The metabolism of white-rot fungi has many proposed biotechnological applications. Their unique capability to depolymerize and catabolize lignin, the most recalcitrant component of lignocellulosic biomass, could be instrumental to the sustainable production of fuels, chemical, and materials from waste biomass feedstocks. The non-specific, oxidative nature of this lignin-degrading metabolism of white-rot fungi renders them capable of degrading a wide range of complex refractory organic compounds beyond lignin, including emerging micropollutants such as pharmaceuticals and pesticides which current wastewater treatment processes were not designed to remove. However, harnessing these metabolic capabilities into engineered bioprocesses has proven to be challenging. Common bioreactor design strategies were developed for traditionally-used unicellular bacteria and yeasts and are not necessarily appropriate for the more complex, filamentous white-rot fungi. Due to a lack of specific engineering strategies and other knowledge gaps, the realization of white-rot fungal bioprocesses has been hampered by low process efficiencies and operational challenges. This dissertation aims to expand the engineering toolbox for harnessing the metabolism of white-rot fungi in bioprocesses. Specifically, it proposes the addition of Fenton chemistry as an avenue to unlock the biotechnological potential of white-rot fungi. The production of hydroxyl radicals through the Fenton reaction is generally understood to be part of the lignin-degrading machinery of white-rot fungi and the addition of Fenton chemistry has been shown to synergistically enhance lignin degradation by white-rot fungi. Overall, the research presented here aims to demonstrate that incorporating Fenton chemistry into white-rot fungal bioprocesses not only synergistically increases lignin degradation efficiency, but also offers a potential solution for the operational challenges that have prevented the implementation of white-rot fungal bioprocesses. This dissertation was guided by five objectives aimed at illustrating the utility of coupling Fenton chemistry and white-rot fungi in engineered bioprocesses. The first objective was to demonstrate, optimize, and uncover the underlying mechanisms driving the synergistic degradation of lignin by white-rot fungi and Fenton chemistry. Through this assessment, it was found that lignin degradation increased synergistically from 58.8% to 80.2% in the presence of Fenton chemistry at the optimum concentration. This work also showed that Fe(II)/Fe(III) cycling and the induction of auxiliary ligninolytic pathways mediate this synergistic interaction. The second objective was to elucidate how Fenton chemistry influences the regulating mechanisms of ligninolytic activity in white-rot fungi, specifically C:N ratio. This showed that C:N ratio significantly influences lignin degradation in the absence of Fenton, but that this effect is blunted in the presence of Fenton. The third objective was to investigate how Fenton chemistry modulates the relationship between the concentration of fungal biomass and the extent of lignin. In the absence of Fenton, fungal biomass concentration was strongly correlated to the extent of lignin degradation. While this was also the case in the presence of Fenton chemistry at very low fungal biomass concentrations, this relationship became uncoupled at sufficiently high fungal biomass concentrations. The fourth objective was to evaluate Fenton chemistry as a selective disinfectant to allow for the persistence or enrichment of white-rot fungi in non-sterile settings. The model competitor E. coli became completely inactivated within hours at the optimal concentration of Fenton reagents, whereas the white-rot fungus P. chrysosporium survived and grew. Lastly, the fifth objective was to demonstrate the long-term performance of a continuously-operated bioreactor which integrated Fenton chemistry and white-rot fungal metabolism. A rotating biological contactor (RBC) combined with a rotating cathode electro-Fenton was constructed and a kinetic model based on batch tests was successfully developed and validated. The reactors were operated for over 100 days and reached stable lignin degradation performance at ~55%. Analysis of the microbial ecology of these reactors showed the persistence of the inoculated P. chrysosporium within the biofilms, as well as the enrichment for other lignin-degrading fungi and bacteria with aromatic catabolism and iron-reduction capabilities. Overall, this research provides insight into the potential and practical implications of integrating Fenton chemistry with white-rot fungi in bioprocesses. The lignin-degrading metabolism of white-rot fungi has long been of interest for biotechnological purposes, but attempts to operationalize them have thus far been unsuccessful at scale. In order to consider scaling white-rot fungi to full-scale operations such as wastewater treatment plants, a better understanding and tighter controls on the growth, ligninolytic activity, and ecological interactions of white-rot fungi are needed. This work proposes Fenton chemistry as a synergetic actor, selective promoter and regulator of white-rot fungal biomass and their production of lignin degrading enzymes.

Dans le contexte énergétique et climatique mondial, le coût élevé des enzymes Cellulolytiques (cellulases) freine le développement des bioraffineries lignocellulosiques, pour produire des biocarburants et composés chimiques à partir d'une matière première végétale renouvelable. L'objectif de ce travail est de caractériser et de modéliser le métabolisme du micro-organisme Trichoderma reesei, afin d'optimiser le protocole industriel de production de cellulases. Cette étude a été réalisée sur des milieux modèles représentatifs de ceux attendus à l'échelle industrielle. Tout d'abord, la stoechiométrie des réactions de croissance et de production a été établie, puis une étude cinétique a été menée pour mesurer précisément le comportement du micro-organisme à forte induction de la production de cellulases. Le modèle résultant a été utilisé pour optimiser le protocole industriel de production. Ensuite, l'intégration de cette étape dans une bioraffinerie lignocellulosique a été étudiée, avec l'effet sur le métabolisme i) des mélanges de sucres disponibles, ii) des composés inhibiteurs issus de la dégradation de la lignocellulose, et iii) du changement d'échelle. Ces travaux ont fait progresser de façon substantielle les connaissances du métabolisme de T. reesei en ce qui concerne la production de cellulases, et les modèles développés sont des outils d'aide rationnelle à la définition d'un procédé de production de cellulases intégré dans une bioraffinerie lignocellulosique. / In the global energetic and climatic context, the high cost of the cellulolytic enzymes (cellulases) postpones the development of lignocellulosic biorefineries, dedicated to produce biofuels and chemical compounds from renewable vegetable feedstocks. The aim of this work was to measure and model the metabolism of the micro-organism Trichoderma reesei, in order to optimize the industrial protocol for the production of cellulase. This study was carried out using synthetic media representative of industrial ones. First, the stoichiometries of growth and protein production reactions were determined. Then, a kinetic study was conducted to precisely measure the specific rates of T. reesei at high induction of cellulase production. The resulting model was used to optimize the industrial production protocol. Finally the integration of this step in a lignocellulosic biorefinery was studied by determining the impacts on the metabolism of i) available sugar mixtures, ii) inhibitory compounds from lignocellulosic biomass degradation, and iii) scale-up. These results significantly contributed to improve the knowledge of T. reesei metabolism on cellulase production. The developed models are rational tools for the optimization of a cellulase production protocol suited to lignocellulosic biorefineries.

In den Pflanzenzellwänden befindliche Polysaccharide stehen dem Prozess nur bedingt als Energiequelle zur Verfügung, da diese in einem Komplex mit Lignin verknüpft sind. Um diese Substanzen für den Biogasprozess verfügbar zu machen und demnach den Substratumsatz bzw. die Prozesseffizienz zu erhöhen, sind geeignete Stoffe oder Techniken einzusetzen bzw. zu entwickeln. In dieser Arbeit wurde zielführend der Einsatz von unterschiedlichen Enzympräparaten in drei verschiedenen Prozessstufen bei ausgewählten Energiepflanzen mit variierender Häcksellänge untersucht. Anhand von Enzymaktivitätsbestimmungen konnten Enzympräparate für die einzelnen Stufen selektiert werden. Die ausgewählten Enzyme wurden einzeln oder in Mischung während der Silierung, direkt vor dem Biogasprozess sowie während des Biogasprozesses zum Substrat dotiert und dieses nach der jeweiligen Vorbehandlung in Batch-Gärtests vergoren. Neben der Biogas- und Methanausbeute wurde zur Bewertung der Enzymleistung der Abbau an Lignocellulose sowie die Freisetzung an niedermolekularen Kohlenhydraten ermittelt. Zusätzlich wurde das Quellen der Lignocellulose mit Hilfe eines Wasserzusatzes in Form einer Vorhydrolyse als Vorbehandlungsmethode mit allgemein positivem Ergebnis geprüft. Das Ziel der verbesserten Substratumsetzung bei Mais und Roggen und folglich einer Erhöhung der Biogasproduktion wurde durch den Zusatz ausgewählter Enzympräparate erreicht. Es konnten Grundlagen bezüglich der Wirkung von Enzymen in Biogasprozessen geschaffen werden, anhand derer deutlich wurde, dass besonders die enzymatische Behandlung in den der Methanisierung vorgelagerten Prozessstufen weiterzuentwickeln ist. / Polysaccharides of plant cell walls are of limited digestibility due to their cross-linking to lignin. In order to make the molecules available for the biogas process and thus increase the substrate utilization and process efficiency appropriate substances or techniques are needed. It was therefore the aim of this work to investigate the effects of different enzyme preparations in three digestion process stages. Selected energy plants with varying degrees of particle sizes (chopping lengths) were used as digester feedstock. Enzyme preparations for the different process stages were chosen by enzyme assays. The selected enzymes were added to the feedstock during the ensiling, directly before the biogas process or during the biogas process separate or in mixtures. Pre-treated substrates were subsequently digested in batch fermentation tests. Beside the biogas and methane yield the degradation degree of lignocellulose and the release of low molecular carbohydrates were investigated for evaluating the enzyme performance. Additionally, the swelling of lignocellulose caused by addition of water in a pre-hydrolysis process was examined as a method of pre-treatment, with generally positive results. The aim of an improved substrate conversion of maize and rye and thus an enhanced biogas production by enzymatic pretreatments was achieved. Scientific fundamentals regarding the impact of enzymes on biogas processes were established. Enzymatic pretreatments in process steps before methanation showed potential for further developments.

Dans le contexte actuel, il devient nécessaire de rendre les alternatives au pétrole, tel que le bioéthanol 2G, disponibles à grande échelle. Cependant, l’étape d’hydrolyse par les enzymes de Trichoderma reesei reste un verrou à un procédé économiquement stable et rentable. Ces travaux de thèse, s'intègrent dans le cadre du projet Futurol et ont pour objectifs d'identifier et de caractériser de nouvelles enzymes fongiques pour améliorer l'hydrolyse de la biomasse lignocellulosique. A partir des données protéomiques disponibles pour Podospora anserina et Fusarium verticillioides, une douzaine d'enzymes candidates ont été identifiées dans leurs sécrétomes. Ce travail de thèse s'est plus particulièrement focalisé sur les AA9s « Lytic Polysaccharide Monooxygenases » (LPMOs) de P. anserina. Parmi les LPMOs étudiées, PaLPMO9A, PaLPMO9E et PaLPMO9H, qui possèdent un CBM1, sont les plus actives sur la cellulose. La détermination de la régiosélectivité d'action a mis en évidence que PaLPMO9A et PaLPMO9H clivent la cellulose en position C1 et C4 alors que la PaLPMO9E génère uniquement des produits oxydés en C1. La PaLPMO9H est la plus versatile puisqu’elle est active sur les cello-oligosaccharides solubles et sur les polysaccharides hémicellulosiques liés en β-(1,4) (i.e., xyloglucane, glucomannane). La supplémentation du cocktail de T. reesei avec PaLPMO9E ou PaLPMO9H a permis de doubler les rendements d'hydrolyse du miscanthus prétraité. Les travaux réalisés au cours de cette thèse ont permis de démontrer l'importance de ces enzymes oxydatives dans les phénomènes de déconstruction de la lignocellulose chez les champignons filamenteux. / In the current context, it becomes essential to make alternative to oil, such as the 2G bioethanol, available at large scale. However, the hydrolysis step by Trichoderma reesei enzymes remains the major bottleneck for an economically sustainable process. The present work is part of the Futurol project, and aims at identifying and characterizing new fungal enzymes to improve the hydrolysis of lignocellulosic biomass. From the proteomic data available for Podospora anserina and Fusarium verticillioides, a dozen of interesting enzymes were identified in their secretomes. This work focuses, mainly, on the AA9s « Lytic Polysaccharide Monooxygenases » (LPMOs) from P. anserina. Among all the LPMOs studied, PaLPMO9A, PaLPMO9E and PaLPMO9H that harbored a CBM1 were the most active on cellulose. Investigation of their regioselective mode of action revealed that PaLPMO9A and PaLPMO9H oxidatively cleaved at both C1 and C4 positions while PaLPMO9E released only C1-oxidized products. PaLPMO9H that was the most versatile in terms of substrate specificity as it also displayed activity on cello-oligosaccharides and β-(1,4)-linked hemicellulose polysaccharides (e.g., xyloglucan, glucomannan). The hydrolysis yield of the pretreated miscanthus was significantly improved up to 2 fold, when the PaLPMO9E, or PaLPMO9H were supplemented to the T. reesei cocktail. This work demonstrated the importance of these oxidative enzymes for lignocellulose deconstruction by fungi. These biocatalysts open new prospects to improve the enzymatic conversion of plant biomass for 2G bioethanol production.

La bioconversion des biomasses lignocellulosiques est actuellement un grand défi pour le développement de technologies de bio-raffinage. Le manque de connaissances des mécanismes de liquéfaction et de saccharification est l’un des principaux facteurs qui pénalisent le développement des procédés de bio-raffinage. Ce travail est centré sur le développement d’analyses physiques et biochimiques in-situ (viscosimétrie, focus beam reflectance measurement) et ex-situ (rhéometrie, granulométrie laser, morphogranulométrie, sédimentation…) pour améliorer la compréhension des mécanismes de déstructuration desfibres lignocellulosiques et caractériser les cinétiques de libération de carbone fermentescible. Des substrats modèles (cellulose microcristalline, papier Whatman) et industriels (pâte à papier, bagasse de canne à sucre) ont été utilisés avec différentes conditions d'hydrolyse (1% à 30%w/v, 0.1 à 0.5mL enzyme/ g cellulose). Les résultats obtenus ont permis:- de proposer et de valider les mesures in-situ de la viscosité de la suspension et de la distribution des longueurs de corde des particules, ainsi que sa conversion en distribution de diamètre.- de montrer l'impact de la nature et de la concentration de substrat et des ratios enzyme/substrat sur les évolutions des paramètres physico-biochimiques lors de l'hydrolyse. Ces effets ont été quantifiés sur les limitations de transfert.- d'établir un modèle phénoménologique de comportement rhéologique des suspensions initiales- de montrer que les cinétiques physico et bio-chimiques sont des cinétiques du second ordre- de montrer que, pour des hydrolyses à haute teneur en matière sèche, on peut réduire considérablement la limitation des transferts liée aux hautes concentrations et contrôler la cinétique de production de glucose par une stratégie d’ajouts cumulés desubstrat. / In the context of biofuels and chemicals production of petroleum substitutes from renewable carbon, bioconversion of lignocellulose biomasses is currently a major challenge. The limited knowledge of liquefaction and saccharification mechanisms stands as the main factor which penalizes bio-refinery progress. The present work is centred on the development of in-situ(viscosimetry, focus beam reflectance measurement) and ex-situ (rheometry, diffraction light scattered, morphometry, decantation…) physical and biochemical analysis to expand our understanding of the destructuration mechanisms of lignocellulose fibres and to characterise the release kinetics of fermentable cellulosic carbon. Model (microcrystalline cellulose,Whatman paper) and industrial (paper-pulp, sugarcane bagasse) lignocellulose matrices under a large range of hydrolysis conditions (1% up to 30%w/v and 0.1 up to 0.5mL enzyme/g cellulose) were studied during 24h hydrolysis experiments (pertinent period to appreciate transfer limitations). Our scientific results allow:- to propose and validate the in-situ measurements of the suspension viscosity and chord length distribution together with its conversion into particle size distribution.- to demonstrate the impact of the substrate nature and concentration and of the enzymatic ratios on the evolution of physical- and biochemical parameters during hydrolysis. Their impacts on transfer phenomena were quantified.- to establish phenomenological models for rheological behaviour of initial suspensions.- to describe all physical (viscosity, particle size) and biochemical (substrate and product) kinetics by second order reaction models.- to demonstrate that, for high dry matter concentration hydrolysis, a cumulative feeding substrate strategy allows considerably reducing the transfer limitations linked to high concentrations and to control the glucose production kinetics.

Thesis (MScAgric (Agricultural Economics)--University of Stellenbosch, 2009. / The growing scarcity of fossil energy, expressed by rising real prices, justifies an investigation into the viability of utilising alternative, sustainable energy sources. Another motivation is to mitigate CO2 pollution resulting from using fossil fuels, causing climate change. Biomass has the potential to become a major global primary energy source during the next century. In South Africa, a limited amount of land is suitable for high‐potential biomass energy sources like sugar cane or grain. Large areas of South Africa are, however, dry and more suitable for woody biomass production. Cultivating trees in short‐rotation‐system plantations provides a sustainable and effective way of producing biomass. The first part of this study investigated the physical capacity of the Cape Winelands District Municipality (CWDM) for woody biomass production in short‐rotation systems, based on a land availability assessment using Geographic Information Systems (GIS). The CWDM comprises about 2.3 million hectares, of which about 175 000 ha with a slope of less than 35% have been identified as suitable for woody biomass production. Within the CWDM, the following land use classes were excluded: nonagricultural land, such as urban areas, bare rock and mines; ecologically sensitive areas; as well as areas with slope gradients that are too steep for biomass production, due to limited accessibility and trafficability. This was followed by an assessment of suitable tree species and their productivity rates – also using GIS with climate data (i.e. temperature extremes, frost and mean annual precipitation) and terrain data. By combining the identified biomass production sites with the productivity rates of the identified species, an annual supply of woody biomass for energy generation at a medium productivity of about 1 412 000 tonnes of fresh biomass is expected, using exotic species like Eucalyptus claducalyx ( and about 1 306 000 tonnes, using indigenous species like Acacia karoo).

Development of biomass feedstocks with desirable traits for cost-effective conversion is one of the main focus areas in biofuels research. As suggested by techno-economic analyses, the success of a lignocellulose-based biorefinery largely relies on the utilization of lignin to generate value-added products, i.e. fuels and chemicals. The fate of lignin and its structural/compositional changes during pretreatment have received increasing attention; however, the effect of genetic modification on the fractionation, depolymerization and catalytic upgrading of lignin from genetically engineered plants is not well understood. This study aims to fractionate and characterize the lignin streams from a wild-type and two genetically engineered switchgrass (Panicum virgatum) species (low lignin content with high S/G ratio and high lignin content) using three different pretreatment methods, i.e. dilute sulfuric acid, ammonia hydroxide, and aqueous ionic liquid (cholinium lysinate). The structural and compositional features and impact of lignin modification on lignin-carbohydrate complex characteristics and the deconstruction of cell-wall compounds were investigated. Moreover, a potential way to upgrade low molecular weight lignin to lipids by Rhodococcus opacus was evaluated. Results from this study provide a better understanding of how lignin engineering of switchgrass influences lignin fractionation and upgrading during conversion processes based on different pretreatment technologies.

Dentre as etapas de produção do etanol de segunda geração tem-se no pré-tratamento da biomassa um dos pontos cruciais, uma vez que a eficiência deste processo está diretamente ligada à maior produção de monossacarídeos fermentáveis após hidrólise e consequentemente maior produtividade de etanol. Dentro deste contexto, no presente trabalho estudou-se o efeito da presença de espécies químicas derivadas do ácido bórico durante pré-tratamento alcalino de palha de soja (matéria-prima abundante no Brasil e ainda inexplorada), visando uma solubilização mais seletiva da lignina em condições brandas, onde a recuperação de carboidratos possa ser superior. Numa primeira etapa estudou-se através de metodologia de superfície de resposta (planejamento composto central) o efeito da concentração inicial de ácido bórico (0,06 a 0,49 mol/l), pH (9,27 a 13,00) e tempo de pré-tratamento (80 min a 280 min) na porcentagem de solubilização da biomassa e recuperação de carboidratos (glicose e xilose) após hidrólise enzimática - experimentos foram conduzidos em temperatura de refluxo. Os resultados mostraram que o tempo não tem efeito significativo dentro do intervalo estudado, e que as superfícies de resposta da porcentagem de solubilização e recuperação de monossacarídeos possuem comportamentos distintos. A máxima recuperação de monossacarídeos pode ser obtida teoricamente utilizando-se 0,33 mol/l de ácido bórico com tendência crescente da resposta conforme se aumenta o pH do meio, enquanto a porcentagem de solubilização indica um crescimento contínuo conforme se aumentam concomitantemente a concentração de ácido bórico e pH. Na melhor condição testada foram obtidos rendimentos de monossacarídeos superiores em 181,2% (glicose) e 507,8% (xilose) com relação à biomassa não tratada. Numa segunda etapa estudou-se comparativamente o pré-tratamento em três valores de pH diferentes (9,27, 11,10 e 13,00) na presença (0,28 mol/l) e ausência de ácido bórico inicial, constatando-se que em todas as condições onde existiam espécies derivadas do ácido bórico (comparadas para um mesmo pH) foram obtidos maiores valores de recuperação de monossacarídeos. Resultados obtidos pelas técnicas de FTIR, TG/DTG, MEV e DRX comprovaram a maior deslignificação em condições onde se tinha ácido bórico inicial presente. Pode-se concluir que a presença de espécies químicas derivadas do ácido bórico (pKa aproximadamente 9,27) em meio alcalino promovem uma maior deslignificação do material lignocelulósico, e que tal comportamento se deve provavelmente à complexação de íons borato (principal íon presente em soluções alcalinas) aos grupos fenólicos da lignina, promovendo desta forma uma maior solubilização e/ou impedindo que fragmentos obtidos da degradação desta se repolimerizem e se depositem novamente sobre a biomassa. / Among the second-generation ethanol production stages, one of the crucial points is the biomass pretreatment since its efficiency is directly linked to the higher production of fermentable monosaccharides after hydrolysis and consequently higher ethanol productivity. In this context, the effect of the presence of boric acid-based chemical species during alkaline pretreatment of soybean straw (a raw material abundant in Brazil and still unexplored) was studied, aiming at a more selective solubilization of lignin in soft conditions, where cellulose and hemicellulose recoveries may be higher. In a first step, the effects of the initial concentration of boric acid (0,06 to 0,49 mol / l), pH (9,27 to 13,00) and pretreatment time (80 min to 280 min) were studied through response surface methodology (central composite design) considering as responses the percentage of biomass solubilization and recovery of monosaccharides (glucose and xylose) after enzymatic hydrolysis - pretreatment experiments were conducted at reflux temperature. The results showed that the time has no significant effect within the range studied, and that the response surfaces of the solubilization and recovery percentage of monosaccharides have different behaviors. The maximum recovery of monosaccharides can be theoretically obtained using 0.33 mol/l of boric acid with increasing tendency as the pH of the medium is increased, while the percentage of solubilization indicates a continuous growth as the boric acid concentration and pH concomitantly increases. In the best tested condition, yields of monosaccharides with 181.2% (glucose) and 507.8% (xylose) were obtained in relation to the crude biomass. In a second step, the pretreatment was studied in three different pH values (9,27, 11,10 and 13,00) in the presence (0,28 mol / l) and absence of boric acid, being verified that in all conditions where boric acid had been added (compared to the same pH) there was a greater recovery of monosaccharides. Results obtained by FTIR, TG / DTG, SEM and XRD showed higher delignification under conditions where boric acid was present. It can be concluded that the presence of boric acid-derived chemical species (pKa approximately 9,27) in alkaline media promotes a greater delignification of the lignocellulosic material, and that this behavior is probably due to the complexation of borate ions (main ion present in alkaline solutions) to the phenolic groups of the lignin, promoting in this way a greater solubilization and / or preventing fragments of this one from being repolymerized and deposited again on the biomass.

O setor sucroalcooleiro é uma importante representação do potencial bioenergético do Brasil. A estimativa da produção de cana-de-açúcar para a safra de 2007/2008, segundo a Companhia Nacional de Abastecimento (Conab), será de mais de 11% que na safra passada. A cana-de-açúcar constitui uma fonte de energia abundante e renovável. Além do aproveitamento de seu caldo para a produção de etanol e do emprego do bagaço para fins energéticos em processos de combustão e gaseificação, seus polissacarídeos constituintes (celulose e polioses) podem ser liberados por hidrólises enzimáticas para serem fermentados a etanol e outros produtos químicos de maior valor agregado. Porém os resíduos gerados a partir desse processamento, como o bagaço e a vinhaça, podem ser reaproveitados para outros fins. A ecologia da degradação da celulose e lignina é lenta e muito complexa, envolvendo inúmeras e variadas interações metabólicas entre diferentes microrganismos que também são afetados por vários fatores ambientais. Partindo de nove linhagens de fungos, foram selecionados quatro quanto à produção de biomassa e produção de celulases e ligninases em meios específicos. Estas linhagens, três espécies e Pleurotus: P. sajor-caju, P. ostreatoroseus e P. ostreatus, e Trichoderma reesei foram cultivadas em bagaço pré-tratado com 2% H2SO4, 1,5% NaOH, 2% H2O2 e combinação 2% H2O2 + 1,5% NaOH. Foram determinados o teor de celulose, lignina e hemicelulose resultante de cada tratamento e a atividade lignolíticas: lacase, peroxidase e manganês peroxidase e a atividade das enzimas celulolíticas: exoglicanase e endoglicanase, comparando com um controle sem tratamento químico. A atividade celulolítica foi avaliada com os quatro fungos cultivados em meio bagaço-moído umedecido com vinhaça e bagaço-moído umedecido com meio mineral. Em relação ao controle foi observado que o pré-tratamento conjunto 2% H2O2 + 1,5% NaOH + autoclave proporcionou maior quebra nas fibras aumentando 1,4 vezes o teor de celulose e diminuindo em 8,5 vezes o da hemicelulose. Esse mesmo tratamento também proporcionou uma maior atividade lignolítica para as quatro linhagens. O ascomiceto T. reesei produziu lacase, peroxidase e manganês peroxidase em todos os tratamentos inclusive no controle, sendo a atividade de manganês peroxidase de 1,9 a 4,8 vezes maior que os basidiomicetos. / The sugar-alcohol industry is an important representation of the bioenergy potential of Brazil. The estimative for the 2007/2008 sugarcane production, according to the National Supply Company (Conab), will be of about 11% more than the last season. Sugarcane constitutes a large and renewable energy source. Besides the exploitation of its juice for ethanol production and the use of bagasse for energetic means in processes of combustion and gasification, its polysaccharides constituents (cellulose and cellobiose) can be released by enzymatic hydrolyses for alcohol fermentation and other chemical of higher aggregate value. However the residues generated from this process, like bagasse and vinasse, which can be reutilized for other means. To obtain an effective conversion of these residues, chemical and biological pre-treatments are necessary for an improved hydrolysis. The ecology of the cellulose and lignin degradation is slow and very complex, involving innumerous and different metabolic interactions among microorganism that are also affected by many environmental factors. From nine lineages of fungi, were selected four relating to the production of biomass and cellulases and ligninases in specific media. These lineages, three species of Pleurotus: P. sajor-caju, P. ostreatoroseus and P. ostreatus, and the ascomycete Trichoderma reesei were cultivated in pre-treated bagasse with 2% H2SO4, 1,5% NaOH, 2% H2O2 and a combination of 2% H2O2 + 1,5% NaOH. It was determined the levels of cellulose, lignin and hemicellulose from each treatment and the lignolytic activity: laccase, peroxidase and manganese peroxidase and the activity of the cellulolitic enzymes: exogluconase and endogluconase, comparing to a control without chemical treatment. The cellulolitic activity was evaluated with the four cultivated fungi in two media: a grounded bagasse + vinasse and grounded bagasse + mineral media. Relating to the control was observed that the pre-treatment in conjunction with 2% H2O2 + 1,5% NaOH + autoclave promoted more breakage in the fiber increasing to 1,4 times the level of cellulose and decreasing the levels of hemicellulose to 8,5 times. This same treatment promoted a higher lignolytic activity for the four lineages. The ascomycete T. reesei produced laccase, peroxidase and manganese peroxidase in all treatments including the control, having the manganese peroxidase activity ranging from 1,9 to 4,8 times higher than the basidiomycetes.

Orientadores: Sérgio Marangoni, Saulo Luis da Silva / Tese (doutorado) - Universidade Estadual de Campinas, Instituto de Biologia / Made available in DSpace on 2018-10-31T14:37:34Z (GMT). No. of bitstreams: 1 GasparJunior_PascoalJose_D.pdf: 6862970 bytes, checksum: 60c120eb2e9159656d5c493ee05eca1a (MD5) Previous issue date: 2014 / Resumo: A triagem de fungos produtores de holocelulases é uma estratégia para a obtenção de enzimas capazes de hidrolisar o material lignocelulósico da biomassa vegetal, contribuindo para aumentar a viabilidade da produção de etanol celulósico Este trabalho avaliou o potencial enzimático dos fungos Penicillium corylophilum e Penicillium simplicissimum com relação às enzimas (endoglicanase, exoglicanase, ?-glicosidase, FPase, xilanase, pectinase e mananase) sobre substratos lignocelulósicos e comerciais como fonte de carbono. Além disso, avaliou-se também a influência da adição de diferentes fontes orgânicas e inorgânicas de nitrogênio sobre a atividade enzimática. Os fungos foram cultivados em triplicata em meio líquido suplementar com 1% de substrato lignocelulósico como fonte de carbono, em pH 7,0. A inoculação foi feita por suspensão de esporos (108 esporos/mL). O cultivo foi feito sob agitação a 120 rpm, a 28°C e os filtrados resultantes em 12, 24, 72 e 120 horas foram utilizados como fontes enzimáticas pelo método do DNS (ácido-3,5- dinitrosalicílico) em triplicata. De todas as atividades enzimáticas analisadas nas fontes lignocelulósicas, a atividade de xilanase do P. simplicissimum sobre a linhaça foi a mais expressiva (3,87 e 3,97 UI/ml), cultivados em 72 e 120 horas, respectivamente, e selecionada para os testes de purificação proteica. A atividade xilanásica específica aumentou consideravelmente após os passos cromatográficos de gel filtração e troca iônica (CTI), sendo inicialmente 3x10-3 atv/ µg de proteína no liofilizado e 19,2 atv/ µg de proteína na fração proveniente da CTI. Nos testes de pH, observou-se que a atividade de xilanase foi maior em pH=4,0 e temperatura de 50°C. Com relação à adição de substratos comerciais, a celulose microcristalina e a xilana apresentaram os resultados mais expressivos da indução da produção de xilanase, sendo que a concentração de 0,5% de xilana mostrou a melhor atividade enzimática em ambos os fungos estudados. A xilose apresentou uma concentração indutora mínima de 0,04% que foi suficiente para aumentar a atividade de xilanase do P. simplicissimum. Com relação à suplementação de fontes de nitrogênio no meio de cultivo para a produção de holocelulases, a adição de (NH4)2SO4 e caseína é uma alternativa importante para a potencialização das atividades de pectinase e de endoglicanase respectivamente pois foram fontes de nitrogênio que proporcionaram um aumento da atividade enzimática em ambos os fungos estudados como também nas duas fontes de carbono testadas. As frações contendo xilanases após cromatografia de gel filtração seguida de fase reversa, após análises por espectrometria de massas apresentam relação massa/carga de 18831,26 Da. A utilização do resíduo lignocelulósico da linhaça, como fonte de carbono para o cultivo submerso do Penicillium simplicissimum é uma opção ecologicamente correta, exequível e de baixo custo para a produção de xilanases. Diversas aplicações biotecnológicas como a utilização na ração animal, na indústria do papel e no etanol de segunda geração, dentre outros, possibilitam um acréscimo substancial do valor agregado desse substrato, permitindo uma ampliação da utilização da linhaça, além do aproveitamento do óleo, sem aumentar a área plantada / Abstract: Screening for producing fungi holocelulases is a strategy for obtaining enzymes that hydrolyze the lignocellulosic material from plant biomass, helping to increase the viability of cellulosic ethanol production This study evaluated the enzymatic potential of Penicillium simplicissimum and Penicillium corylophilum regarding enzymes (endoglicanase, exoglicanase, ?-glucosidase, FPase, xylanase, pectinase and mannanase) for commercial and lignocellulosic substrates as a carbon source. Furthermore, it was also evaluated the influence of the addition of different organic and inorganic nitrogen sources on enzyme activity. The fungus was grown in triplicate in a liquid medium supplement with 1% lignocellulosic substrate as carbon source, pH 7.0. The inoculation was done by the spore suspension (108 spores/ml). The cultivation was done with stirring at 120 rpm at 28 °C and the resulting filtered in 12, 24, 72 and 120 hours were used as enzyme sources for DNS (acid-3,5- dinitrosalicilic) method in triplicates. All enzymatic activities analyzed in lignocellulosic sources, the xylanase activity of P. simplicissimum about flaxseed was greater (3.87 and 3.97 IU/ml), grown at 72 and 120 h of cultivation, respectively, and selected for testing for protein purification. The specific xylanase activity increased considerably after the chromatographic steps of gel filtration and ion exchange (CTI), initially 3x10-3 atv/ mg of protein in lyophilized and 19.2 atv/ mg of protein in the fraction from the CTI. In pH testing, it was noted that the xylanase activity was higher at pH 4.0 and 50 °C. With respect to the addition of commercial substrates, microcrystalline cellulose and xylan showed the most significant results of induction of xylanase production, and the concentration of 0.5% xylan showed the best enzyme activity in both fungi studied. The xylose showed a minimal inducing concentration of 0.04% which was sufficient to increase the activity of xylanase from P. simplicissimum. With respect to supplemental nitrogen sources in the culture medium for the production of holocelulases, the addition of (NH4)2SO4 and casein can be an important tool for the enhancement of pectinase and endoglicanase activities respectively as alternative nitrogen sources that were provided an increase in enzyme activity in both fungi studied as well as the two carbon sources tested. The use of lignocellulosic residue of flaxseed as a source of carbon for submerged cultivation of Penicillium simplicissimum is an environmentally friendly, feasible and cost effective for the production of xylanases option. The fractions containing xylanases after gel filtration chromatography followed by reverse fase after analysis by mass spectrometry are related mass/charge of 18831 26 Da. The use of lignocellulosic waste of flaxseed as a source of carbon for submerged cultivation of Penicillium simplicissimum is an environmentally friendly, feasible and cost effective for the production of xylanases option. Various biotechnological applications such as use in animal feed, in the paper industry and in second generation ethanol, among others, allow a substantial increase in the value of this substrate, allowing an expansion of the use of flaxseed, plus the use of oil, without increasing acreage / Doutorado / Bioquimica / Doutor em Biologia Funcional e Molecular