cultures extracts from different strains were analysed for expression of multiple
isoforms of endoglucanases, β-glucosidases, xylanases, α-L-arabinofuranosidases, β-xylosidases and acetyl xylan esterase.
The enzyme cocktails were used for saccharification of alkali treated rice straw at substrate loading rate of (7%). The
maximal saccharification (56%) was observed in enzymatic hydrolysates from Aspergillus terreus.
