Anaerobic Rumen Fungus Neocallimastix Frontalis Research Articles

Characterization of Heterologously Expressed Acetyl Xylan Esterase1 Isolated from the Anaerobic Rumen Fungus Neocallimastix frontalis PMA02.

Acetyl xylan esterase (AXE), which hydrolyzes the ester linkages of the naturally acetylated xylan and thus known to have an important role for hemicellulose degradation, was isolated from the anaerobic rumen fungus Neocallimastix frontatlis PMA02, heterologously expressed in Escherichi coli (E.coli) and characterized. The full-length cDNA encoding NfAXE1 was 1,494 bp, of which 978 bp constituted an open reading frame. The estimated molecular weight of NfAXE1 was 36.5 kDa with 326 amino acid residues, and the calculated isoelectric point was 4.54. The secondary protein structure was predicted to consist of nine α-helixes and 12 β-strands. The enzyme expressed in E.coli had the highest activity at 40°C and pH 8. The purified recombinant NfAXE1 had a specific activity of 100.1 U/mg when p-nitrophenyl acetate (p-NA) was used as a substrate at 40°C, optimum temperature. The amount of liberated acetic acids were the highest and the lowest when p-NA and acetylated birchwood xylan were used as substrates, respectively. The amount of xylose released from acetylated birchwod xylan was increased by 1.4 fold when NfAXE1 was mixed with xylanase in a reaction cocktail, implying a synergistic effect of NfAXE1 with xylanase on hemicellulose degradation.

Analysis of Functional Genes in Carbohydrate Metabolic Pathway of Anaerobic Rumen Fungus Neocallimastix frontalis PMA02

ABSTRACT : Anaerobic rumen fungi have been regarded as good genetic resources for enzyme production which might be useful for feed supplements, bio-energy production, bio-remediation and other industrial purposes. In this study, an expressed sequence tag (EST) library of the rumen anaerobic fungus Neocallimastix frontalis was constructed and functional genes from the EST library were analyzed to elucidate carbohydrate metabolism of anaerobic fungi. From 10,080 acquired clones, 9,569 clones with average size of 628 bp were selected for analysis. After the assembling process, 1,410 contigs were assembled and 1,369 sequences remained as singletons. 1,192 sequences were matched with proteins in the public data base with known function and 693 of them were matched with proteins isolated from fungi. One hundred and fifty four sequences were classified as genes related with biological process and 328 sequences were classified as genes related with cellular components. Most of the enzymes in the pathway of glucose metabolism were successfully isolated via construction of 10,080 ESTs. Four kinds of hemi-cellulase were isolated such as mannanase, xylose isomerase, xylan esterase, and xylanase. Five β-glucosidases with at least three different conserved domain structures were isolated. Ten cellulases with at least five different conserved domain structures were isolated. This is the first solid data supporting the expression of a multiple enzyme system in the fungus

Attachment to cellulose and maturation of attached thalli in the anaerobic rumen fungus Neocallimastix frontalis strain RE1

Observations are presented showing that mature thalli of the rumen anaerobic fungal isolate Neocallimastix frontalis strain RE1 attach to cellulose. This process and subsequent development of the thalli have been studied. Thalli matured without attachment and then attached directly by means of rhizoids to the surface of the substrate. This process was quantified by the measurement of attachment of 14 C-radiolabelled fungal cells pregrown on [UL- 14 C]- d -glucose to filter paper. Washed cell suspensions were separated into zoospores and thalli by filtration and the time-course of attachment of each fraction to filter paper strips was determined. Both thalli and zoospores made a significant contribution to the colonization process. It is suggested that the previously unrecognized ability of mature thalli to attach to cellulose could be of importance in the degradation of plant material in the rumen. After attachment to filter paper the formation of dark brown pigmented sporangia was observed after incubation for periods in excess of 4 d. These had some similarities to resistant sporangia which have been described in aerobic and anaerobic chytrids, but they differed in some important respects. The pigmented cytoplasm retracted, leaving a clear margin within an unthickened cell wall. Histochemical tests showed that the pigment was not melanin and strain RE1 was able to grow and form the pigment in the presence of each of three inhibitors, tricyclazole, PP389 and glyphosate, which block melanin biosynthesis pathways in fungi.

Multiplicity and expression of xylanases in the rumen fungus Neocallimastix frontalis.

The time course production of xylanolytic enzymes by the rumen anaerobic fungus Neocallimastix frontalis was studied during growth on different carbon sources and revealed using isoelectric focusing and immunoblotting. A constant low level of endoxylanase expression was observed in glucose medium. A high level of xylanase activity was detected in methyl glucoside medium corresponding to the induction of new isoforms which were repressed by the presence of glucose. beta-Xylosidases were constitutively produced at a high level and remained mainly associated to the fungal cells. Polyclonal antibodies raised against the endoxylanases XYLI and XYLII revealed that XYLI was secreted to the different culture media showing a characteristic pattern of constitutive expression, while anti-XYLII recognized several polypeptides larger than XYLII indicating the production of multiple antigenically related enzymes during growth on the inducing substrate.

Transient expression of the beta-glucuronidase gene after biolistic transformation of the anaerobic fungus Neocallimastix frontalis.

The rumen anaerobic fungus Neocallimastix frontalis was biolistically transformed using plasmids containing the bacterial beta-glucuronidase gene (GUS) fused to the promoter sequences of the enolase gene from N. frontalis. Multiple copies of the plasmids were precipitated onto tungsten particles and delivered into zoosporangia and a mycelial mat by a helium-driven biolistic device. Transformants were detected by histochemical assay for beta-glucuronidase. It was found that the enolase promoter sequences tested were responsible for the transient expression of the beta-glucuronidase gene. This is the first study presenting results on the transformation of an anaerobic fungus.

Attachment to cellulose and subsequent development of of the anaerobic rumen fungus Neocallimastix frontalis strain RE1

Attachment to cellulose and subsequent development of of the anaerobic rumen fungus Neocallimastix frontalis strain RE1

Molecular characterization of xyn3, a member of the endoxylanase multigene family of the rumen anaerobic fungus Neocallimastix frontalis.

Different cDNAs designated xyn3 and xyn4 were isolated from an expression library of the anaerobic rumen fungus Neocallimastix frontalis. Xyn3 was further characterized and was shown to contain a single open reading frame of 1821 bp coding for a protein, XYN3, of 607 amino acids (Mr 66 000). The predicted primary structure of XYN3 consisted of two large reiterated regions of 223 amino acids with a high degree of identity (88.3%). Each domain of XYN3, XYN3A and XYN3B, showed significant homology with fungal and bacterial xylanases belonging to the endoxylanase family 11. XYN3 and XYN3A were cloned in a bacterial expression plasmid harbouring a 6 His-C terminal tag and the recombinant proteins XYN3 and XYN3A were purified from Escherichia coli. The recombinant proteins had Mr of 66 800 and 34 000 respectively and hydrolysed xylan to xylo-oligosaccharides. Analysis of truncated forms of XYN3 confirmed that the full-length protein contained two catalytic domains displaying similar substrate specificity. Western-blot analysis using antiserum raised against XYN3A showed that the N. frontalis xylanase was not submitted to post-translational maturation. XYN3A antiserum recognized similar polypeptides in the culture medium of two other rumen fungi, Piromyces rhizinflata and Caecomyces communis.

The cellulose system of the anaerobic rumen fungus Neocallimastix frontalis: studies on the properties of fractions rich in endo-(1?4)-?-d-glucanase activity

Seven fractions rich in endoglucanase activity were separated from the extracellular cellulase system of the anaerobic rumen fungus Neocallimastix frontalis. The fractions (ES1, ES3, ES2U1, ES2U2, ES2U4, ES2U3C1 and ES2U3C2) were separated from each other and from a fraction that could solubilize crystalline cellulose (the so-called crystalline-cellulose-solubilizing component, CCSC) by the sequential use of differential adsorption on the microcrystalline cellulose Avicel, gel filtration and affinity chromatography on concanavalin-A-Sepharose. The molecular masses of the endoglucanase fractions, when determined by gel filtration, were 64, 30, 61, 113, 17, 38 and 93 kDa respectively. Each enzyme degraded carboxymethylcellulose and was rich in activity to cellulose swollen in phosphoric acid to break the hydrogen bonding: cellobiose, cellotriose and cellotetraose were released in differing proportions. Each fraction showed a characteristic gradient when the capacity of each enzyme to increase the fluidity of a solution of carboxymethylcellulose was plotted against the increase in reducing power of the solution. Although neither endoglucanase fraction, acting in isolation, could degrade crystalline cellulose, three of the fractions (ES1, ES3 and ES2U1) could act synergistically with the CCSC fraction in this regard. Remarkably, the same three fractions also acted in synergism with the cellobiohydrolases (CBH I and CBH II) of the aerobic fungus Penicillium pinophilum in degrading crystalline cellulose, but only when both cellobiohydrolase enzymes were present in the solution along with any one of the three endoglucanases. These observations support the conclusion that the mechanism of action of the cellulase system of N. frontalis in degrading crystalline cellulose may be similar to that operating in the aerobic fungi.

Effects of live Saccharomyces cerevisiae cells on zoospore germination, growth, and cellulolytic activity of the rumen anaerobic fungus, Neocallimastix frontalis MCH3.

The effects of a live yeast strain of Saccharomyces cerevisiae have been investigated on zoospore germination, metabolism, and cellulolytic activity of the anaerobic rumen fungus Neocallimastix frontalis MCH3. The addition of yeast cells to a vitamin-deficient medium stimulated the germination of fungal zoospores, increased cellulose degradation and hydrogen, formate, lactate, and acetate production. Responses depended on the concentration of yeast cells added and on their viability. Yeast supplementation provided vitamins such as thiamine, which is essential for fungal growth and activity. These results demonstrate that yeasts could enhance plant cell wall colonization by N. frontalis. With certain diets, yeasts could therefore be a good tool to optimize the microbial degradation of lignocellulosic materials, but more research is needed to understand their mechanisms of action, so that they can be used with maximum efficiency as feed supplements.

Characterisation of a β- d-glucosidase from the anaerobic rumen fungus Neocallimastix frontalis with particular reference to attack on cello-oligosaccharides

A β- d-glucosidase was purified by a series of chromatographic procedures involving gel filtration, ion exchange, adsorption/desorption on hydroxyapatite and hydrophobic interaction. The enzyme had an isoelectric pH of 3.7 and an apparent molecular mass, determined by gel filtration, of 153 kDa. The enzyme exhibited activity on cello-oligosaccharides up to degree of polymerisation 6. Activity on cellotriose was slightly greater than on cellobiose, but thereafter the rate of attack fell as the d.p. of the substrate decreased: K m values for attack on cello-oligosaccharides, d.p. 2–6, were 31, 46, 30 and 26 μM, respectively. Analysis of the products of hydrolysis by anion exchange chromatography on a Dionex PA1 column and pulsed amperometric detection indicated an exo-action and the successive removal of d-glucose from each cello-oligosaccharide substrate. A feature of the action of the enzyme on each cello-oligosaccharide was the synthesis of a cello-oligosaccharide one glucose unit longer than the substrate. This transferase activity was dependent on substrate concentration. Apart from o- and p-nitrophenyl β- d-glucosides, all other aryl and alkyl glucosides tested were poor substrates. However, p-nitrophenyl β- d-fucoside was readily hydrolysed: the β- l-, α- d- and α- l-forms were not substrates.

Synergism between components of the cellulase system of the anaerobic rumen fungus Neocallimastix frontalis and those of the aerobic fungi Penicillium pinophilum and Trichoderma koningii in degrading crystalline cellulose

The cellulase system of Neocallimastix frontalis was separated by differential affinity on cellulose into an adsorbed fraction that could solubilize crystalline cellulose (crystalline-cellulose-solubilizing fraction, CCSF), and a non-adsorbed fraction that contained endoglucanase and β-glucosidase activities (non-adsorbed endoglucanase/ β-glucosidas, NAE/β-G) but which showed no activity to crystalline cellulose. Both fractions were tested for their capacity to act synergistically with the cellobiohydrolase (CBH) components of aerobic fungi in degrading crystalline cellulose. The CCSF acted synergistically with CBH I components of both Penicillium pinophilum and Trichoderma koningii but not with CBH II. The NAE/β-G fraction also acted synergistically with the CBH components of P. pinophilum but, remarkably, only when both CBH I and CBH II were present in the reaction mixture. By comparison with previously published studies on the mechanism of action of P. pinophilum cellulase it is speculated that the CCSF of N. frontalis may contain CBH I- and CBH II-type enzymes.

Synergism between components of the cellulase system of the anaerobic rumen fungus Neocallimastix frontalis and those of the aerobic fungi Penicillium pinophilum and Trichoderma koningii in degrading crystalline cellulose

Synergism between components of the cellulase system of the anaerobic rumen fungus Neocallimastix frontalis and those of the aerobic fungi Penicillium pinophilum and Trichoderma koningii in degrading crystalline cellulose

Hydrolysis of oligosaccharides of the ?-(1?4)-linked d-xylose series by an endo(1?4)-?-d-xylanase from the anaerobic rumen fungus Neocallimastix frontalis

An endo-(1→4)-β-D-xylanase from Neocallimastix frontalis was purified by anion-exchange chromatography. The enzyme had an apparent molecular mass of 30 kDa on SDS-PAGE and exhibited maximum activity at 50°C and at pH values between 6.0 and 6.6. Kinetic studies on the hydrolysis of xylo-oligosaccharides, ranging from xylobiose to xylodecaose, showed that xylohexaose and xyloheptaose were the preferred substrates for the enzyme and that xylobiose, xylotriose and xylotetraose were not hydrolysed. Xylose was not a product of the hydrolysis of any of the xylo-oligosaccharide substrates tested. The enzyme appeared to have a strong preference for the hydrolysis of the internal glycosidic bonds of the oligosaccharides, which is typical of endo-(1→4)-β-D-xylanase activity, but it differed from other fungal endo-(1→4)-β-D-xylanases in that it had uniform action on the various internal linkages in the xylo-oligosaccharides.

Purification and characterisation of a β- d-xylosidase from the anaerobic rumen fungus Neocallimastix frontalis

A β- d-xylosidase from the anaerobic rumen fungus Neocallimastix frontalis was purified by anion-exchange and gel filtration chromatography. The enzyme was isoelectrically homogeneous and had an isoelectric point of pH 4.6. The apparent molecular mass calculated by gel filtration was 150 000 Da. Under denaturing conditions, the enzyme appeared as a dimer composed of two polypeptides with molecular masses of 83 000 and 53 000 Da. The pH and temperature optimum were 6.4 and 37°C, respectively: the activity was very sensitive to temperature. The enzyme was inhibited by copper, silver and zinc ions, EDTA and SDS, and was stimulated by calcium and magnesium ions. It was competitively inhibited by d-xylose with an apparent K i of 3.98 mM. The β- d-xylosidase exhibited hydrolytic activity on xylobiose and xylo-oligosaccharides of dp up to 7: the specific activities and maximum velocities decreased as the chain length increased. Analysis of the products of hydrolysis by HPLC indicated a typical exo-action. A mixture of β- d-xylosidase and a xylanase acted synergistically in producing high reducing sugar values, using a xylan from oat spelts.

Studies on the cellulase of the rumen anaerobic fungus Neocallimastix frontalis, with special reference to the capacity of the enzyme to degrade crystalline cellulose

By using cotton fiber, carboxymethylcellulose (CM-cellulose), and o -nitrophenyl-β- d -glucoside as substrates, it was possible to demonstrate that there were at least three different types of enzyme present in culture filtrates of Neocallimastix frontalis RK21. The activity to crystalline cellulose (cotton fiber) resided in a high-molecular-weight complex that comprised endoglucanase activity, β-glucosidase activity, and another enzyme. However, synergism between the components in the high-molecular-weight complex and between the complex and low-molecular-weight endoglucanases and β-glucosidases was also apparent in the solubilization of crystalline cellulose. The composition of the complex varied according to the growth conditions: it was, however, between 750 and 1000 kDa in size. Cultures containing rumen fluid contained only small amounts of the high-molecular-weight complex. Cultures grown on defined medium were rich in high-molecular-weight complex, but only when the concentration of the carbon source was less than 1.0%. Treatment of the crude culture filtrates with chitinase under conditions that had little effect on the activity of the enzyme to endoglucanase (CM-cellulose) or β-glucosidase completely destroyed the activity to crystalline cellulose. It is tentatively suggested that an enzyme crucial for the activity to crystalline cellulose may be cell wall-bound and may be dependent on its association with the cell wall for the maintenance of its conformation for attacking crystalline cellulose. The enzyme involved in degrading crystalline cellulose is much more thermolabile than the CM-cellulase or the β-glucosidase: activity is optimal at pH 6.0 and 40°C.

The anaerobic fungus Neocallimastix frontalis: isolation and properties of a cellulosome-type enzyme fraction with the capacity to solubilize hydrogen-bond-ordered cellulose

A minor component isolated from the extra-cellular cellulase of the anaerobic rumen fungus Neocallimastix frontalis by adsorption on cellulose had a remarkable capacity to degrade crystalline hydrogen-bond-ordered cellulose. When produced in a semi-defined medium the component comprised normally less than 4% of the total protein and only 0.3% of the protein in cultures containing rumen fluid. The minor component showed endoglucanase (carboxymethylcellulase) and β-glucosidase activity and effected the extensive hydrolysis of “crystalline” cellulose in the form of the cotton fibre when acting alone. Glucose was the sole product of hydrolysis. The specific activity of the crystalline cellulose solubilizing factor (CCSF) in degrading cotton fibre was much higher than any other cellulase or cellulase component reported so far. The activity of the CSSF to crystalline hydrogen-bond-ordered cellulose resides in a high molecular mass complex of 670 kDa, that comprised a number of subunits ranging in size from 68 to 135 kDa.

Sequence of the phosphoenolpyruvate carboxykinase-encoding cDNA from the rumen anaerobic fungus Neocallimastix frontalis: comparison of the amino acid sequence with animals and yeast

The nucleotide sequence of the cDNA of the phosphoenolpyruvate carboxykinase-encoding gene from the fungus Neocallimastix frontalis, was determined. The deduced amino acid sequence (608 residues) and the predicted protein structure were compared to their counterparts in animals and yeast. Catalytic regions (substrate-binding site and nucleotide-binding domains) are highly conserved among fungal and animal organisms. The yeast sequence showed no similarity to the fungal sequence.

Glucose metabolic pathways in the anaerobic rumen fungus Neocallimastix frontalis EB188

Primary pathways for glucose metabolism were established in the anaerobic rumen fungus Neocallimastix frontalis EB188. This highly capable cellulolytic organism demonstrated a strict anaerobic integration of metabolic pathways. Glycolysis in N. frontalis EB188 was coupled to malate dehydrogenase, 'malic' enzyme and specified hydrogenosome reactions. Pyruvate, as in most life forms, was a pivotal compound. The major fermentation products of N. frontalis EB188 were acetate, ethanol and lactate, with the concomitant generation of H2. On the basis of its unique characteristics and streamlined fermentation pathways, it was concluded that N. frontalis EB188 should be an important contributor to programs generating energy and selected chemicals from currently intractable biomass.

Molecular cloning of genes from the rumen anaerobic fungus Neocallimastix frontalis: expression during hydrolase induction

Glycoside and polysaccharide hydrolase production by the rumen anaerobic fungus, Neocalimastix frontalis is induced by the presence of crystalline cellulose. A differential screening of a cDNA library was used to isolate DNA sequences transcribed at high levels under growth conditions which induce enzyme production. Seven clones were isolated that preferentially hybridized to the induced cDNA probe versus the non-induced cDNA probe. Southern analysis showed that a cDNA clone (118) hybridized to a DNA probe encoding part of the exo-cellobiohydrolase I (CBH I) gene of Trichoderma reesei. Northern analysis demonstrated that the cDNA 118 was transcribed to yield a 2.1 kb RNA. This transcript was induced in the presence of cellulose.

Purification and characterization of an extracellular β-xylosidase from the rumen anaerobic fungus Neocallimastix frontalis

The purification of β-xylosidase (gb- d-xyloside xylohydrolase, EC 3.2.1.37) from Neocallimastix frontalis was performed by ammonium sulphate precipitation, ion exchange chromatography, gel filtration and preparative isoelectric focusing. The enzyme has a molecular mass of 180 000 Da, an isoelectric point at pH 4.35 and catalysed the hydrolysis of p- nitrophenyl-β- d- xylopyranoside optimally at pH 6.5 and 35°C with K m of 0.33 mg ml −1. The enzymatic activity was strongly increased by the presence of Ca 2+, Mn 2+, Zn 2+, Co 2+ or Mg 2+ and completely inhibited by Hg 2+ and p-chloromercuribenzoate. The purified protein also had a low level of xylanase activity.