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Cellulase- and Xylanase-Producing Bacterial Isolates with the Ability to Saccharify Wheat Straw and Their Potential Use in the Production of Pharmaceuticals and Chemicals from Lignocellulosic Materials

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Abstract

The efficient use of lignocellulosic materials for pharmaceutical and chemical production relies on the hydrolysis of their components into their building blocks (e.g. hexoses and pentoses), which can be converted later into chemicals of interest. This study aimed to isolate cellulase- and xylanase-producing bacteria for the bioconversion of lignocellulosic materials into their respective monomeric sugars. Bacterial isolates were screened using CMC- and Xylan–Trypan blue agar, and then cellulase and xylanase activities were evaluated by the 3,5-dinitro-salicylic acid (DNS) method. Furthermore, bacterial ability to saccharify wheat straw was tested. Ten bacterial isolates were found to have the ability to saccharify wheat straw, and to produce cellulase and xylanase enzymes simultaneously. The bacterial isolates were identified at molecular level using 16S rRNA gene sequencing and phylogenetic analysis. Bacterial isolates were identified as Cellulomonas sp. CX4, Cellulomonas sp. CX5, Bacillus sp. CX6, Bacillus sp. CX10, Paenibacillus illinoisensis CX11, Paenibacillus sp. CX14, Bacillus cereus CX15, and Bacillus sp. CX16, Paenibacillus barcinonensis CX17 and Cellulomonas sp. CX20. Among all the isolates, Bacillus sp. CX6 showed the highest ability to produce total reducing sugar (6.03 and 6.16 mg/ml), while the lowest ability to saccharify wheat straw was found with Cellulomonas sp. CX5 (2.01 and 2.12 mg/ml). This study presents cellulase- and xylanase- producing bacterial isolates for their potential to saccharify lignocellulosic materials for possible use in the production of pharmaceuticals and chemicals.

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Acknowledgements

AAQA and OOB are grateful for the research support provided by North-West University. AAQA and TM are thankful to the University of South Africa (UNISA) for the valuable support for their research. OOB would like to thank the National Research Foundation, South Africa for grant (Ref: UID91990), which has supported research in her laboratory.

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  1. Department of Environmental Sciences, School of Agriculture and Environmental Sciences, University of South Africa, P.O. Box 392, Florida, Johannesburg, 1710, South Africa

    Abeer Ahmed Qaed Ahmed & Tracey McKay

  2. Food Security and Safety Niche Area, Faculty of Agriculture, Science and Technology, North-West University, Mmabatho, Mafikeng, 2735, South Africa

    Olubukola Oluranti Babalola

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  1. Abeer Ahmed Qaed Ahmed
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Ahmed, A.A.Q., Babalola, O.O. & McKay, T. Cellulase- and Xylanase-Producing Bacterial Isolates with the Ability to Saccharify Wheat Straw and Their Potential Use in the Production of Pharmaceuticals and Chemicals from Lignocellulosic Materials. Waste Biomass Valor 9, 765–775 (2018). https://doi.org/10.1007/s12649-017-9849-5

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