Evaluación del efecto de la enzima Xyn30D de Paenibacillus barcinonensis en la degradación de residuos agroindustriales

Abstract

The extraction and processing of raw materials in the wood, paper, and agricultural industries are responsible for greenhouse gas emissions and the destruction of biodiversity. In response, the use of renewable and earth-abundant raw materials, such as lignocellulose—a xylan-rich component—has been sought. However, the complex lignocellulosic structure presents a challenge to physical and chemical methods of degradation, leading to the proposed use of enzymes for this purpose. The bacterium Paenibacillus barcinonensis is known for its ability to produce extracellular enzymes that can break down biomass, including xylanases of the GH30 family. Among these enzymes, xylanase Xyn30D has demonstrated efficiency in lignocellulose degradation. In this project, we analyzed the activity of xylanase Xyn30D, from plasmid construction to expression in E. coli BL21 (DE3) and purification by immobilized metal affinity chromatography (IMAC). Furthermore, we evaluated its activity in four different agro-industrial wastes with high xylan content, which have a significant impact on the agricultural industry in Ecuador and worldwide. The substrates sugarcane bagasse and corn stover showed positive enzyme activity, while cocoa husk and rice husk did not exhibit significant values in terms of xylose units per gram of enzyme. This lack of activity is attributed to the presence of inhibitors in the chemical composition of the latter substrates.