Production of fibrolytic enzymes in repeat-batch culture using immobilized zoospores of anaerobic rumen fungi

Abstract

The zoospores of two isolates of polycentric rumen fungi, <i>Orpinomyces</i> NIANP 58 (isolated from the faeces of a buffalo) and <i>Anaeromyces</i> NIANP 115 (isolated from the rumen liquor of a cannalulated cow), were immobilized in sodium alginate solution for the production of three fibrolytic enzymes, viz. CMcase, xylanase and <img src='/image/spc_char/beta.gif' border=0>-glucosidase in repeat-batch culture. Enzyme activity was recorded initially (0 h) and after every 24 h up to 72 h of immobilization. CMCellulase activity of 8.5±1.205 units at 0 h in Orpinomyces showed a very steep increase in the activity (598.00±26.87), almost 70-fold increase at 48 h of immobilization. This increase was reflected in the specific activity as well, while in case of <i>Anaeromyces</i>, an activity of 6.0±0.851 units at 0 h also showed a very steep increase in activity (322.46±1.054 units, recording a 50-fold increase at 48 h of immobilization. At 0 h, 28.22± 4.556 units of xylanase activity corresponding to a specific activity of 31.36±6.225 were obtained in the case of <i>Orpinomyces</i>, which increased steeply to 955.11±54.93 units at 48 h of immobilization. Thereafter, the activity declined to more or less that obtained at 24 h of immobilization though a high specific activity of 791.20±10.66 was recorded. High xylanase activities were obtained in case of <i>Anaeromyces</i> upon immobilization with activity increasing from 56.88 units at 0 h to as high as 1921 units at 72 h. <i>Anaeromyces</i> isolate yielded 3.85, 4.246, 8.03 and 23.19 units of <img src='/image/spc_char/beta.gif' border=0>-glucosidase, whereas <i>Orpinomyces</i> isolate yielded 6.09, 14.12, 16.63 and 20.89 units of <img src='/image/spc_char/beta.gif' border=0>-glucosidase at 0,24,48 and 72 h, respectively. The results clearly elucidate the feasibility of using the zoospores of anaerobic rumen fungi for large-scale production of these three enzymes, which have great potential in ruminant nutrition in the breakdown of fibrous feeds and also various industrial applications.