Optimizing the composition of cellulase enzyme complex from Penicillium verruculosum: Enhancing hydrolytic capabilities via genetic engineering

Abstract

Modern technologies for the enzyme hydrolysis of cellulose-containing raw materials allow the production of sugars from which alcohols (biofuel), organic and amino acids, biopolymers, feed additives, and other value-added products can be obtained via microbiological conversion. Three types of cellulolytic enzymes are required for the bioconversion of cellulose containing materials: endoglucanase, cellobiohydrolase, and ß-glucosidase. The prospects for improving the hydrolytic capabilities of the enzyme complex secreted from Penicillium verruculosum are investigated in this work by means of genetic engineering to add different combinations and ratios of homologous and heterologous cellulases: endoglucanase IV (EGIV) of Trichoderma reesei, endoglucanase II (EGII), and cellobiohydrolase I (CBHI) of P. verruculosum, along with ß-glucosidase (ß-GLU) of Aspergillus niger. The optimum ratio of components is determined and the catalytic activity of enzymatic complexes is increased by as much as 100%.