Isolation and characterization of thermophilic cellulose and hemicellulose degrading bacterium, Thermoanaerobacterium sp. R63 from tropical dry deciduous forest soil

• Published in: PloS one Vol. 15; no. 7; p. e0236518
• Main Authors: Harnvoravongchai, Phurt, Singwisut, Ratiyakorn, Ounjai, Puey, Aroonnual, Amornrat, Kosiyachinda, Pahol, Janvilisri, Tavan, Chankhamhaengdecha, Surang
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: San Francisco Public Library of Science 23.07.2020; Public Library of Science (PLoS)
• Subjects: Anaerobic bacteria; Bacteria; Biology; Biology and Life Sciences; Biomass; Cellulase; Cellulose; Deciduous forests; Deoxyribonucleic acid; DNA; Dry forests; Ecology and Environmental Sciences; Enzymatic activity; Enzymes; Forest soils; Glucose; Hemicellulose; High temperature; Industrial applications; Investigations; Lignocellulose; Microorganisms; Oligosaccharides; Phenols; Physical Sciences; Soil bacteria; Soil microorganisms; Soils; Substrates; Thermoanaerobacterium; Thermophilic bacteria; Thermophilic microorganisms; Tropical forests; Xylanase; Thailand; Bangkok Thailand
• ISSN: 1932-6203; 1932-6203
• DOI: 10.1371/journal.pone.0236518

Thermophilic microorganisms and their enzymes have been utilized in various industrial applications. In this work, we isolated and characterized thermophilic anaerobic bacteria with the cellulose and hemicellulose degrading activities from a tropical dry deciduous forest in northern Thailand. Out of 502 isolated thermophilic anaerobic soil bacteria, 6 isolates, identified as Thermoanaerobacterium sp., displayed an ability to utilize a wide range of oligosaccharides and lignocellulosic substrates. The isolates exhibited significant cellulase and xylanase activities at high temperature (65°C). Among all isolates, Thermoanaerobacterium sp. strain R63 exhibited remarkable hydrolytic properties with the highest cellulase and xylanase activities at 1.15 U/mg and 6.17 U/mg, respectively. Extracellular extract of Thermoanaerobacterium sp. strain R63 was thermostable with an optimal temperature at 65°C and could exhibit enzymatic activities on pH range 5.0–9.0. Our findings suggest promising applications of these thermoanaerobic bacteria and their potent enzymes for industrial purposes.