Xylanases are widely used in the pulp and paper industry due to their strong activity at high pH and high temperature. With its advanced protein engineering platform established over the years, Creative BioMart has successfully developed engineered xylanases that are thermostable with a wide pH and temperature range. Our scientists are committed to providing fully customized engineered xylanases production solutions for industry to customers around the world.

Introduction of Xylanases Production

Xylan, a heteropolysaccharide, is the most abundant type of hemicellulose synthesized in the biosphere and can be converted into single-cell proteins, liquid fuels, and other solvents or chemicals by utilizing specific fermenting microorganisms. In recent years, there has been increasing interest in xylanases due to their potential applications in the pulp, paper and fiber processing industries. Pulp bleaching typically requires acidic pH and elevated temperatures. Additionally, the wood is heat-alkali treated prior to chlorine bleaching. Therefore, achieving stability and activity of xylanase at high temperature and extreme pH is a coveted property of scientists. Researchers have used protein engineering to study and redesign xylanases at the genetic level. X-ray crystallography, site-directed and random mutagenesis studies have revealed a wealth of information about the basic structure and function of xylanases and provide a basis for genetic manipulation of genes to obtain desired enzymatic properties.

Fig 1. Overall structure of New ergot xylanase (XynCDBFV). (Cheng Y S, et al., 2015)

Solutions

Achieving the commercial value and economic viability of xylanase production has an important role in green industrial development. Creative BioMart has successfully utilized a variety of protein engineering techniques to improve the properties of xylanases, imaking it highly active at extreme pH and high temperature, able to withstand the harsh pulping process. Our customers have used xylanases extensively for the bioconversion of agricultural and food industry wastes. As well as for the clarification of fruit juices, the extraction of coffee, vegetable oils, starches and the production of fuel and chemical raw materials. In order to provide customized high-quality xylanases to global customers, we take the following solutions:

• Improving the high temperature resistance properties of xylanase.
• Increasing xylanase yield, as well as improving stability and activity.
• Increasing the optimum pH range of xylanase, allowing it to remain active under the strong acid and alkali conditions of pulp bleaching.

Our improved or redesigned xylanases have great economic and environmental advantages, which include:

(1) Savings in bleaching chemicals.

(2) Increased throughput.

(3) Improved pulp properties such as brightness and strength.

(4) Marketing advantage.

(5) Easy adaptation to different bleaching sequences with minimal investment costs.

(6) Improved effluent with reduced AOX content.

Applications of Protein Engineering in Xylanases Production

Few native xylanases are able to withstand the high temperatures and alkalinities encountered in the pulp and paper industry. With the advent of computational protein design and genetic engineering, at the forefront of technological innovation, the possibility of envisioning xylanases that meet the requirements of pulping processes has become a reality. We employed different strategies of  protein engineering to improve the properties of xylanases and try to generate new xylanases.

• Rational protein design

By performing successive rounds of mutagenesis and selection of modified versions of the xylanase gene, our protein engineers anticipate that the gene may be mutated constructively to select for functional xylanases with desired properties.

• Ep-PCR technology

Our protein engineers use ep-PCR for sorting by reducing the size of cloned fragments of the xylanase gene followed by random mutagenesis to create the most functionally suitable xylanases. The recombinant xylanase we designed showed obvious thermal and alkaline stability.

Creative BioMart has in-depth knowledge and experience of the tools and processes involved in engineered xylanases development, and provides professional xylanases production solutions for industry. Whether your xylanases are in the discovery and screening stages, or are planning engineered xylanases production, please contact us to discuss further details to ensure your next success.

References

1. Dawn E. Stephens1, Kugen Permaul, et al.. (2004) Protein Engineering of Xylanases. In book: Lignocellulose Biodegradation (pp.227-240). Doi: 10.1021/bk-2004-0889.ch013.
2. Cheng Y S, Chen C C, Huang J W, et al.. (2015) Improving the catalytic performance of a GH11 xylanase by rational protein engineering[J]. Applied microbiology and biotechnology. 99(22): 9503-9510.

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