Induction and Characterisation of Lignocellulolytic Activities from Novel Deep-Sea Fungal Secretomes

Fungi are increasingly recognised as being able to inhabit extreme environments. The deep sea is considered an extreme environment because of its low temperatures, high hydrostatic and lithostatic pressures, 3.5% salinity, and low oxygen, nutrient and light availability. Fungi inhabiting the deep sea may have evolved to produce proteins that allow them to survive these conditions. Investigation and characterisation of fungal lignocellulolytic enzymes from extreme environments like the deep sea is needed, as they may have unusual adaptations that would be useful in industry. This work, therefore, aimed to profile in detail the lignocellulolytic capabilities of fungi isolated from deep-sea sediments in the Atlantic Ocean, and a comparative lignocellulolytic terrestrial isolate. The isolates were strains of Emericellopsis maritima, Penicillium chrysogenum, P. antarcticum and Talaromyces stollii. Lignocellulolytic enzyme induction was achieved using liquid-state fermentation (LSF) with wheat bran as the main carbon source, while enzyme characteristics were evaluated using biochemical assays and gel-based proteomics. This study revealed that the isolates were halotolerant, produced xylanase over wide pH and temperature ranges, and produced a variety of glycoside hydrolase and feruloyl esterase activities. The T. stollii secretome demonstrated remarkable levels of exo-glycoside hydrolase activity, with xylanase activity optimum between pH 1.5-6.0 and temperatures between 1-60 C-degrees, making this isolate an ideal candidate for biotechnological applications. This study is the first to quantitatively characterise xylanase activities and exo-glycoside hydrolase activities secreted by E. maritima, P. antarcticum and a marine T. stollii strain. This study is also the first to quantitatively characterise xylanase activities by a marine strain of P. chrysogenum during LSF.