Action of Trichoderma reesei mannanase on galactoglucomannan in pine kraft pulp

The structures of two glucomannans from Bletilla formosana and their protective effect on inflammation via inhibiting NF-κB pathway

Bletilla formosana is a traditional Chinese herbal medicine and is widely consumed as foods and medicines in China. However, the chemical structure and bioactivity of its polysaccharides remain unknown. Herein, two new polysaccharides, BFP60 and BFP80, with molecular weights of 3.99 kDa and 10.07 kDa, respectively, were isolated and purified from dried tuber of B. formosana. Structural analysis suggested that BFP60 and BFP80 may have backbone consisted of →4)-β-d-Man-(1→,→4)-β-d-Glc-(1→,→4)-2-O-acetyl-β-d-Man-(1→, and →4)-3-O-acetyl-β-d-Man-(1→. Inflammation assay in LPS-induced RAW264.7 cells showed that the productions of NO and pro-inflammatory cytokines including IL-6, IL-1β, TNF-α, and IFN-γ were significantly reduced, and the expression of iNOS, COX-2, and target proteins in the NF-κB pathway were suppressed after BFP60 and BFP80 pretreatment. These findings indicated that this novel polysaccharide had significant inflammatory protective effects in vitro.

Enzymatic Conversion of Different Qualities of Refined Softwood Hemicellulose Recovered from Spent Sulfite Liquor

Spent sulfite liquor (SSL) from softwood processing is rich in hemicellulose (acetyl galactoglucomannan, AcGGM), lignin, and lignin-derived compounds. We investigated the effect of sequential AcGGM purification on the enzymatic bioconversion of AcGGM. SSL was processed through three consecutive purification steps (membrane filtration, precipitation, and adsorption) to obtain AcGGM with increasing purity. Significant reduction (~99%) in lignin content and modest loss (~18%) of polysaccharides was observed during purification from the least pure preparation (UFR), obtained by membrane filtration, compared to the purest preparation (AD), obtained by adsorption. AcGGM (~14.5 kDa) was the major polysaccharide in the preparations; its enzymatic hydrolysis was assessed by reducing sugar and high-performance anion-exchange chromatography analysis. The hydrolysis of the UFR preparation with Viscozyme L or Trichoderma reesei β-mannanase TrMan5A (1 mg/mL) resulted in less than ~50% bioconversion of AcGGM. The AcGGM in the AD preparation was hydrolyzed to a higher degree (~67% with TrMan5A and 80% with Viscozyme L) and showed the highest conversion rate. This indicates that SSL contains enzyme-inhibitory compounds (e.g., lignin and lignin-derived compounds such as lignosulfonates) which were successfully removed.

Cocoa bean shells: a review into the chemical profile, the bioactivity and the biotransformation to enhance their potential applications in foods

During processing, cocoa bean shells (CBS) are de-hulled from the bean and discarded as waste. Undermined by its chemical and bioactive composition, CBS is abundant in dietary fiber and phenolic compounds that may serve the valorization purpose of this by-product material into prebiotic and functional ingredients. In addition, the cell-wall components of CBS can be combined through enzymatic feruloylation to obtain feruloylated oligo- and polysaccharides (FOs), further enhancing the techno-functional properties. FOs have attracted scientific attention due to their prebiotic, antimicrobial, anti-inflammatory and antioxidant functions inherent to their structural features. This review covers the chemical and bioactive compositions of CBS as well as their modifications upon cocoa processing. Physical, chemical, and enzymatic approaches to extract and bio-transform bioactive components from the cell wall matrix of CBS were also discussed. Although nonspecific to CBS, studies were compiled to investigate efforts done to extract and produce feruloylated oligo- and polysaccharides from the cell wall materials.

Valorization of renewable resources to functional oligosaccharides: Recent trends and future prospective

Lignocellulosic wastes have the ability to be transformed into oligosaccharides and other value-added products. The synthesis of oligosaccharides from renewable sources bestow to growing bioeconomies. Oligosaccharides are synthesized chemically or biologically from agricultural residues. These oligosaccharides are functional food supplements that have a positive impact on humans and livestock. Non-digestible oligosaccharides, refered as prebiotics are beneficial for the colonic microbiota inhabiting the f the digestive system. These microbiota plays a crucial role in stimulating the host immune system and other physiological responses. The commonly known prebiotics, galactooligosaccharides (GOS), xylooligosaccharides (XOS), fructooligosaccharides (FOS), mannanooligosaccharides (MOS), and isomaltooligosaccharides (IOS) are synthesized either through enzymatic or whole cell-mediated approaches using natural or agricultural waste substrates. This review focusses on recent advancements in biological processes, for the synthesis of oligosaccharides using renewable resources (lignocellulosic substrates) for sustainable circular bioeconomy. The work also addresses the limitations associated with the processes and commercialization of the products.

Characterization of a thermotolerant and acidophilic mannanase producing Microbacterium sp. CIAB417 for mannooligosachharide production from agro-residues and dye decolorization

Mannanases are ubiquitous enzymes and are being explored for diverse industrial applications. In this study, a novel bacterial strain Microbacterium sp. CIAB417 was identified and characterized for extracellular production of mannanase. Microbacterium sp. CIAB417 was found to produce maximum mannanase after 36 h of incubation at 37 °C. Mannanase produced by the isolate was observed for maximum activity at optimum pH of 6 and optimum temperature of 50 °C. Crude mannanase was found to be capable of producing mannooligosachharides (MOS) by hydrolyzing hemicellulose from locust bean gum and Aloe vera. The produced MOS was characterized and found to be mixture of mannobiose to mannohexose units. Mannanase was also explored for decolorization of dyes. Bromophenol blue and coomassie blue R-250 were observed to be decolorized to the extent of 45.40 and 42.75%, respectively. Hence, the identified bacterial strain producing mannanase could be of great significance for applications in food and textile industry.

Enzymatic processing of lignocellulosic biomass: principles, recent advances and perspectives

Efficient saccharification of lignocellulosic biomass requires concerted development of a pretreatment method, an enzyme cocktail and an enzymatic process, all of which are adapted to the feedstock. Recent years have shown great progress in most aspects of the overall process. In particular, increased insights into the contributions of a wide variety of cellulolytic and hemicellulolytic enzymes have improved the enzymatic processing step and brought down costs. Here, we review major pretreatment technologies and different enzyme process setups and present an in-depth discussion of the various enzyme types that are currently in use. We pay ample attention to the role of the recently discovered lytic polysaccharide monooxygenases (LPMOs), which have led to renewed interest in the role of redox enzyme systems in lignocellulose processing. Better understanding of the interplay between the various enzyme types, as they may occur in a commercial enzyme cocktail, is likely key to further process improvements.

The Lipomyces starkeyi gene Ls120451 encodes a cellobiose transporter that enables cellobiose fermentation in Saccharomyces cerevisiae

Processed lignocellulosic biomass is a source of mixed sugars that can be used for microbial fermentation into fuels or higher value products, like chemicals. Previously, the yeast Saccharomyces cerevisiae was engineered to utilize its cellodextrins through the heterologous expression of sugar transporters together with an intracellular expressed β-glucosidase. In this study, we screened a selection of eight (putative) cellodextrin transporters from different yeast and fungal hosts in order to extend the catalogue of available cellobiose transporters for cellobiose fermentation in S. cerevisiae. We confirmed that several in silico predicted cellodextrin transporters from Aspergillus niger were capable of transporting cellobiose with low affinity. In addition, we found a novel cellobiose transporter from the yeast Lipomyces starkeyi, encoded by the gene Ls120451. This transporter allowed efficient growth on cellobiose, while it also grew on glucose and lactose, but not cellotriose nor cellotetraose. We characterized the transporter more in-depth together with the transporter CdtG from Penicillium oxalicum. CdtG showed to be slightly more efficient in cellobiose consumption than Ls120451 at concentrations below 1.0 g/L. Ls120451 was more efficient in cellobiose consumption at higher concentrations and strains expressing this transporter grew slightly slower, but produced up to 30% more ethanol than CdtG.

Crystal structure and substrate interactions of an unusual fungal non-CBM carrying GH26 endo-β-mannanase from Yunnania penicillata

Endo-β(1 → 4)-mannanases (endomannanases) catalyse degradation of β-mannans, an abundant class of plant polysaccharides. This study investigates structural features and substrate binding of YpenMan26A, a non-CBM carrying endomannanase from Yunnania penicillata. Structural and sequence comparisons to other fungal family GH26 endomannanases showed high sequence similarities and conserved binding residues, indicating that fungal GH26 endomannanases accommodate galactopyranosyl units in the -3 and -2 subsites. Two striking amino acid differences in the active site were found when the YpenMan26A structure was compared to a homology model of Wsp.Man26A from Westerdykella sp. and the sequences of nine other fungal GH26 endomannanases. Two YpenMan26A mutants, W110H and D37T, inspired by differences observed in Wsp.Man26A, produced a shift in how mannopentaose bound across the active site cleft and a decreased affinity for galactose in the -2 subsite, respectively, compared to YpenMan26A. YpenMan26A was moreover found to have a flexible surface loop in the position where PansMan26A from Podospora anserina has an α-helix (α9) which interacts with its family 35 CBM. Sequence alignment inferred that the core structure of fungal GH26 endomannanases differ depending on the natural presence of this type of CBM. These new findings have implications for selecting and optimising these enzymes for galactomannandegradation.

Boosting of enzymatic softwood saccharification by fungal GH5 and GH26 endomannanases

BACKGROUND

Softwood is a promising feedstock for lignocellulosic biorefineries, but as it contains galactoglucomannan efficient mannan-degrading enzymes are required to unlock its full potential.

RESULTS

Boosting of the saccharification of pretreated softwood (Canadian lodgepole pine) was investigated for 10 fungal endo-β(1→4)-mannanases (endomannanases) from GH5 and GH26, including 6 novel GH26 enzymes. The endomannanases from Trichoderma reesei (TresMan5A) and Podospora anserina (PansMan26) were investigated with and without their carbohydrate-binding module (CBM). The pH optimum and initial rates of enzyme catalysed hydrolysis were determined on pure β-mannans, including acetylated and deacetylated spruce galactoglucomannan. Melting temperature (Tm) and stability of the endomannanases during prolonged incubations were also assessed. The highest initial rates on the pure mannans were attained by GH26 endomannanases. Acetylation tended to decrease the enzymatic rates to different extents depending on the enzyme. Despite exhibiting low rates on the pure mannan substrates, TresMan5A with CBM1 catalysed highest release among the endomannanases of both mannose and glucose during softwood saccharification. The presence of the CBM1 as well as the catalytic capability of the TresMan5A core module itself seemed to allow fast and more profound degradation of portions of the mannan that led to better cellulose degradation. In contrast, the presence of the CBM35 did not change the performance of PansMan26 in softwood saccharification.

CONCLUSIONS

This study identified TresMan5A as the best endomannanase for increasing cellulase catalysed glucose release from softwood. Except for the superior performance of TresMan5A, the fungal GH5 and GH26 endomannanases generally performed on par on the lignocellulosic matrix. The work also illustrated the importance of using genuine lignocellulosic substrates rather than simple model substrates when selecting enzymes for industrial biomass applications.

Mannanase hydrolysis of spruce galactoglucomannan focusing on the influence of acetylation on enzymatic mannan degradation

BACKGROUND

Galactoglucomannan (GGM) is the most abundant hemicellulose in softwood, and consists of a backbone of mannose and glucose units, decorated with galactose and acetyl moieties. GGM can be hydrolyzed into fermentable sugars, or used as a polymer in films, gels, and food additives. Endo-β-mannanases, which can be found in the glycoside hydrolase families 5 and 26, specifically cleave the mannan backbone of GGM into shorter oligosaccharides. Information on the activity and specificity of different mannanases on complex and acetylated substrates is still lacking. The aim of this work was to evaluate and compare the modes of action of two mannanases from Cellvibrio japonicus (CjMan5A and CjMan26A) on a variety of mannan substrates, naturally and chemically acetylated to varying degrees, including naturally acetylated spruce GGM. Both enzymes were evaluated in terms of cleavage patterns and their ability to accommodate acetyl substitutions.

RESULTS

CjMan5A and CjMan26A demonstrated different substrate preferences on mannan substrates with distinct backbone and decoration structures. CjMan5A action resulted in higher amounts of mannotriose and mannotetraose than that of CjMan26A, which mainly generated mannose and mannobiose as end products. Mass spectrometric analysis of products from the enzymatic hydrolysis of spruce GGM revealed that an acetylated hexotriose was the shortest acetylated oligosaccharide produced by CjMan5A, whereas CjMan26A generated acetylated hexobiose as well as diacetylated oligosaccharides. A low degree of native acetylation did not significantly inhibit the enzymatic action. However, a high degree of chemical acetylation resulted in decreased hydrolyzability of mannan substrates, where reduced substrate solubility seemed to reduce enzyme activity.

CONCLUSIONS

Our findings demonstrate that the two mannanases from C. japonicus have different cleavage patterns on linear and decorated mannan polysaccharides, including the abundant and industrially important resource spruce GGM. CjMan26A released higher amounts of fermentable sugars suitable for biofuel production, while CjMan5A, producing higher amounts of oligosaccharides, could be a good candidate for the production of oligomeric platform chemicals and food additives. Furthermore, chemical acetylation of mannan polymers was found to be a potential strategy for limiting the biodegradation of mannan-containing materials.

Structural Characterization and in Vitro Fermentation of β-Mannooligosaccharides Produced from Locust Bean Gum by GH-26 endo-β-1,4-Mannanase (ManB-1601)

Size exclusion chromatography of β-mannooligosaccharides (β-MOS) mixtures, obtained from ManB-1601 hydrolysis of locust bean gum, resulted in separation of oligosaccharides with various degrees of polymerization (DP 2, 3, and 5). The oligosaccharides were structurally [ESI-MS, FTIR, XRD, TGA, and NMR (¹H and ¹³C)] and functionally (in vitro fermentation) characterized. DP2 oligosaccharide was composed of two species, (A) mannopyranose β-1,4 mannopyranose and (B) α-1,6-galactosyl-mannopyranose, while DP3 oligosaccharide showed the presence of only one species, i.e. α-d-galactosyl-β-d-mannobiose. ManB-1601 was capable of cleaving near the branch points in the substrate, resulting in oligosaccharides with galactose at the terminal position apart from attacking unsubstituted β-1,4-glycosidic linkages. DP2 and DP3 improved the growth of three out of seven species of Lactobacillus while DP5 resulted in poor growth of all Lactobacillus spp. under in vitro conditions. DP2, DP3, and DP5 were found to inhibit the growth of Escherichia coli, Listeria monocytogenes and Salmonella typhi.

Loops Adjacent to Catalytic Region and Molecular Stability of Man1312

Hemicelluloses are the second major polysaccharides in nature and can be converted to ethanol product by a variety of enzymes including mannanases. Mannanase is an important enzyme that hydrolyses mannose-containing polysaccharides which are abundant in plants. An optimized mannanase could help to improve conversion process and make the technology efficiently and competitively. In this work, the effects of loops adjacent to active region on enzymic properties of Man1312 were investigated. Loop 6 and 10 are two loops neighboring to Man1312 catalytic region, and deletion mutagenesis and residue substitution were performed on both loops. Deletion on sites S145, Q148, N244, and S255 and substitution on sites N146, S147, S156, and T157 gave significant increased stability to enzyme. The quadruplet mutant ManD4I4 combined all the mutations and had higher optimal temperature and T m value by 5 and 4 °C than Man1312, respectively. From our data, we are able to conclude the loops of enzymes are important to design mutagenesis and obtain improved properties, especially the loops neighboring to catalytic region from tertiary structure. In our experiment, residue deletion and substitution on loops neighboring to catalytic region made significant improvement on enzyme properties.

Distinct Characteristics of Rye and Wheat Breads Impact on Their in Vitro Gastric Disintegration and in Vivo Glucose and Insulin Responses

Disintegration of rye and wheat breads during in vitro gastric digestion and its relation to the postprandial glucose and insulin responses of the breads was studied. Breads with distinct composition and texture characteristics were prepared with refined or wholegrain wheat and rye flour by using either straight dough or sourdough process. After chewing and gastric digestion in vitro, 100% wholemeal and refined rye breads prepared by sourdough method were disintegrated to a much lower extent than the wheat breads, having more bread digesta particles with size over 2 or 3 mm. Microstructure of the digesta particles of rye sourdough bread revealed more aggregated and less degraded starch granules when compared to refined wheat bread. The postprandial insulin responses, but not those of glucose, to the 100% rye breads made with sourdough method were lower than the responses to the refined wheat bread. Addition of gluten or bran in rye sourdough bread increased insulin response. PCA (Principal Component Analysis) analysis confirmed that the insulin response had a negative correlation with the number of larger particles after in vitro digestion as well as amount of soluble fiber and sourdough process. Since the high relative proportion of large sized particles after chewing and in vitro gastric digestion was associated with low postprandial insulin responses, the analysis of structural disintegration in vitro is proposed as a complementary tool in predicting postprandial physiology.

An Aspergillus nidulans GH26 endo-β-mannanase with a novel degradation pattern on highly substituted galactomannans

The activity and substrate degradation pattern of a novel Aspergillus nidulans GH26 endo-β-mannanase (AnMan26A) was investigated using two galactomannan substrates with varying amounts of galactopyranosyl residues. The AnMan26A was characterized in parallel with the GH26 endomannanase from Podospora anserina (PaMan26A) and three GH5 endomannanases from A. nidulans and Trichoderma reesei (AnMan5A, AnMan5C and TrMan5A). The initial rates and the maximal degree of enzymatically catalyzed conversion of locust bean gum and guar gum galactomannans were determined. The hydrolysis product profile at maximal degree of conversion was determined using DNA sequencer-Assisted Saccharide analysis in High throughput (DASH). This is the first reported use of this method for analyzing galactomannooligosaccharides. AnMan26A and PaMan26A were found to have a novel substrate degradation pattern on the two galactomannan substrates. On the highly substituted guar gum AnMan26A and PaMan26A reached 35-40% as their maximal degree of conversion whereas the three tested GH5 endomannanases only reached 8-10% as their maximal degree of conversion. α-Galactosyl-mannose was identified as the dominant degradation product resulting from AnMan26A and PaMan26A action on guar gum, strongly indicating that these two enzymes can accommodate galactopyranosyl residues in the -1 and in the +1 subsite. The degradation of α-6(4)-6(3)-di-galactosyl-mannopentaose by AnMan26A revealed accommodation of galactopyranosyl residues in the -2, -1 and +1 subsite of the enzyme. Accommodation of galactopyranosyl residues in subsites -2 and +1 has not been observed for other characterized endomannanases to date. Docking analysis of galactomannooligosaccharides in available crystal structures and homology models supported the conclusions drawn from the experimental results. This newly discovered diversity of substrate degradation patterns demonstrates an expanded functionality of fungal endomannanases, than hitherto reported.

Purification and characterization of [Formula: see text]-mannanase from Bacillus pumilus (M27) and its applications in some fruit juices

Thermo alkaline mannanase was purified from the bacteria of Bacillus pumilus (M27) using the techniques of ammonium sulphate precipitation, DEAE-Sephadex ion exchange chromatography and Sephacryl S200 gel filtration chromatography with 111-fold and 36 % yield. It was determined that the enzyme had 2 sub-units including 35 kDa and 55 kDa in gel filtration chromatography and SDS-PAGE electrophoresis systems. The optimum pH and temperature was determined as 8 and 60 °C, respectively. It was also noticed that the enzyme did not lose its activity at a wide interval such as pH 3-11 and at high temperatures such as 90 °C. Additionally, the effects of some metal ions on the mannanase enzyme activity. Moreover, the clarifying efficiency of purified mannanase enzyme with some fruit juices such as orange, apricot, grape and apple was also investigated. Enzymatic treatment was carried out with 1 mL L(-1) of purified mannanase for 1 h at 60 °C. It was determined that the highest pure enzyme was efficient upon clarifying the apple juice at 154 % rate.

Conformational changes in a hyperthermostable glycoside hydrolase: enzymatic activity is a consequence of the loop dynamics and protonation balance

Endo-β-1, 4-mannanase from Thermotoga petrophila (TpMan) is a modular hyperthermostable enzyme involved in the degradation of mannan-containing polysaccharides. The degradation of these polysaccharides represents a key step for several industrial applications. Here, as part of a continuing investigation of TpMan, the region corresponding to the GH5 domain (TpManGH5) was characterized as a function of pH and temperature. The results indicated that the enzymatic activity of the TpManGH5 is pH-dependent, with its optimum activity occurring at pH 6. At pH 8, the studies demonstrated that TpManGH5 is a molecule with a nearly spherical tightly packed core displaying negligible flexibility in solution, and with size and shape very similar to crystal structure. However, TpManGH5 experiences an increase in radius of gyration in acidic conditions suggesting expansion of the molecule. Furthermore, at acidic pH values, TpManGH5 showed a less globular shape, probably due to a loop region slightly more expanded and flexible in solution (residues Y88 to A105). In addition, molecular dynamics simulations indicated that conformational changes caused by pH variation did not change the core of the TpManGH5, which means that only the above mentioned loop region presents high degree of fluctuations. The results also suggested that conformational changes of the loop region may facilitate polysaccharide and enzyme interaction. Finally, at pH 6 the results indicated that TpManGH5 is slightly more flexible at 65°C when compared to the same enzyme at 20°C. The biophysical characterization presented here is well correlated with the enzymatic activity and provide new insight into the structural basis for the temperature and pH-dependent activity of the TpManGH5. Also, the data suggest a loop region that provides a starting point for a rational design of biotechnological desired features.

Competitive inhibition of cellobiohydrolase I by manno-oligosaccharides

In the hydrolysis of softwood, significant amounts of manno-oligosaccharides (MOS) are released from mannan, the major hemicelluloses in softwood. However, the impact of MOS on the performance of cellulases is not yet clear. In this work, the effect of mannan and MOS in cellulose hydrolysis by cellulases, especially cellobiohydrolase I (CBHI) from Thermoascus aurantiacus (Ta Cel7A), was studied. The glucose yield of Avicel decreased with an increasing amount of added mannan. Commercial cellulases contained mannan hydrolysing enzymes, and β-glucosidase played an important role in mannan hydrolysis. Addition of 10mg/ml mannan reduced the glucose yield of Avicel (at 20g/l) from 40.1 to 24.3%. No inhibition of β-glucosidase by mannan was observed. The negative effects of mannan and MOS on the hydrolytic action of cellulases indicated that the inhibitory effect was at least partly attributed to the inhibition of Ta Cel7A (CBHI), but not on β-glucosidase. Kinetic experiments showed that MOS were competitive inhibitors of the CBHI from T. aurantiacus, and mannobiose had a stronger inhibitory effect on CBHI than mannotriose or mannotetraose. For efficient hydrolysis of softwood, it was necessary to add supplementary enzymes to hydrolyze both mannan and MOS to less inhibitory product, mannose.

Study on Dendrobium officinale O-acetyl-glucomannan (Dendronan®): part II. Fine structures of O-acetylated residues

Main objective of this study was to investigate the detailed structural information about O-acetylated sugar residues in Dendronan(®). A water solution (2%, w/w) of Dendronan(®) was treated with endo-β-mannanase to produce oligosaccharides rich in O-acetylated sugar residues. The oligosaccharides were partly recovered by ethanol precipitation (70%, w/w). The recovered sample (designated Hydrolyzed Dendrobium officinale Polysaccharide, HDOP) had a yield of 24.7% based on the dry weight of Dendronan(®) and was highly O-acetylated. A D2O solution of HDOP (6%, w/w) generated strong signals in (1)H, (13)C, 2D (1)H-(1)H COSY, 2D (1)H-(1)H TOCSY, 2D (1)H-(1)H NOESY, 2D (1)H-(13)C HMQC, and 2D (1)H-(13)C HMBC NMR spectra. Results of NMR analyses showed that the majority of O-acetylated mannoses were mono-substituted with acetyl groups at O-2 or O-3 position. There were small amounts of mannose residues with di-O-acetyl substitution at both O-2 and O-3 positions. Minor levels of mannoses with 6-O-acetyl, 2,6-di-O-acetyl, and 3,6-di-O-acetyl substitutions were also identified. Much information about sugar residue sequence was extracted from 2D (1)H-(13)C HMBC and 2D (1)H-(1)H NOESY spectra. (1)J(C-H) coupling constants of major sugar residues were obtained. Evidences for the existence of branches or O-acetylated glucoses in HDOP were not found. The major structure of Dendronan(®) is shown as follows: [Formula: see text] M: β-D-mannopyranose; G: β-D-glucopyranose; a: O-acetyl group.

Single-molecule imaging analysis of elementary reaction steps of Trichoderma reesei cellobiohydrolase I (Cel7A) hydrolyzing crystalline cellulose Iα and IIII

Trichoderma reesei cellobiohydrolase I (TrCel7A) is a molecular motor that directly hydrolyzes crystalline celluloses into water-soluble cellobioses. It has recently drawn attention as a tool that could be used to convert cellulosic materials into biofuel. However, detailed mechanisms of action, including elementary reaction steps such as binding, processive hydrolysis, and dissociation, have not been thoroughly explored because of the inherent challenges associated with monitoring reactions occurring at the solid/liquid interface. The crystalline cellulose Iα and IIII were previously reported as substrates with different crystalline forms and different susceptibilities to hydrolysis by TrCel7A. In this study, we observed that different susceptibilities of cellulose Iα and IIII are highly dependent on enzyme concentration, and at nanomolar enzyme concentration, TrCel7A shows similar rates of hydrolysis against cellulose Iα and IIII. Using single-molecule fluorescence microscopy and high speed atomic force microscopy, we also determined kinetic constants of the elementary reaction steps for TrCel7A against cellulose Iα and IIII. These measurements were performed at picomolar enzyme concentration in which density of TrCel7A on crystalline cellulose was very low. Under this condition, TrCel7A displayed similar binding and dissociation rate constants for cellulose Iα and IIII and similar fractions of productive binding on cellulose Iα and IIII. Furthermore, once productively bound, TrCel7A processively hydrolyzes and moves along cellulose Iα and IIII with similar translational rates. With structural models of cellulose Iα and IIII, we propose that different susceptibilities at high TrCel7A concentration arise from surface properties of substrate, including ratio of hydrophobic surface and number of available lanes.

Modular hyperthermostable bacterial endo-β-1,4-mannanase: molecular shape, flexibility and temperature-dependent conformational changes

Endo-β-1,4-mannanase from Thermotoga petrophila (TpMan) is a hyperthermostable enzyme that catalyzes the hydrolysis of β-1,4-mannoside linkages in various mannan-containing polysaccharides. A recent study reported that TpMan is composed of a GH5 catalytic domain joined by a linker to a carbohydrate-binding domain. However, at this moment, there is no three-dimensional structure determined for TpMan. Little is known about the conformation of the TpMan as well as the role of the length and flexibility of the linker on the spatial arrangement of the constitutive domains. In this study, we report the first structural characterization of the entire TpMan by small-angle X-ray scattering combined with the three-dimensional structures of the individual domains in order to shed light on the low-resolution model, overall dimensions, and flexibility of this modular enzyme at different temperatures. The results are consistent with a linker with a compact structure and that occupies a small volume with respect to its large number of amino acids. Furthermore, at 20°C the results are consistent with a model where TpMan is a molecule composed of three distinct domains and that presents some level of molecular flexibility in solution. Even though the full enzyme has some degree of molecular flexibility, there might be a preferable conformation, which could be described by the rigid-body modeling procedure. Finally, the results indicate that TpMan undergoes a temperature-driven transition between conformational states without a significant disruption of its secondary structure. Our results suggest that the linker can optimize the geometry between the other two domains with respect to the substrate at high temperatures. These studies should provide a useful basis for future biophysical studies of entire TpMan.

Effects of enzymatic removal of plant cell wall acylation (acetylation, p-coumaroylation, and feruloylation) on accessibility of cellulose and xylan in natural (non-pretreated) sugar cane fractions

BACKGROUND

Sugar cane internodes can be divided diagonally into four fractions, of which the two innermost ones are the least recalcitrant pith and the moderately accessible pith-rind interface. These fractions differ in enzymatic hydrolyzability due to structural differences. In general, cellulose hydrolysis in plants is hindered by its physical interaction with hemicellulose and lignin. Lignin is believed to be linked covalently to hemicellulose through hydroxycinnamic acids, forming a compact matrix around the polysaccharides. Acetyl xylan esterase and three feruloyl esterases were evaluated for their potential to fragment the lignocellulosic network in sugar cane and to indirectly increase the accessibility of cellulose.

RESULTS

The hydrolyzability of the pith and pith-rind interface fractions of a low-lignin-containing sugar cane clone (H58) was compared to that of a reference cultivar (RC). Acetyl xylan esterase enhanced the rate and overall yield of cellulose and xylan hydrolysis in all four substrates. Of the three feruloyl esterases tested, only TsFaeC was capable of releasing p-coumaric acid, while AnFaeA and NcFaeD released ferulic acid from both the pith and interface fractions. Ferulic acid release was higher from the less recalcitrant clone (H58)/fraction (pith), whereas more p-coumaric acid was released from the clone (RC)/fraction (interface) with a higher lignin content. In addition, a compositional analysis of the four fractions revealed that p-coumaroyl content correlated with lignin, while feruloyl content correlated with arabinose content, suggesting different esterification patterns of these two hydroxycinnamic acids. Despite the extensive release of phenolic acids, feruloyl esterases only moderately promoted enzyme access to cellulose or xylan.

CONCLUSIONS

Acetyl xylan esterase TrAXE was more efficient in enhancing the overall saccharification of sugar cane, compared to the feruloyl esterases AnFaeA, TsFaeC, and NcFaeD. The hydroxycinnamic acid composition of sugar cane fractions and the hydrolysis data together suggest that feruloyl groups are more likely to decorate xylan, while p-coumaroyl groups are rather linked to lignin. The three different feruloyl esterases had distinct product profiles on non-pretreated sugar cane substrate, indicating that sugar cane pith could function as a possible natural substrate for feruloyl esterase activity measurements. Hydrolysis data suggest that TsFaeC was able to release p-coumaroyl groups esterifying lignin.

Production of extremely alkaliphilic, halotolerent, detergent, and thermostable mannanase by the free and immobilized cells of Bacillus halodurans PPKS-2. Purification and characterization

The alkaliphilic Bacillus halodurans strain PPKS-2 was shown to produce extracellular extreme alkaliphilic, halotolerent, detergent, and thermostable mannanase activity. The cultural conditions for the maximum enzyme production were optimized with respect to pH, temperature, NaCl, and inexpensive agro wastes as substrates. Mannanase production was enhanced more than 4-fold in the presence of 1 % defatted copra meal and 0.5 % peptone or feather hydrolysate at pH 11 and 40 °C. Mannanase was purified to 10.3-fold with 34.6 % yield by ion exchange and gel filtration chromatography methods. Its molecular mass was estimated to be 22 kDa by SDS-PAGE. The mannanase had maximal activity at pH 11 and 70 °C. This enzyme was active over a broad range of NaCl (0-16 %) and thermostable retaining 100 % of the original activity at 70 °C for 3 h. Immobilization of whole cells proved to be effective for continuous production of mannanase. Since the strain PPKS-2 grows on cheaper agro wastes such as defatted copra meal, corn husk, jowar bagasse, and wheat bran, these can be exploited for mannanase production on an industrial scale.

Analysis of monosaccharides and oligosaccharides in the pulp and paper industry by use of capillary zone electrophoresis: a review

Carbohydrate analysis is an important source of the information required for understanding and control of pulp and paper processes. The behavior of cellulose and hemicelluloses in the process, carbohydrate-lignin interactions, and the enzymatic treatment of fibers are examples of situations for which reliable, fast, qualitative, and quantitative methods are required. New uses of lignocellulosic material have further increased the need for carbohydrate analysis. This review collates and summarizes the most important findings and approaches in the analysis of wood-based carbohydrates by use of capillary zone electrophoresis and provides an analysis of the effect of different conditions on the separation, showing the advantages and limitations of the methods used. It provides guidelines for achieving higher quality and improved separation efficiency in carbohydrate analysis.

The tryptophan residue at the active site tunnel entrance of Trichoderma reesei cellobiohydrolase Cel7A is important for initiation of degradation of crystalline cellulose

BACKGROUND

Mutation of Trp-40 in the Cel7A cellobiohydrolase from Trichoderma reesei (TrCel7A) causes a loss of crystalline cellulose-degrading ability.

RESULTS

Mutant W40A showed reduced specific activity for crystalline cellulose and diffused the cellulose chain from the entrance of the active site tunnel.

CONCLUSION

Trp-40 is essential for chain end loading to initiate processive hydrolysis of TrCel7A.

SIGNIFICANCE

The mechanisms of crystalline polysaccharide degradation are clarified. The glycoside hydrolase family 7 cellobiohydrolase Cel7A from Trichoderma reesei is one of the best studied cellulases with the ability to degrade highly crystalline cellulose. The catalytic domain and the cellulose-binding domain (CBD) are both necessary for full activity on crystalline substrates. Our previous high-speed atomic force microscopy studies showed that mutation of Trp-40 at the entrance of the catalytic tunnel drastically decreases the ability to degrade crystalline cellulose. Here, we examined the activities of the WT enzyme and mutant W40A (with and without the CBD) for various substrates. Evaluation and comparison of the specific activities of the enzymes (WT, W40A, and the corresponding catalytic subunits (WTcat and W40Acat)) adsorbed on crystalline cellulose indicated that Trp-40 is involved in recruiting individual substrate chains into the active site tunnel to initiate processive hydrolysis. This was supported by molecular dynamics simulation study, i.e. the reducing end glucose unit was effectively loaded into the active site of WTcat, but not into that of W40Acat, when the simulation was started from subsite -7. However, when similar simulations were carried out starting from subsite -5, both enzymes held the substrate for 50 ns, indicating that the major difference between WTcat and W40Acat is the length of the free chain end of the substrate required to allow initiation of processive movements; this also reflects the difference between crystalline and amorphous celluloses. The CBD is important for enhancing the enzyme population on crystalline substrate, but it also decreases the specific activity of the adsorbed enzyme, possibly by attaching the enzyme to non-optimal places on the cellulose surface and/or hindering processive hydrolysis.

Hydrolysis of konjac glucomannan by Trichoderma reesei mannanase and endoglucanases Cel7B and Cel5A for the production of glucomannooligosaccharides

In this paper we describe the enzymatic hydrolysis of konjac glucomannan for the production of glucomannooligosaccharides using purified Trichoderma reesei mannanase, endoglucanases EGI (Tr Cel7b) and EGII (Tr Cel5a). Hydrolysis with each of the three enzymes produced a different pattern of oligosaccharides. Mannanase was the most selective of the three enzymes in the hydrolysis of konjac mannan and over 99% of the formed oligosaccharides had mannose as their reducing end pyranosyl unit. Tr Cel5A hydrolysate shared similarities with mannanase and Tr Cel7B hydrolysates and the enzyme had the lowest substrate specificity of the studied enzymes. The hydrolysate of Tr Cel7B contained a series of oligosaccharides with non-reducing end mannose (M) and reducing end glucose (G) (MG, MMG, MMMG, and MMMMG). These oligosaccharides were isolated from the hydrolysate by size exclusion chromatography in relatively high purity (86-95%) and total yield (23% of substrate). The isolated oligosaccharides were characterized using acid hydrolysis and HPAEC-PAD (carbohydrate composition), HPLC-RI and HPAEC-MS (to determine the DP of purified oligosaccharides), enzymatic hydrolysis (determination of non-reducing end carbohydrate) and NMR (both 1D and 2D, to verify structure and purity of purified compounds). Hydrolysis of konjac mannan with a specific enzyme, such as T. reesei Cel7B or mannanase, followed by fractionation with SEC offers the possibility to produce glucomannooligosaccharides with defined structure. The isolated oligosaccharides can be utilised as analytical standards, for determination of bioactivity of oligosaccharides with defined structure or as substrates for defining substrate specificity of novel carbohydrate hydrolyzing enzymes.

Enzyme-aided alkaline extraction of oligosaccharides and polymeric xylan from hardwood kraft pulp

In this paper we describe the effect of enzyme treatments on the production of polymeric xylan, oligosaccharides and hemicellulose lean pulp by alkaline extraction of bleached hardwood kraft pulp. Enzyme treatments were carried out before one or in between two subsequent alkaline extractions by purified Trichoderma reesei xylanase and endoglucanase II (Cel 5a) as well as by a commercial monocomponent endoglucanase (FibreCareR). Without enzyme pre-treatment 61% and 7% of the pulp xylan was extracted in high purity in the first and second alkaline stage, respectively. Higher molecular mass xylan was obtained in the second than in the first alkaline extraction. Xylanase treatment before alkaline extraction hydrolyzed up to 12% of xylan to xylooligosaccharides. According to our results, preparation of polymeric xylan, and/or oligosaccharides as well as hemicellulose lean pulp with cellulose content of 93-94%, is possible by enzyme-aided alkaline extraction process.

Expression of Trichoderma reesei β-mannanase in tobacco chloroplasts and its utilization in lignocellulosic woody biomass hydrolysis

Lignocellulosic ethanol offers a promising alternative to conventional fossil fuels. One among the major limitations in the lignocellulosic biomass hydrolysis is unavailability of efficient and environmentally biomass degrading technologies. Plant-based production of these enzymes on large scale offers a cost-effective solution. Cellulases, hemicellulases including mannanases and other accessory enzymes are required for conversion of lignocellulosic biomass into fermentable sugars. β-mannanase catalyzes endo-hydrolysis of the mannan backbone, a major constituent of woody biomass. In this study, the man1 gene encoding β-mannanase was isolated from Trichoderma reesei and expressed via the chloroplast genome. PCR and Southern hybridization analysis confirmed site-specific transgene integration into the tobacco chloroplast genomes and homoplasmy. Transplastomic plants were fertile and set viable seeds. Germination of seeds in the selection medium showed inheritance of transgenes into the progeny without any Mendelian segregation. Expression of endo-β-mannanase for the first time in plants facilitated its characterization for use in enhanced lignocellulosic biomass hydrolysis. Gel diffusion assay for endo-β-mannanase showed the zone of clearance confirming functionality of chloroplast-derived mannanase. Endo-β-mannanase expression levels reached up to 25 units per gram of leaf (fresh weight). Chloroplast-derived mannanase had higher temperature stability (40 °C to 70 °C) and wider pH optima (pH 3.0 to 7.0) than E.coli enzyme extracts. Plant crude extracts showed 6-7 fold higher enzyme activity than E.coli extracts due to the formation of disulfide bonds in chloroplasts, thereby facilitating their direct utilization in enzyme cocktails without any purification. Chloroplast-derived mannanase when added to the enzyme cocktail containing a combination of different plant-derived enzymes yielded 20% more glucose equivalents from pinewood than the cocktail without mannanase. Our results demonstrate that chloroplast-derived mannanase is an important component of enzymatic cocktail for woody biomass hydrolysis and should provide a cost-effective solution for its diverse applications in the biofuel, paper, oil, pharmaceutical, coffee and detergent industries.

Synergistic action of xylanase and mannanase improves the total hydrolysis of softwood

The impact of xylan and glucomannan hydrolysis on cellulose hydrolysis was studied on five pretreated softwood substrates with different xylan and glucomannan contents, both varying from 0.2% to 6.9%, using mixtures of purified enzymes. The supplementation of pure cellulase mixture with non-specific endoglucanase TrCel7B and xylanase TrXyn11 enhanced the hydrolysis of all substrates, except the steam pretreated spruce, by more than 50%. The addition of endo-β-mannanase increased the overall hydrolysis yield by 20-25%, liberating significantly more glucose than theoretically present in glucomannan. When supplemented together, xylanolytic and mannanolytic enzymes acted synergistically with cellulases. Moreover, a linear correlation was observed between the hydrolysis of polysaccharides, irrespective of the composition, indicating that glucomannan and xylan form a complex network of polysaccharides around the cellulosic fibres extending throughout the lignocellulosic matrix. Both hemicellulolytic enzymes are crucial as accessory enzymes when designing efficient mixtures for the total hydrolysis of lignocellulosic substrates containing both hemicelluloses.

Fungal enzyme sets for plant polysaccharide degradation

Enzymatic degradation of plant polysaccharides has many industrial applications, such as within the paper, food, and feed industry and for sustainable production of fuels and chemicals. Cellulose, hemicelluloses, and pectins are the main components of plant cell wall polysaccharides. These polysaccharides are often tightly packed, contain many different sugar residues, and are branched with a diversity of structures. To enable efficient degradation of these polysaccharides, fungi produce an extensive set of carbohydrate-active enzymes. The variety of the enzyme set differs between fungi and often corresponds to the requirements of its habitat. Carbohydrate-active enzymes can be organized in different families based on the amino acid sequence of the structurally related catalytic modules. Fungal enzymes involved in plant polysaccharide degradation are assigned to at least 35 glycoside hydrolase families, three carbohydrate esterase families and six polysaccharide lyase families. This mini-review will discuss the enzymes needed for complete degradation of plant polysaccharides and will give an overview of the latest developments concerning fungal carbohydrate-active enzymes and their corresponding families.

Adsorption of monocomponent enzymes in enzyme mixture analyzed quantitatively during hydrolysis of lignocellulose substrates

The adsorption of purified Trichoderma reesei cellulases (TrCel7A, TrCel6A and TrCel5A) and xylanase TrXyn11 and Aspergillus niger β-glucosidase AnCel3A was studied in enzyme mixture during hydrolysis of two pretreated lignocellulosic materials, steam pretreated and catalytically delignified spruce, along with microcrystalline cellulose (Avicel). The enzyme mixture was compiled to resemble the composition of commercial cellulase preparations. The hydrolysis was carried out at 35 °C to mimic the temperature of the simultaneous saccharification and fermentation (SSF). Enzyme adsorption was followed by analyzing the activity and the protein amount of the individual free enzymes in the hydrolysis supernatant. Most enzymes adsorbed quickly at early stages of the hydrolysis and remained bound throughout the hydrolysis, although the conversion reached was fairly high. Only with the catalytically oxidized spruce samples, the bound enzymes started to be released as the hydrolysis degree reached 80%. The results based on enzyme activities and protein assay were in good accordance.

Podospora anserina hemicellulases potentiate the Trichoderma reesei secretome for saccharification of lignocellulosic biomass

To improve the enzymatic hydrolysis (saccharification) of lignocellulosic biomass by Trichoderma reesei, a set of genes encoding putative polysaccharide-degrading enzymes were selected from the coprophilic fungus Podospora anserina using comparative genomics. Five hemicellulase-encoding genes were successfully cloned and expressed as secreted functional proteins in the yeast Pichia pastoris. These novel fungal CAZymes belonging to different glycoside hydrolase families (PaMan5A and PaMan26A mannanases, PaXyn11A xylanase, and PaAbf51A and PaAbf62A arabinofuranosidases) were able to break down their predicted cognate substrates. Although PaMan5A and PaMan26A displayed similar specificities toward a range of mannan substrates, they differed in their end products, suggesting differences in substrate binding. The N-terminal CBM35 module of PaMan26A displayed dual binding specificity toward xylan and mannan. PaXyn11A harboring a C-terminal CBM1 module efficiently degraded wheat arabinoxylan, releasing mainly xylobiose as end product. PaAbf51A and PaAbf62A arabinose-debranching enzymes exhibited differences in activity toward arabinose-containing substrates. Further investigation of the contribution made by each P. anserina auxiliary enzyme to the saccharification of wheat straw and spruce demonstrated that the endo-acting hemicellulases (PaXyn11A, PaMan5A, and PaMan26A) individually supplemented the secretome of the industrial T. reesei CL847 strain. The most striking effect was obtained with PaMan5A that improved the release of total sugars by 28% and of glucose by 18%, using spruce as lignocellulosic substrate.

Cloning, expression, purification, crystallization and preliminary X-ray diffraction studies of the catalytic domain of a hyperthermostable endo-1,4-beta-D-mannanase from Thermotoga petrophila RKU-1

Endo-1,4-beta-D-mannanases play key roles in seed germination and fruit ripening and have recently received much attention owing to their potential applications in the food, detergent and kraft pulp industries. In order to delineate their structural determinants for specificity and stability, X-ray crystallographic investigations combined with detailed functional studies are being performed. In this work, crystals of the catalytic domain of a hyperthermostable endo-1,4-beta-D-mannanase from Thermotoga petrophila RKU-1 were obtained from three different conditions, resulting in two crystalline forms. Crystals from conditions with phosphate or citrate salts as precipitant (CryP) belonged to space group P2(1)2(1)2(1), with unit-cell parameters a=58.76, b=87.99, c=97.34 A, while a crystal from a condition with ethanol as precipitant (CryE) belonged to space group I2(1)2(1)2(1), with unit-cell parameters a=91.03, b=89.97, c=97.89 A. CryP and CryE diffracted to resolutions of 1.40 and 1.45 A, respectively.

Introducing capillary electrophoresis with laser-induced fluorescence detection (CE-LIF) for the characterization of konjac glucomannan oligosaccharides and their in vitro fermentation behavior

The application of capillary electrophoresis with laser-induced fluorescence detection (CE-LIF) as a tool for the characterization of complex carbohydrate structures was investigated for konjac glucomannan (KGM) oligosaccharide mixtures and the monitoring of their structural changes during 72 h of in vitro fermentation with human gut flora. Different types of KGM oligosaccharide mixtures were produced from a KGM polysaccharide using endo-beta-(1,4)-mannanase and endo-beta-(1,4)-glucanase. Distinction of structures emerging from different enzymatic KGM digests and detection of acetylated oligosaccharides were possible by both CE-LIF and matrix-assisted laser desorption/ionization-time-of-flight mass spectrometry (MALDI-TOF MS). Using CE-LIF it could be shown that the endo-beta-(1,4)-glucanase digest exhibited a large degradability of the DP2, DP3, DP5, and DP6 components during in vitro fermentation, whereas the endo-beta-(1,4)-mannanase digest was digested only slightly, thereby highlighting the influence of structural characteristics on the fermentability by human gut flora.

Cloning, expression, and characterization of novel thermostable family 7 cellobiohydrolases

As part of the effort to find better cellulases for bioethanol production processes, we were looking for novel GH-7 family cellobiohydrolases, which would be particularly active on insoluble polymeric substrates and participate in the rate-limiting step in the hydrolysis of cellulose. The enzymatic properties were studied and are reported here for family 7 cellobiohydrolases from the thermophilic fungi Acremonium thermophilum, Thermoascus aurantiacus, and Chaetomium thermophilum. The Trichoderma reesei Cel7A enzyme was used as a reference in the experiments. As the native T. aurantiacus Cel7A has no carbohydrate-binding module (CBM), recombinant proteins having the CBM from either the C. thermophilum Cel7A or the T. reesei Cel7A were also constructed. All these novel acidic cellobiohydrolases were more thermostable (by 4-10 degrees C) and more active (two- to fourfold) in hydrolysis of microcrystalline cellulose (Avicel) at 45 degrees C than T. reesei Cel7A. The C. thermophilum Cel7A showed the highest specific activity and temperature optimum when measured on soluble substrates. The most effective enzyme for Avicel hydrolysis at 70 degrees C, however, was the 2-module version of the T. aurantiacus Cel7A, which was also relatively weakly inhibited by cellobiose. These results are discussed from the structural point of view based on the three-dimensional homology models of these enzymes.