Production of large multienzyme complex by aerobic thermophilic fungus Chaetomium sp nov MS-017 grown on palm oil mill fibre

Aims: A novel xylanolytic multienzyme complex of the aerobic thermophilic fungus Chaetomium sp. nov. MS-017 was produced on palm oil mill fibre (POMF) and partially characterized. Methods and Results: The assay of the extracellular enzymes of Chaetomium sp. nov. MS-017 on POMF in solid-state fermentation revealed cellulolytic, pectinolytic and extremely high xylanolytic activities. The protein was purified by Sephadex G-200 column chromatography. The SDS-PAGE demonstrated that the purified protein is a complex with at least five xylanolytic, four cellulolytic and eight pectinolytic components. The characterization of the complex at various temperatures showed that the reactivity and stability of the complex are not lost up to 60degreesC. In addition, the complex was very stable in a wide range of pH (3-9) and at high concentrations (10 mM) of cations and EDTA. The major products of xylan hydrolysis by the purified complex were determined to be xylobiose and xylotriose by thin-layer chromatography. Conclusion: Chaetomium sp. nov. MS-017 preferentially produces a xylanolytic multienzyme complex on POMF in solid-state fermentation. Significance and Impact of the Study: This is the first report on the xylanolytic multienzyme complex produced by an aerobic thermophilic fungus.