Beauveria bassiana Xylanase: Characterization and Wastepaper Deinking Potential of a Novel Glycosyl Hydrolase from an Endophytic Fungal Entomopathogen.

Beauveria bassiana is an entomopathogenic fungus widely used as a biopesticide for insect control; it has also been shown to exist as an endophyte, promoting plant growth in many instances. This study highlights an alternative potential of the fungus; in the production of an industrially important biocatalyst, xylanase. In this regard, Beauveria bassiana SAN01 xylanase was purified to homogeneity and subsequently characterized. The purified xylanase was found to have a specific activity of 324.2 U·mg(-1) and an estimated molecular mass of ~37 kDa. In addition, it demonstrated optimal activity at pH 6.0 and 45 °C while obeying Michaelis-Menton kinetics towards beechwood xylan with apparent K(m), V(max) and k(cat) of 1.98 mg·mL(-1), 6.65 μM·min(-1) and 0.62 s(-1) respectively. The enzyme activity was strongly inhibited by Ag(2+) and Fe(3+) while it was significantly enhanced by Co(2+) and Mg(2+). Furthermore, the xylanase was shown to effectively deink wastepaper at an optimal rate of 106.72% through its enzymatic disassociation of the fiber-ink bonds as demonstrated by scanning electron microscopy and infrared spectroscopy. This is the first study to demonstrate the biotechnological application of a homogeneously purified glycosyl hydrolase from B. bassiana.