Xylanase and cellulase of fungus Cerrena unicolor VKM F-3196: Production, properties, and applications for the saccharification of plant material

Under the conditions of submerged cultivation in a medium containing microcrystalline cellulose, the Cerrena unicolor VKM F-3196 basidiomycete is capable of producing xylanase and cellulase. Electrophoretically homogeneous cellulase and xylanase were obtained using ion exchange and hydrophobic chromatography. The molecular weight of both cellulase and xylanase was ∼44 kDa. It was shown that xylanase catalyzed the hydrolysis of xylan with the production of xylose, xylobiose, and xylotetrose and it exhibited properties of endoxylanases. Cellulase hydrolyzed carboxymethylcellulose, xylan, and microcrystalline cellulose with the formation of cellotriose and cellotetraose. For both enzymes, the pH optimum was ∼4.0. The enzymes exhibited moderate thermostability: xylanase retained 35% of the initial activity for 1 h at 60°C; cellulase, 10% under the same conditions. Xylanase, cellulose, and a mixture of these enzymes saccharified plant material (wheat, rye, wheat middling, and oat), indicating the possible use of these enzymes in biotechnology.