Statistical Optimization and Purification of Cellulase Enzyme Production from <i>Trichosporon insectorum</i>
Hanane Touijer,
Najoua Benchemsi,
Muhammad Irfan,
Annabella Tramice,
Meryem Slighoua,
Ramzi A. Mothana,
Abdullah R. Alanzi,
Bousta Dalila,
Hicham Bekkari
Affiliations
Hanane Touijer
Laboratory of Biotechnology, Environment, Agrifood and Health, Faculty of Sciences Dhar El Mahraz, Sidi Mohamed Ben Abdellah University, P.O. Box 1796, Fez-Atlas 30003, Morocco
Najoua Benchemsi
Laboratory of Ecology and Environment, Faculty of Sciences & Techniques Saiss, Sidi Mohamed Ben Abdellah University, P.O. Box 1796, Fez 30000, Morocco
Muhammad Irfan
Department of Biotechnology, Faculty of Science, University of Sargodha, Sargodha 40100, Pakistan
Annabella Tramice
Institute of Biomolecular Chemistry, Consiglio Nazionale delle Ricerche, Via Campi Flegrei 34, 80078 Pozzuoli, Italy
Meryem Slighoua
Laboratory of Biotechnology, Environment, Agrifood and Health, Faculty of Sciences Dhar El Mahraz, Sidi Mohamed Ben Abdellah University, P.O. Box 1796, Fez-Atlas 30003, Morocco
Ramzi A. Mothana
Department of Pharmacognosy, College of Pharmacy, King Saud University, Riyadh 11451, Saudi Arabia
Abdullah R. Alanzi
Department of Pharmacognosy, College of Pharmacy, King Saud University, Riyadh 11451, Saudi Arabia
Bousta Dalila
National Agency of Medicinal and Aromatic Plants, Taounate 34000, Morocco
Hicham Bekkari
Laboratory of Biotechnology, Environment, Agrifood and Health, Faculty of Sciences Dhar El Mahraz, Sidi Mohamed Ben Abdellah University, P.O. Box 1796, Fez-Atlas 30003, Morocco
Enzymatic degradation of cellulosic biomass represents the most sustainable and environmentally friendly method for producing liquid biofuel, widely utilized in various commercial processes. While cellulases are predominantly produced by bacteria and fungi, the enzymatic potential of cellulase-producing yeasts remains significantly less explored. In this study, the yeast strain Trichosporon insectorum, isolated from the gut of the coprophagous beetle Gymnopleurus sturmii, was utilized for cellulase production in submerged fermentation. A central composite design was employed to optimize cellulase production, with substrate concentration, temperature, and pH as dependent variables. The highest CMCase activity of 0.71 IU/mL was obtained at 1% substrate concentration, pH 5, and an incubation temperature of 40 °C for 72 h of fermentation using cellulose as a carbon source. For FPase production, the high value was 0.23 IU/mL at 0.5% CMC, pH 6, and an incubation temperature of 40 °C for 72 h. After purification, the enzymes produced by T. insectorum represent 39% of the total proteins. The results of this study offer an alternative strategy for utilizing various carbon sources, both soluble (CMC, carboxymethylcellulose) and insoluble (cellulose), to efficiently produce cellulase for the degradation of lignocellulosic materials. This approach holds promising benefits for sustainable waste management.
