Families and Functions of Novel Thermophilic Xylanases in the Facilitated Bleaching of Pulp

Codon optimization of xylanase gene xynB from the thermophilic bacterium Dictyoglomus thermophilum for expression in the filamentous fungus Trichoderma reesei

The catalytic domain of the xynB (xylanase) gene from the thermophilic bacterium Dictyoglomus thermophilum was reconstructed by PCR to match the codon preference of Trichoderma reesei. The 0.6-kb DNA fragment encoding the enzyme was first amplified by primer extension with a mixture of eight overlapping oligonucleotides, followed by PCR with outside primers containing restriction enzyme sites for directional cloning into Escherichia coli and T. reesei vectors. The synthetic gene was expressed in both organisms, producing a clearing halo around transformant colonies in plate assay utilizing an overlay of oat spelts xylan. Effective transcription of xyn B in T. reesei was obtained after changing 20 codons.

Sequencing and expression of additional xylanase genes from the hyperthermophile Thermotoga maritima FjSS3B.1

Two genes, xynB and xynC, coding for xylanases were isolated from Thermotoga maritima FjSS3B.1 by a genomic-walking-PCR technique. Sequencing of the genes showed that they encode multidomain family 10 xylanases. Only XynB exhibited activity against xylan substrates. The temperature optimum (87 degrees C) and pH optimum (pH 6.5) of XynB are different from the previously reported xylanase, XynA (also a family 10 enzyme), from this organism. The catalytic domain expressed without other domains has a lower temperature optimum, is less thermostable, and has optimal activity at pH 6.5. Despite having a high level of sequence similarity to xynB, xynC appears to be nonfunctional since its encoded protein did not show significant activity on xylan substrates.