Identification of a novel fungus, Leptosphaerulina chartarum SJTU59 and characterization of its xylanolytic enzymes

PLoS One. 2013 Sep 9;8(9):e73729. doi: 10.1371/journal.pone.0073729. eCollection 2013.

Abstract

Xylanolytic enzymes are widely used in processing industries, e.g., pulp and paper, food, livestock feeds, and textile. Furthermore, certain xylanotic enzymes have demonstrated the capability to improve the resistance and immunity of plants. Screening of high-yield microbial xylanolytic enzyme producers is significant for improving large-scale cost-effective xylanolytic enzyme production. This study provided new evidence of high-level xylanolytic enzyme production by a novel fungus, designated Leptosphaerulina chartarum SJTU59. Under laboratory conditions, L. chartarum SJTU59 produced xylanolytic enzymes of up to 17.566 U/mL (i.e., 878.307 U/g substrate). The enzyme solution was relatively stable over a wide range of pH (pH 3.0 to pH 9.0) and temperature (40°C to 65°C) while showing high resistance to the majority of metal ions tested. Composition analysis of the hydrolytic products of xylan showed sufficient degradation by xylanolytic enzymes from L. chartarum SJTU59, mainly the monosaccharide xylose, and a small amount of xylobiose were enzymatically produced; whereas in the presence of sufficient xylan substrates, mainly xylooligosaccharides, an emerging prebiotic used in food industry, were produced. In addition, the xylanolytic enzyme preparation from L. chartarum SJTU59 could initiate tissue necrosis and oxidative burst in tobacco leaves, which may be related to enhanced plant defense to adversity and disease. L. chartarum SJTU59 possessed a complex xylanolytic enzyme system, from which two novel endo-β-1,4-xylanases of the glycoside hydrolase (GH) family 10, one novel endo-β-1,4-xylanase of the GH family 11, and one novel β-xylosidase of the GH family 43 were obtained via rapid amplification of complementary DNA ends. Given the high yield and stable properties of xylanolytic enzymes produced by L. chartarum SJTU59, future studies will be conducted to characterize the properties of individual xylanolytic enzymes from L. chartarum SJTU59. xylanolytic enzymes-encoding gene(s) of potential use for industrial and agricultural applications will be screened to construct genetically engineered strains.

Publication types

  • Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't

MeSH terms

  • Amino Acid Sequence
  • Ascomycota / enzymology*
  • Ascomycota / genetics
  • Ascomycota / isolation & purification
  • Base Sequence
  • Biocatalysis / drug effects
  • DNA, Complementary / chemistry
  • DNA, Complementary / genetics
  • DNA, Ribosomal / chemistry
  • DNA, Ribosomal / classification
  • DNA, Ribosomal / genetics
  • DNA, Ribosomal Spacer / genetics
  • Endo-1,4-beta Xylanases / classification
  • Endo-1,4-beta Xylanases / genetics
  • Endo-1,4-beta Xylanases / metabolism*
  • Enzyme Stability
  • Fungal Proteins / genetics
  • Fungal Proteins / metabolism*
  • Hydrogen-Ion Concentration
  • Hydrolysis
  • Isoenzymes / classification
  • Isoenzymes / genetics
  • Isoenzymes / metabolism
  • Metals / pharmacology
  • Molecular Sequence Data
  • Nicotiana / microbiology
  • Phylogeny
  • Plant Leaves / microbiology
  • RNA, Ribosomal / genetics
  • Sequence Analysis, DNA
  • Sequence Homology, Amino Acid
  • Sequence Homology, Nucleic Acid
  • Temperature
  • Xylans / metabolism*
  • Xylose / metabolism

Substances

  • DNA, Complementary
  • DNA, Ribosomal
  • DNA, Ribosomal Spacer
  • Fungal Proteins
  • Isoenzymes
  • Metals
  • RNA, Ribosomal
  • Xylans
  • Xylose
  • Endo-1,4-beta Xylanases

Associated data

  • GENBANK/KC879283
  • GENBANK/KF305938
  • GENBANK/KF305939
  • GENBANK/KF305940
  • GENBANK/KF367459

Grants and funding

This work was supported by China Agriculture Research System (No. CARS-02) and the National High Technology Research and Development Program of China (No. 2011AA10A205). The funders had no role in study design, data collection and analysis, decision to publish, or preparation of the manuscript.