Purification, application and immunolocalization of thermostable xylanases

Microbial enzymes are gaining worldwide attention due to their potential industrial applications. Microorganisms producing thermostable -xylanase and their associated hemicellulases have significant application in the paper and pulp, food, animal feed, and textile industries. The potential of partially purified xylanase from Thermomyces lanuginosus MC 134, Luminase PB 100, Luminase PB 200 (a commercial xylanase) and T. lanuginosus DSM 5826 (Sigma Aldrich) was evaluated in bleaching of bagasse pulp. The temperature and pH optima for all the enzymes were 60°C and pH 6, respectively. The temperature (50- 80°C) and pH (5-8) stability of the enzymes were also assessed. All the enzymes were relatively stable at 60°C and pH 6 for 180 min. T. lanuginosus MC 134 retained 80% of its activity at 60°C and pH 6 for 180 min and PB 200 retained 75% of its activity at 80°C for 180 min. T. lanuginosus MC 134 also exhibited good alkaline stability at pH 8. The commercial xylanases Luminase PB 100, Luminase PB 200, T. lanuginosus DSM 5826 (Sigma Aldrich) were purified to homogeneity using a gel filtration column packed with sephadex G-100 and characterized for Km and Vmax. However extracellular crude xylanases from T. lanuginosus MC 134 was purified to homogeneity using (N )2S04 precipitation and gel filtration column, packed with sephadex G-100. The purified xylanases exhibited a molecular mass of- 26 to 24 kDa, given range as determined by SDS page. The Km and Vmax values of Luminase PB 100, Luminase PB 200, T. lanuginosus MC 134, and T. lanuginosus DSM 5826, xylanases were determined by the Michaelis-Menten equation using birchwood xylan as the substrate. The Km value for Luminase PB 100, Luminase PB 200, T. lanuginosus DSM 5826 and T. lanuginosus MC 134 were, 8.1 mg/mL, 11.7 mg/mL and 14.3 mg/mL respectively. The Vmax for Luminase PB 100, Luminase PB 200, T lanuginosus DSM 5826 and T lanuginosus MC 134 were 232.6, 454.6 and 74.6 !Jl11ol/min/mg. Biobleaching conditions of the xylanases were also optimised and the release of reducing sugars and lignin derived compounds showed that an enzyme dosage of 50U/g of pulp was ideal for biobleaching at pH 6 and 60°C for 180 min. This brightness for T lanuginosus MC 134, Luminase PB 200, Luminase PB 100 was 45.5 ± 0.11%, 44.1 ± 0.007% and 42.7 ± 0.03% respectively at pH 6, compared to untreated samples. Reducing sugars and UV-absorbing lignin-derived compound values were considerably higher in xylanase-treated samples. All the enzymes analysed exhibited similar trends in the release of lignin derived compounds and reducing sugars which indicated their potential in the pulp and paper industry.