title: The capability of endophytic fungi for production of hemicellulases and related enzymes.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  There is an imperative necessity for alternative sources of energy able to reduce the world dependence of fossil oil. One of the most successful options is ethanol obtained mainly from sugarcane and corn fermentation. The foremost residue from sugarcane industry is the bagasse, a rich lignocellulosic raw material uses for the production of ethanol second generation (2G). New cellulolytic and hemicellulytic enzymes are needed, in order to optimize the degradation of bagasse and production of ethanol 2G.
  
  
  RESULTS
  The ability to produce hemicellulases and related enzymes, suitable for lignocellulosic biomass deconstruction, was explored using 110 endophytic fungi and 9 fungi isolated from spoiled books in Brazil. Two initial selections were performed, one employing the esculin gel diffusion assay, and the other by culturing on agar plate media with beechwood xylan and liquor from the hydrothermal pretreatment of sugar cane bagasse. A total of 56 isolates were then grown at 29°C on steam-exploded delignified sugar cane bagasse (DEB) plus soybean bran (SB) (3:1), with measurement of the xylanase, pectinase, β-glucosidase, CMCase, and FPase activities. Twelve strains were selected, and their enzyme extracts were assessed using different substrates. Finally, the best six strains were grown under xylan and pectin, and several glycohydrolases activities were also assessed. These strains were identified morphologically and by sequencing the internal transcribed spacer (ITS) regions and the partial β-tubulin gene (BT2). The best six strains were identified as Aspergillus niger DR02, Trichoderma atroviride DR17 and DR19, Alternaria sp. DR45, Annulohypoxylon stigyum DR47 and Talaromyces wortmannii DR49. These strains produced glycohydrolases with different profiles, and production was highly influenced by the carbon sources in the media.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  The selected endophytic fungi Aspergillus niger DR02, Trichoderma atroviride DR17 and DR19, Alternaria sp. DR45, Annulohypoxylon stigyum DR47 and Talaromyces wortmannii DR49 are excellent producers of hydrolytic enzymes to be used as part of blends to decompose sugarcane biomass at industrial level.
authors.forename: Diogo
authors.initials: D
authors.lastname: Robl
authors.forename: Priscila da Silva
authors.initials: Pda S
authors.lastname: Delabona
authors.forename: Carla Montanari
authors.initials: CM
authors.lastname: Mergel
authors.forename: Juan Diego
authors.initials: JD
authors.lastname: Rojas
authors.forename: Patrícia Dos Santos
authors.initials: Pdos S
authors.lastname: Costa
authors.forename: Ida Chapaval
authors.initials: IC
authors.lastname: Pimentel
authors.forename: Vania Aparecida
authors.initials: VA
authors.lastname: Vicente
authors.forename: José Geraldo
authors.initials: JG
authors.lastname: da Cruz Pradella
authors.affiliation: Institute of Biomedical Sciences, University of São Paulo (USP), Avenida Lineu Prestes 1374 CEP, 05508-900 São Paulo SP, Brazil. gpadilla@icb.usp.br.
authors.forename: Gabriel
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Padilla
mesh_terms: D000528:Alternaria / Q000201:enzymology*; D001234:Aspergillus niger / Q000201:enzymology*; D002480:Cellulase / Q000378:metabolism; D044602:Cellulases / Q000378:metabolism; D002482:Cellulose / Q000737:chemistry; D004271:DNA, Fungal / Q000235:genetics; D000431:Ethanol / Q000378:metabolism; D005285:Fermentation; D006026:Glycoside Hydrolases / Q000096:biosynthesis* / Q000378:metabolism; D006868:Hydrolysis; D031786:Saccharum / Q000378:metabolism / Q000382:microbiology; D017422:Sequence Analysis, DNA; D032901:Talaromyces / Q000201:enzymology*; D014242:Trichoderma / Q000201:enzymology*; D014866:Waste Products; D003313:Zea mays / Q000378:metabolism / Q000382:microbiology; D001617:beta-Glucosidase / Q000378:metabolism
chemical_list: D004271:DNA, Fungal; D014866:Waste Products; D000431:Ethanol; D002482:Cellulose; C027433:bagasse; D044602:Cellulases; D006026:Glycoside Hydrolases; C023305:hemicellulase; D001617:beta-Glucosidase; D002480:Cellulase; C019826:carboxymethylcellulase