Tryptic hydrolysis of whey protein isolate under specific incubation conditions including a relatively high enzyme:substrate (E:S) ratio of 1:10 is known to preferentially hydrolyse β-lactoglobulin (β-LG), while retaining the other major whey protein fraction, i.e., α-lactalbumin (α-LA) mainly intact. An objective of the present work was to explore the effects of reducing E:S (1:10, 1:30, 1:50, 1:100) on the selective hydrolysis of β-LG by trypsin at pH 8.5 and 25 °C in a 5% (w/v) WPI solution during incubation periods ranging from 1 to 7 h. In addition, the use of a pilot-scale continuous high-temperature, short-time (HTST) heat exchanger with an extended holding time (EHT) of 5 min as a means of inactivating trypsin to terminate hydrolysis was compared with laboratory-based acidification to 90% β-LG hydrolysis after respective incubation periods of 4 and 6 h, with <5% hydrolysis of α-LA in the case of 1:50. Continuous HTST-EHT treatment was shown to be an effective inactivation process allowing for the maintenance of substrate selectivity. However, HTST-EHT heating resulted in protein aggregation, which negatively impacts the downstream recovery of intact α-LA. An optimum E:S was determined to be 1:50, with an incubation time ranging from 3 h to 7 h leading to 90% β-LG hydrolysis and minimal degradation of α-LA. Alternative batch heating by means of a water bath to inactivate trypsin caused considerable digestion of α-LA, while acidification to

To improve the Spent mushroom substrate (SMS) saccharification, cloning, recombinant expression in Escherichia coli and characterization of two new GH5 family cellulases (Cel1 and Cel2) were performed. Based on enzymes properties, Cel2 was selected for the generation of 30,000 random mutants by directed evolution in order to develop improved biocatalysts. Error-prone Polymerase Chain Reaction was used for diversity generation in cel2 gene and the screening for activity of mutants allowed selection of 63 improved variants that were subjected to a scale up production. Among these, 13 clones exhibited two-fold higher activity than Cel2 and a higher thermoresistance after 72h. The performances of these mutants in the hydrolysis of pretreated SMS/ wheat straw (40/60) were compared to the wild type Cel2 in conjunction with a commercial enzymatic mixture (MetZyme® SUNO™ BOOSTER 144). All the mutants exhibited a glucose yield two-fold or four fold higher than wild-type Cel2 after 72h of incubation.