Isolation and characterization of Bacillus subtilis strain BY-3, a thermophilic and efficient cellulase-producing bacterium on untreated plant biomass.
Bioconversion of biomass, particularly crop wastes, into biofuels is being developed as an alternative approach in meeting the high energy demand. In this study, a thermophilic bacterial strain BY-3 that exhibits cellulolytic potential was isolated from faecal samples of Tibetan pigs; this strain was identified as Bacillus subtilis. The strain can produce cellulase when grown on various substrates, including carboxymethyl cellulose, rice straw, corn stover, soluble starch and wheat bran. The maximum cellulase activity of the strain was up to 4·323 ± 0·065 U ml(-1) when cultivated in the medium containing corn stover (30 g l(-1) ) for 24 h. The results demonstrated that corn stover is the most suitable substrate for cellulase production by the strain BY-3. The crude cellulase of strain BY-3 was most active at pH 5·5 and 60°C, and the enzyme in acetate buffer (50 mmol l(-1) ) demonstrated a good stability at 60°C for at least 1 h. The crude cellulase exhibited a strong antibacterial activity against Staphylococcus aureus. The strain can be used in cost-efficient cellulase production for bioconversion of agricultural residual biomass into biofuels.


CONCLUSIONS
The increased consumption of fossil fuels has caused serious energy crisis and environmental problem. Thus, an alternative energy source is necessary. Bioconversion of biomass, particularly agricultural residuals, into value-added bioproducts, such as biofuels and chemical solvents, has received considerable attention. In this study, the newly isolated thermophilic Bacillus subtilis strain BY-3 produces cellulase efficiently with the use of untreated corn stover as a sole carbon source. This strain possesses the thermostable cellulase that is active with diverse crop wastes with a broad pH range and is a highly promising candidate for agricultural waste management.
College of Animal Science and Technology, Northwest A&F University, Yangling, Shaanxi, China.
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F
Meng
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L
Ma
S
S
Ji
W
W
Yang
B
B
Cao
D000900:Anti-Bacterial Agents / Q000096:biosynthesis / Q000737:chemistry / Q000494:pharmacology; D001412:Bacillus subtilis / Q000201:enzymology* / Q000302:isolation & purification; D001426:Bacterial Proteins / Q000096:biosynthesis* / Q000737:chemistry / Q000494:pharmacology; D055162:Biocatalysis; D056804:Biofuels; D018533:Biomass; D002266:Carboxymethylcellulose Sodium / Q000737:chemistry; D002480:Cellulase / Q000096:biosynthesis* / Q000737:chemistry / Q000494:pharmacology; D003470:Culture Media; D052978:Disk Diffusion Antimicrobial Tests; D004795:Enzyme Stability; D004926:Escherichia coli / Q000187:drug effects; D006863:Hydrogen-Ion Concentration; D007700:Kinetics; D028321:Plant Preparations / Q000737:chemistry; D012486:Salmonella typhimurium / Q000187:drug effects; D013211:Staphylococcus aureus / Q000187:drug effects; D003313:Zea mays / Q000382:microbiology*
D000900:Anti-Bacterial Agents; D001426:Bacterial Proteins; D056804:Biofuels; D003470:Culture Media; D028321:Plant Preparations; D002480:Cellulase; D002266:Carboxymethylcellulose Sodium
Bacillus subtilis; cellulase; characterization; corn stover; thermophilic bacterium