Assessment of cellulolytic microorganisms in soils of Nevados Park, Colombia

A systematized survey was conducted to find soil-borne microbes that degrade cellulose in soils from unique ecosystems, such as the Superpáramo, Páramo, and the High Andean Forest in the Nevados National Natural Park (NNNP), Colombia. These high mountain ecosystems represent extreme environments, such as high levels of solar radiation, low atmospheric pressure, and extreme daily changes in temperature. Cellulolytic activity of the microorganisms was evaluated using qualitative tests, such as growth in selective media followed by staining with congo red and iodine, and quantitative tests to determine the activity of endoglucanase, β-glucosidase, exoglucanase, and total cellulase. Microorganisms were identified using molecular markers, such as the 16S rRNA gene for bacteria and the internal transcribed spacer region (ITS) of ribosomal DNA for fungi. Multivariate statistical analysis (MVA) was used to select microorganisms with high cellulolytic capacity. A total of 108 microorganisms were isolated from the soils and, in general, the enzymatic activities of fungi were higher than those of bacteria. Our results also found that none of the organisms studied were able to degrade all the components of the cellulose and it is therefore suggested that a combination of bacteria and/or fungi with various enzymatic activities be used to obtain high total cellulolytic activity. This study gives an overview of the potential microorganism that could be used for cellulose degradation in various biotechnological applications and for sustainable agricultural waste treatment.

Assessment of cellulolytic microorganisms in soils of Nevados Park, Colombia.

A systematized survey was conducted to find soil-borne microbes that degrade cellulose in soils from unique ecosystems, such as the Superpáramo, Páramo, and the High Andean Forest in the Nevados National Natural Park (NNNP), Colombia. These high mountain ecosystems represent extreme environments, such as high levels of solar radiation, low atmospheric pressure, and extreme daily changes in temperature. Cellulolytic activity of the microorganisms was evaluated using qualitative tests, such as growth in selective media followed by staining with congo red and iodine, and quantitative tests to determine the activity of endoglucanase, ß-glucosidase, exoglucanase, and total cellulase. Microorganisms were identified using molecular markers, such as the 16S rRNA gene for bacteria and the internal transcribed spacer region (ITS) of ribosomal DNA for fungi. Multivariate statistical analysis (MVA) was used to select microorganisms with high cellulolytic capacity. A total of 108 microorganisms were isolated from the soils and, in general, the enzymatic activities of fungi were higher than those of bacteria. Our results also found that none of the organisms studied were able to degrade all the components of the cellulose and it is therefore suggested that a combination of bacteria and/or fungi with various enzymatic activities be used to obtain high total cellulolytic activity. This study gives an overview of the potential microorganism that could be used for cellulose degradation in various biotechnological applications and for sustainable agricultural waste treatment.

Production of L-lactic acid and oligomeric compounds from apple pomace by simultaneous saccharification and fermentation: a response surface methodology assessment.

The potential of apple pomace for lactic acid production by simultaneous saccharification and fermentation (SSF) was evaluated. The effects of the cellulase to solid ratio (CSR), the liquor to solid ratio (LSR), and the beta-glucosidase to cellulase ratio (BCR) on the kinetics of lactic acid generation were assessed, and a set of mathematical models was developed to reproduce and predict the lactic acid concentration of fermentation broths. Operating at low cellulase and cellobiase charges (1 FPU/g and 0.25 IU/FPU, respectively) and short reaction times (10 h), SSF media containing 27.8 g of lactic acid/L were obtained with a volumetric productivity of 2.78 g/Lh. Material balances showed that the SSF processing of 100 kg of dry apple pomace results in the production of 36.6 kg of lactic acid, 18.3 kg of oligomeric carbohydrates (which can be used as ingredients for functional foods), 8.4 kg of microbial biomass, and 8 kg uronic acids.

Cellulase allergy and challenge tests with cellulase using immunologic assessment.

OBJECTIVES: This study attempted to develop and evaluate a challenge test for diagnosing allergic asthma and rhinitis due to cellulase. METHODS: Challenge tests in a chamber were performed on 11 persons sensitized to cellulase. Four different enzyme-lactose mixtures, starting from a 0.03% mixture, were used. The enzyme dust was generated from a dry enzyme preparation mixed with lactose powder, using pressurized air. The cellulase concentration in the air was measured with an immunochemical method. RESULTS: Nasal, pharyngeal, or bronchial symptoms could be elicited at cellulase air concentrations of 1 to 1300 microg/m3. A dose-response relationship was observed for symptoms in repeated challenge tests with increasing concentrations of cellulase. For 2 persons skin symptoms could also be reproduced. CONCLUSION: The challenge method proved to be a practical means with which to simulate conditions at the worksite and elicit the specific respiratory symptoms of the patients.

The 1,4-beta-D-glucan glucanohydrolases from Phanerochaete chrysosporium. Re-assessment of their significance in cellulose degradation mechanisms.

A physico-chemical, functional and structural characterization, including partial sequence data, of three major 1,4-beta-D-glucan glucanohydrolases (EC. 3.2.1.4) isolated from the culture filtrate of the white-rot fungus Phanerochaete chrysosporium, shows that all three enzymes belong to a single family of cellulases. EG44, pI 4.3, (named after its apparent molecular mass in kDa), shows a clear homology with Schizopyllum commune Endoglucanase I (EGI); whereas EG38, pI 4.9, (named in the same manner) is related more closely to Trichoderma reesei (Trichoderma longibrachiatum) Endoglucanase III (EGIII). EG36, pI 5.6-5.7, is probably an EG38 protein lacking its cellulose binding domain. Strong synergistic action is induced by the enzymes acting in concert with cellobiohydrolases (CBHI and CBHII) from the same organism, indicating a highly effective enzymatic system for cellulose degradation. Controlled proteolysis with papain has allowed a so far unique cleavage of endoglucanases EG44 and EG38 into two domains: a core protein, which virtually lacks the capacity to absorb onto microcrystal-line cellulose but retains full catalytic activity against carboxymethyl cellulose and low molecular weight soluble substrates; and a peptide fragment corresponding to the cellulose binding domain. The latter appears to be of paramount significance in the mechanisms involved in the hydrolysis of microcrystalline cellulose.

Assessment of the endo-1,4-beta-glucanase components of Ruminococcus flavefaciens FD-1.

The extracellular endo-1,4-beta-glucanase components of Ruminococcus flavefaciens FD-1 were analyzed by high-performance liquid chromatography (HPLC) by using DEAE ion-exchange, hydroxylapatite, and gel filtration chromatography and polyacrylamide gel electrophoresis (PAGE). Two endo-1,4-beta-glucanase peaks were resolved by DEAE-HPLC and termed endoglucanases A and B. Carboxymethyl cellulose (CMC) zymograms were achieved by enzyme separation using nondenaturing PAGE followed by incubation of the gel on top of a CMC-agarose gel. This revealed no less than 13 and 5 endo-1,4-beta-glucanase components present in endoglucanases A and B, respectively. Hydroxylapatite chromatography of endoglucanases A and B revealed one activity peak for each preparation, which contained 4 and 5 endo-1,4-beta-glucanase components, respectively. Gel filtration chromatography of endoglucanase A following hydroxylapatite chromatography resolved the most active carboxymethylcellulase (CMCase) component from other endo-1,4-beta-glucanase activities. Gel filtration of endoglucanase B following hydroxylapatite chromatography showed one CMCase activity peak. Protein stains of sodium dodecyl sulfate-PAGE and nondenaturing PAGE gels of endoglucanases A and B from hydroxylapatite and gel filtration chromatography revealed multiple protein components. When xylan was substituted for CMC in zymograms, identical separation patterns for CMCase and xylanase activities were observed for both endoglucanases A and B. These data suggest that both 1,4-beta linkage-hydrolyzing activities reside on the same polypeptide or protein complex. The highest endo-1,4-beta-glucanase-specific activities were observed following DEAE-HPLC chromatography, with 16.2 and 7.5 mumol of glucose equivalents per min per mg of protein for endoglucanases A and B, respectively.(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 250 WORDS)