BackgroundExpansins and expansin-like proteins loosen cellulose microfibrils, possibly through the rupture of intramolecular hydrogen bonds. Together with the use of lignocellulolytic enzymes, these proteins are potential molecular tools to treat plant biomass to improve saccharification yields.ResultsHere we describe a new type of expansin-related fungal protein that we have called loosenin. Its corresponding gene, loos1, from the basidiomycete Bjerkandera adusta, was cloned and heterologously expressed in Saccharomyces cerevisiae. LOOS1 is distantly related to plant expansins through the shared presence of a DPBB domain, however domain II found in plant expansins is absent. LOOS1 binds tightly to cellulose and chitin, and we demonstrate that cotton fibers become susceptible to the action of a commercial cellulase following treatment with LOOS1. Natural fibers of Agave tequilana also become susceptible to hydrolysis by cellulases after loosenin treatment.ConclusionsLOOS1 is a new type of protein with disrupting activity on cellulose. LOOS1 binds polysaccharides, and given its enhancing properties on the action of hydrolytic enzymes, LOOS1 represents a potential additive in the production of fermentable sugars from lignocellulose.

A moderate halophile and thermotolerant fungal strain was isolated from a sugarcane bagasse fermentation in the presence of 2 M NaCl that was set in the laboratory. This strain was identified by polyphasic criteria as Aspergillus caesiellus. The fungus showed an optimal growth rate in media containing 1 M NaCl at 28°C and could grow in media added with up to 2 M NaCl. This strain was able to grow at 37 and 42°C, with or without NaCl. A. caesiellus H1 produced cellulases, xylanases, manganese peroxidase (MnP) and esterases. No laccase activity was detected in the conditions we tested. The cellulase activity was thermostable, halostable, and no differential expression of cellulases was observed in media with different salt concentrations. However, differential band patterns for cellulase and xylanase activities were detected in zymograms when the fungus was grown in different lignocellulosic substrates such as wheat straw, maize stover, agave fibres, sugarcane bagasse and sawdust. Optimal temperature and pH were similar to other cellulases previously described. These results support the potential of this fungus to degrade lignocellulosic materials and its possible use in biotechnological applications.

The heterologous expression and characterization of a Hormone‐Sensitive Lipases (HSL) esterase (BaEstB) from the Basidiomycete fungus Bjerkandera adusta is reported for the first time. According to structural analysis, amino acid similarities and conservation of particular motifs, it was established that this enzyme belongs to the (HSL) family. The cDNA sequence consisted of 969 nucleotides, while the gene comprised 1133, including three introns of 57, 50, and 57 nucleotides. Through three‐dimensional modeling and phylogenetic analysis, we conclude that BaEstB is an ortholog of the previously described RmEstB‐HSL from the phylogenetically distant fungus Rhizomucor miehei. The purified BaEstB was characterized in terms of its specificity for the hydrolysis of different acyl substrates confirming its low lipolytic activity and a noticeable esterase activity. The biochemical characterization of BaEstB, the DLS analysis and the kinetic parameters determination revealed this enzyme as a true esterase, preferentially found in a dimeric state, displaying activity under alkaline conditions and relative low temperature (pH = 10, 20°C). Our data suggest that BaEstB is more active on substrates with short acyl chains and bulky aromatic moieties. Phylogenetic data allow us to suggest that a number of fungal hypothetical proteins could belong to the HSL family.

A new gene from Bjerkandera adusta strain UAMH 8258 encoding a carbohydrate esterase (designated as BacesI) was isolated and expressed in Pichia pastoris. The gene had an open reading frame of 1410 bp encoding a polypeptide of 470 amino acid residues, the first 18 serving as a secretion signal peptide. Homology and phylogenetic analyses showed that BaCesI belongs to carbohydrate esterases family 4. Three-dimensional modeling of the protein and normal mode analysis revealed a breathing mode of the active site that could be relevant for esterase activity. Furthermore, the overall negative electrostatic potential of this enzyme suggests that it degrades neutral substrates and will not act on negative substrates such as peptidoglycan or p-nitrophenol derivatives. The enzyme shows a specific activity of 1.118 U mg(-1) protein on 2-naphthyl acetate. No activity was detected on p-nitrophenol derivatives as proposed from the electrostatic potential data. The deacetylation activity of the recombinant BaCesI was confirmed by measuring the release of acetic acid from several substrates, including oat xylan, shrimp shell chitin, N-acetylglucosamine, and natural substrates such as sugar cane bagasse and grass. This makes the protein very interesting for the biofuels production industry from lignocellulosic materials and for the production of chitosan from chitin.

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