title: Isolation and cultivation of a xylanolytic Bacillus subtilis extracted from the gut of the termite Reticulitermes santonensis.
abstract: The aim of this work was the isolation of xylanolytic microorganisms from the digestive tract of the termite Reticulitermes santonensis. The reducing sugars released after the hydrolysis of xylans can be further fermented to provide bioethanol. A xylanolytic strain of Bacillus subtilis was isolated from the hindgut of the termite and displayed amylase and xylanase activities. The bacterium was grown on media containing agricultural residues: wheat bran, wheat distiller's grains, and rapeseed oil cake. Wheat bran led to the highest induction of xylanase activity, although the development of the strain was less fast than in the other media. It was possible to reach maximal xylanase activities of 44.3, 33.5, and 29.1 I.U./ml in the media containing wheat bran, wheat distiller's grains, and rapeseed oil cake, respectively. Mass spectrometry identified a wide range of xylose oligomers, highlighting an endoxylanase activity. The enzyme was stable up to 45 °C and displayed an optimal pH close to 8.
authors.affiliation: Unité de Bio-Industries, Gembloux Agro-Bio Tech, Université de Liège, 5030, Gembloux, Belgium. cedric.tarayre@hotmail.fr
authors.forename: Cédric
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Tarayre
authors.forename: Alison
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Brognaux
authors.forename: Catherine
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Brasseur
authors.forename: Julien
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Bauwens
authors.forename: Catherine
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Millet
authors.forename: Christel
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Mattéotti
authors.forename: Jacqueline
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Destain
authors.forename: Micheline
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Vandenbol
authors.forename: Daniel
authors.initials: D
authors.lastname: Portetelle
authors.forename: Edwin
authors.initials: E
authors.lastname: De Pauw
authors.forename: Eric
authors.initials: E
authors.lastname: Haubruge
authors.forename: Frédéric
authors.initials: F
authors.lastname: Francis
authors.forename: Philippe
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: Thonart
mesh_terms: D000595:Amino Acid Sequence; D000818:Animals; D001412:Bacillus subtilis / Q000235:genetics / Q000254:growth & development* / Q000302:isolation & purification* / Q000378:metabolism*; D029662:Betula / Q000737:chemistry; D046508:Culture Techniques; D043364:Endo-1,4-beta Xylanases / Q000096:biosynthesis / Q000737:chemistry / Q000378:metabolism; D004795:Enzyme Stability; D006863:Hydrogen-Ion Concentration; D006868:Hydrolysis; D007422:Intestines / Q000382:microbiology*; D020049:Isoptera / Q000382:microbiology*; D008969:Molecular Sequence Data; D013696:Temperature; D014990:Xylans / Q000378:metabolism*
chemical_list: D014990:Xylans; D043364:Endo-1,4-beta Xylanases