(716b) Novel Thermostable Xylanase Production From Termite Gut Microbes and Its Application in Biofuels

Novel thermostable xylanase production from termite gut microbes and its application in biofuels

Pratibha Dheeran^1,* , Sachin Kumar2 and Dilip K. Adhikari³

¹SRM Research Institute, SRM University, Kattankulathur-603 203, Tamilnadu, India

²Sardar Swaran Singh National Institute of Renewable Energy, Kapurthala-144601, India

³Biotechnology Area, Indian Institute of Petroleum, Dehradun-248 005, India

Abstract

The termites harbor more than 200 species of microbes that produce the novel cellulosic and hemicellulosic degrading enzymes, which in turn can be efficiently applied for the production of ethanol from lignocellulosic biomass in biofuel industries. In the current work, wood feeding termites were collected from the forest of Rajaji National Park Range, Dehradun (India) and they were used to isolate the thermostable xylanse producing microbes. As far as literature concern, very few information is available on using the termite gut microbes for xylanase production.

The wood feeding termite gut’s extract were used for screening of xylanase producing microbes at 50°C. A novel thermophilic strain Panebacillus macerans IIPSP3 was isolated which was found to be potent thermostable xylanase producer. Maximum xylanase production was observed in late exponential phase at 50°C and pH 6.0. The isolated thermostable xylanase worked at broad temperature and pH range 40-90°C and 3.5-9.5, respectively, with optimum activity at temperature of 60°C and pH 4.5. This novel strain P. macerans IIPSP3 from wood feeding termites could utilize agro wastes such as corn cob as a substrate for growth and produce high level of xylanase, which has benefits for its economical production and industrial applications. IIPSP3 xylanase is a novel enzyme, which can be used in biofuel and paper & pulp industries as it could efficiently be hydrolyzed the lignocellulosic biomass at pH 4.5 and 9.0. The isolated xylan is cellulase free, which can be used in biobleaching of pulp.

Key Words: Higher Termite, Thermostable xylanase, Biofuels.

*Author for correspondence: E-mail: pratibhadheeran@gmail.com