Advantages and disadvantages of using SC CO2 for enzyme release from halophilic fungi

Trimatostroma salinum, Wallemia ichthyophaga, Hortaea werneckii and Phaeotheca triangularis are halophilic fungi, which can thrive in a wide range of salinity (0%-32% NaCl). They present a source of valuable bio-active compounds, enzymes and proteins interesting for environmental management, food, textile and pharmaceutical industry. Enzymes from these fungi, e.g. amylases, cellulases, lipases, and proteases, which possess so called polyextremophilicity (they are thermostable, tolerant to a wide range of pH, less susceptible to denaturation and tolerant to high salt concentrations) present a novel catalytic alternative for biotechnological applications. To release enzymes from halophilic fungi cells, a conventional method using mechanical homogenizer (rotor-stator homogenizer) and a novel method using supercritical technology were applied. Very high protein concentration in all halophilic fungi cell suspensions after the treatment with SC CO2 were detected. Obtained results also show very high activities of protease, alpha-amylase, beta-glucosidase and cellulase after the treatment of each halophilic fungi cell suspension by SC CO2. Using SC CO2 as a medium for cell disruption offers additional benefits regarding performance of a biochemical reaction and bioseparation in the same medium leading in integration of all three processes into a single step. Besides, integration of processes presents important advantage in industrial processes from an economic point of view. Enzymes from extremophiles namely possess improved properties and can be used at harsh conditions where non-extremophilic enzymes may deactivate. Therefore, extremozymes from T. salinum, W. ichthyophaga, H. werneckii and P. triangularis are as high-pressure tolerant enzymes suitable for many industrial applications, which could be performed also in non-aqueous media like SC CO2.