Isolation of levoglucosan-utilizing thermophilic bacteria

Sci Rep. 2018 Mar 6;8(1):4066. doi: 10.1038/s41598-018-22496-2.

Abstract

We previously developed an industrial production process for novel water-soluble indigestible polysaccharides (resistant glucan mixture, RGM). During the process, an anhydrosugar-levoglucosan -is formed as a by-product and needs to be removed to manufacture a complete non-calorie product. Here, we attempted to isolate thermophilic bacteria that utilize levoglucosan as a sole carbon source, to establish a removing process for levoglucosan at higher temperature. Approximately 800 natural samples were used to isolate levoglucosan-utilizing microorganisms. Interestingly, levoglucosan-utilizing microorganisms-most of which were filamentous fungi or yeasts-could be isolated from almost all samples at 25°C. We isolated three thermophilic bacteria that grew well on levoglucosan medium at 60°C. Two of them and the other were identified as Bacillus smithii and Parageobacillus thermoglucosidasius, respectively, by 16S rDNA sequence analysis. Using B. smithii S-2701M, which showed best growth on levoglucosan, glucose and levoglucosan in 5% (wt/vol) RGM were completely diminished at 50°C for 144 h. These bacteria are known to have a biotechnological potential, given that they can ferment a range of carbon sources. This is the first report in the utilization of levoglucosan by these thermophiles, suggesting that our results expand their biotechnological potential for the unutilized carbon resources.

MeSH terms

  • Bacillaceae / classification
  • Bacillaceae / genetics
  • Bacillaceae / isolation & purification*
  • Bacillaceae / metabolism*
  • Carbon / metabolism
  • Cluster Analysis
  • Culture Media / chemistry
  • DNA, Bacterial / chemistry
  • DNA, Bacterial / genetics
  • DNA, Ribosomal / chemistry
  • DNA, Ribosomal / genetics
  • Glucose / analogs & derivatives*
  • Glucose / metabolism
  • Hot Temperature
  • Phylogeny
  • RNA, Ribosomal, 16S / genetics
  • Sequence Analysis, DNA

Substances

  • Culture Media
  • DNA, Bacterial
  • DNA, Ribosomal
  • RNA, Ribosomal, 16S
  • 1,6-anhydro-beta-glucopyranose
  • Carbon
  • Glucose