Production of a thermostable B-glucosidase by a mesophilic fungus aspergillus niger NIAB 280

Abstract

Aspergillus niger NIAB 280 produced extracellular B- glucosidease when grown on different ligno cellulosic substrates. Wheat bran was found to be the best inducer of this enzyme. Maximum enzyme production was found at initial pH 5. When the organisms was grown on easily available carbohydrates, the enzyme was induced only to a basic level essential for microbial growth. The optimum pH for enzyme activity was found to be 3 whereas optimum temperature was 55 degree C. The enzyme retained 100% activity when exposed to a temperature of 50 degree C for 5 days. When this enzyme was added to FPase from T. reesei and celluclast (a commercial cellulase from Novazyme), the %age saccharification as well as glucose production from lignocellulosic biomass was doubled. (author)