Degradation of xylan by a new strain of thermophilic Clostridium
The intent of the research has been the isolation of a thermophilic, polysaccharide-degrading anaerobe which could prove suitable for coculturing with organisms such as Clostridium thermocellum, a prominent cellulose-degrading bacterium. The author has isolated such an organism from Kansas soil. The isolate virgorously degrades xylan, a hemicellulose, as well as several starchy substrates and other polysaccharides, though not cellulose. In addition, the isolate ferments all common mono- and di-saccharide components of plant polysaccharides. Though its fermentation is largely acidic, it also produces significant amounts of enthanol and n-butanol. Biochemical and metabolic characterization of the isolate have allowed it to be distinguished from previously-reported strains of the genus Clostridium, though currently insufficient evidence is available to report it as a new species. Initial studies of the isolate's xylan-degrading system reveal that the organism produces at least six separate xylanases when the isolate grows in media containing xylose, a component of xylan. In xylan medium, the isolate also produces a yellow, high-charged substance which co-migrates electrophoretically with its active xylanase(s). This substance may be analogous to the yellow substrate affinity substance (YAS) produced by C. thermocellum in cellulose medium.
- Research Organization:
- Kansas Univ., Lawrence, KS (USA)
- OSTI ID:
- 7078995
- Resource Relation:
- Other Information: Thesis (Ph. D.)
- Country of Publication:
- United States
- Language:
- English
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Related Subjects
59 BASIC BIOLOGICAL SCIENCES
CLOSTRIDIUM
PERFORMANCE TESTING
XYLANS
BIODEGRADATION
BIOSYNTHESIS
BUTANOLS
CLOSTRIDIUM THERMOCELLUM
ELECTROPHORESIS
ETHANOL
FERMENTATION
POLYSACCHARIDES
SOILS
XYLANASE
ALCOHOLS
BACTERIA
BIOCONVERSION
CARBOHYDRATES
CHEMICAL REACTIONS
DECOMPOSITION
ENZYMES
GLYCOSYL HYDROLASES
HEMICELLULOSE
HYDROLASES
HYDROXY COMPOUNDS
MICROORGANISMS
O-GLYCOSYL HYDROLASES
ORGANIC COMPOUNDS
SACCHARIDES
SYNTHESIS
TESTING
090900* - Biomass Fuels- Processing- (1990-)
550700 - Microbiology