Abraham, Mathew; Dr.Rajeev Kumar,S(Cochin University Of Science And Technology, December 12, 2012)
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Abstract:
Beta-glucosidases are critical enzymes in biomass hydrolysis process and is
important in creating highly efficient enzyme cocktails for the bio-ethanol industry.
Among the two strategies proposed for overcoming the glucose inhibition of commercial
cellulases, one is to use heavy dose of BGL in the enzyme blends and the second is to do
simultaneous saccharification and fermentation where glucose is converted to alcohol as soon as it is being generated. While the former needs extremely high quantities of
enzyme, the latter is inefficient since the conditions for hydrolysis and fermentation are
different. This makes the process technically challenging and also in this case, the
alcohol generation is lesser, making its recovery difficult. A third option is to use
glucose tolerant β-glucosidases which can work at elevated glucose concentrations.
However, there are very few reports on such enzymes from microbial sources especially
filamentous fungi which can be cultivated on cheap biomass as raw material. There has
been very less number of studies directed at this, though there is every possibility that
filamentous fungi that are efficient degraders of biomass may harbor such enzymes. The
study therefore aimed at isolating a fungus capable of secreting glucose tolerant β-
glucosidase enzyme. Production, characterization of β-glucosidases and application of
BGL for bioethanol production were attempted.
Description:
Biotechnology Division
National Institute for Interdisciplinary Science & Technology –CSIR
Thiruvananthapuram