Abstract:
Cooperative action of xylanase II, alpha-L-arabinofuranosidase and acetyl esterase purified from Streptomyces sp. PC22 and beta-xylosidase from Streptomyces sp. CH7 in the degradation of xylan from oat-spelt, birchwood and beechwood and agricultural residues was studied. Reaction mixture containing substrate at 10 mgml[superscript -1] and 0.5 Uml[superscript -1] of individual enzymes was incubated for 24 h at 60 degrees Celsius, pH 6.0 which was the most suitable condition for all enzymes acting simultaneously. Under this condition, the amounts of reducing sugar released from oat-spelt xylan, birchwood xylan and beechwood xylan were increased by 1.24, 1.26 and 1.23-fold, respectively, compared to the expected amounts for the individual enzymes acting alone. For agricultural residues, high degradation efficiency was obtained from corn husk and corn cob with the increase in reducing sugar by 1.21 and 1.31-fold, respectively. These results indicated synergistic action among these enzymes. In addition, sequential reactions between the mixtures of xylan-backbone degrading enzymes, xylanase/beta-xylosidase, and debranching enzymes, alpha-L-arabinofuranosidase/acetyl esterase, on the degradation of xylan and corn husk and corn cob were also determined. With all substrates used, higher amounts of reducing sugar release were obtained from the sequential reactions when compared to those of the simultaneous reactions. Moreover, the highest degrees of synergy were obtained from a sequential reaction with the mixture of debranching enzymes being added in the first reaction. Under these conditions, xylans from all sources were degraded to more than 50% (w/w) whereas corn husk and corn cob were degraded to almost 50% (w/w) with respected to the xylan content in the substrate.