Proteases hydrolyze the peptide bonds of proteins into peptides and amino acids, being found in all living organisms, and are essential for cell growth and differentiation. Proteolytic enzymes have potential application in a wide number of industrial processes such as food, laundry detergent and pharmaceutical. Proteases from microbial sources have dominated applications in industrial sectors. Fungal proteases are used for hydrolyzing protein and other components of soy beans and wheat in soy sauce production. Proteases can be produced in large quantities in a short time by established methods of fermentation. The parameters such as variation in C/N ratio, presence of some sugars, besides several other physical factors are important in the development of fermentation process. Proteases of fungal origin can be produced cost effectively, have an advantage faster production, the ease with which the enzymes can be modified and mycelium can be easily removed by filtration. The production of proteases has been carried out using submerged fermentation, but conditions in solid state fermentation lead to several potential advantages for the production of fungal enzymes. This review focuses on the production of fungal proteases, their distribution, structural-functional aspects, physical and chemical parameters, and the use of these enzymes in industrial applications.

Holocellulose structures from agro-industrial residues rely on main and side chain attacking enzymes with different specificities for complete hydrolysis. Combinations of crude enzymatic extracts from different fungal species, including Aspergillus terreus, Aspergillus oryzae, Aspergillus niger and Trichoderma longibrachiatum, were applied to sugar cane bagasse, banana stem and dirty cotton residue to investigate the hydrolysis of holocellulose structures. A. terreus and A. oryzae were the best producers of FPase and xylanase activities. A combination of A. terreus and A. oryzae extracts in a 50% proportion provided optimal hydrolysis of dirty cotton residue and banana stem. For the hydrolysis of sugar cane bagasse, the best results were obtained with samples only containing A. terreus crude extract.

Uma nova linhagem de bactéria (ISO II) foi isolada de esterco bovino e identificada como filogeneticamente próxima à bactéria termofílica Clostridium thermocellum. A nova linhagem produziu atividades de xilanase, mananase, pectinase e celulase quando cultivada em meio de cultura líquido contendo engaço de bananeira como fonte de carbono. O perfil de produção enzimática após crescimento em engaço de bananeira mostrou que as atividades de xilanase e celulase foram detectadas em diferentes períodos de incubação. Um complexo enzimático, contendo atividades de xilanase, celulase e mananase, foi isolado de amostras de sobrenadante do meio de cultura da linhagem ISO II crescida em engaço de bananeira. O complexo foi parcialmente purificado por ultrafiltração e cromatografia de filtração em gel em coluna de Sephacryl S-300. Análise de zimograma mostrou 05 sub-unidades com atividade de xilanase. A amostra enzimática apresentou bandas únicas de proteína e atividade de xilanase após eletroforese sob condições não-desnaturantes. A hidrólise de xilana foi ótima no intervalo de temperatura de 55-75ºC e pH 6,0. A xilanase foi estável a 65ºC, mantendo 80% de sua atividade original após 12 h de incubação. Os valores de Km aparente, usando arabinoxilanas insolúveis e solúveis como substratos, foram 1,54 and 11,53 mg/mL, respectivamente. A xilanase foi ativada por ditiotreitol, L-triptofano and L-cisteina e fortemente inibida por N-bromosuccinamida e CoCl2. A caracterização da mananase do complexo mostrou Km e temperatura ótima de 0,846 mg/mL e 65ºC, respectivamente e pH 8,0. Ao contrário da xilanase, a mananase foi menos estável a 65ºC com meia vida de 2,5 h e inibida por ditiotreitol e Ca2+.

A new bacterial strain (ISO II) was isolated from manure cow and identified as phylogenetically close to the thermophilic cellulolytic bacterium Clostridium thermocellum. The new strain produced extracellular xylanase, pectinase, mannanase and cellulase activities when grown in liquid culture medium containing banana stem as carbon source. The enzyme production profile after growth on banana stem showed that xylanase and cellulase activities were detected in different incubation periods. An enzyme complex containing xylanase, cellulase and mannanase activities was isolated from culture supernatant samples of strainISO II. The complex was partially purified by ultrafiltration and gel filtration chromatography on Sephacryl S-300. Zymogram analysis after SDS-PAGE presented at least 05 subunits with xylanase activity. The enzyme showed single protein and xylanase activity bands after electrophoresis under non-denaturing conditions. The hydrolysis of xylan was optimal at temperature range of 55-75ºC and pH 6.0. Xylanase activity was quite stable at 65ºC, retaining 80% of its original activity after 12 h incubation. The apparent Km values, using insoluble and soluble arabinoxylans as substrates, were 1.54 and 11.53 mg/mL, respectively. Xylanase was activated by dithiothreitol, L-tryptophan and L-cysteine and strongly inhibited by N-bromosuccinimide and CoCl2. The characterization of mannanase showed Km and temperature optimum of 0.846 mg/mL and 65ºC, respectively and pH 8.0. By contrast to xylanase, it was less stable at 65ºC with half-life of 2.5 h and inhibited by dithiothreitol and Ca2+.

Amostras de xilanases de extratos brutos de Penicillium corylophilum, Aspergillus niger e Trichoderma longibrachiatum foram utilizadas no branqueamento de polpa kraft de eucalipto antes das seqüências alcalina e dióxido de cloro. O pré-tratamento enzimático melhorou a alvura e o processo de deslignificação de amostras de polpa kraft de eucalipto não-tratada e tratada com oxigênio. Amostras de xilanases de T. longibrachiatum e P. corylophilum foram mais efetivas na redução do número kappa da polpa. A polpa tratada com oxigênio sofreu uma pequena redução na sua viscosidade quando incubada com amostra de xilanase de A. niger. Para todas as amostras de xilanases, a maior liberação de cromóforos da polpa foi a 237 nm. A amostra de xilanase de P. corylophilum liberou maior quantidade de açúcar redutor da polpa, utilizando dosagem de 10-20 UI/g de peso seco da polpa. Estudos de microscopia eletrônica de varredura revelaram várias alterações morfológicas da polpa tratada com oxigênio tais como a formação de buracos, rachaduras e filamentos.

Crude xylanase preparations from Penicillium corylophilum, Aspergillus niger and Trichoderma longibrachiatum were used to treat Eucalyptus kraft pulp, prior to chlorine dioxide and alkaline bleaching sequences. The enzyme pretreatment improved brightness and delignification of non-delignified and oxygen-bleached samples of eucalyptus kraft pulp. Xylanase preparations from T. longibrachiatum and P. corylophilum were more effective to reduce pulp kappa number. A small reduction in viscosity was obtained when the oxygen-bleached pulp was treated with xylanase preparation from A. niger. For all enzyme samples, the best release of chromophoric material from the pulp was at 237 nm. The enzyme preparation from P. corylophilum was responsible for the highest release of reducing sugar at a dosage interval of 10-20 IU/g dry weight pulp. Scanning electron microscopy studies of oxygen-bleached pulp after xylanase treatment revealed morphological changes, including holes, cracks, filament forming and peeling.

O fungo termofílico Humicola grisea var. secreta xilanase extracelular quando cultivado em meios sólidos e líquidos contendo farelo de trigo e engaço de bananeira como substratos, respectivamente. À temperatura de 55ºC, xilanase do filtrado de meio de cultura de H. grisea var. thermoidea cultivado em engaço de bananeira reteve 50% de sua atividade após 28 de incubação. Uma xilanase (X2) foi isolada de culturas de estado sólido contendo farelo de trigo como fonte de carbono. X2 foi purificada por ultrafiltração, seguido por cromatografias de interação hidrofóbica e troca iônica em resinas de Phenyl-Sepharose e DEAE-Sepharose, respectivamente. A enzima apresentou peso molecular de 29 kDa, como determinado por SDS-PAGE. A enzima purificada foi mais ativa em intervalos de pH e temperatura de 4,5-6,5 and 55-60ºC, respectivamente. Além disso, X2 mostrou termoestabilidade a 60ºC com meia vida de aproximadamente 5,5 h. Os valores de Km aparente, utilizando arabinoxilanas solúveis e insolúveis, foram 10,87 and 11,20 mg/ml, respectivamente.

The thermophilic fungus Humicola grisea var. thermoidea secretes extracellular xylanase when grown on solid and in liquid media containing wheat bran and banana plant residue as substrates, respectively. At 55ºC, xylanase from the culture filtrate of H. grisea var. thermoidea grown on banana stalk retained 50% of its activity after 28 h of incubation. A xylanase (X2) was isolated from solid state cultures with wheat bran as the carbon source. It was purified to apparent homogeneity by ultrafiltration followed by ion-exchange and hydrophobic interaction chromatography on DEAE-Sepharose and Phenyl-Sepharose resins, respectively. The enzyme had an apparent molecular weight of 29 kDa, as determined by SDS-PAGE. The purified enzyme was most active at pH and temperature ranges of 4.5-6.5 and 55-60ºC, respectively. In addition, X2 showed thermostability at 60ºC with a half-life of approx. 5.5 h. The apparent Km values, using soluble and insoluble arabinoxylans as substrates, were 10.87 and 11.20 mg/ml, respectively.

O fungo Trichoderma harzianum linhagem 4 produziu, enzimas xilanolíticas quando crescido em meios de cultura líquido contendo xilana como indutor. Atividade celulolítica não foi detectada. O tipo de xilana presente no meio de cultura influenciou a indução das enzimas xilanolíticas. As enzimas foram detectadas em diferentes períodos de incubação. SDS-PAGE de amostras de meios de cultura apresentou uma variedade de bandas protéicas com alto e baixo pesos moleculares.

Trichoderma harzianum strain 4 produced extracellular xylan-degrading enzymes, namely beta-xylanase, beta-xylosidase and alpha-arabinofuranosidase, when grown in liquid medium cultures containing oat spelt xylan as inducer. Cellulase activity was not detected. The pattern of xylan-degrading enzymes induction was influenced by the form of xylan present in the medium. They were detected in different incubation periods. Electrophoretic separation of the proteins from liquid culture filtrates by SDS-PAGE showed a variety of bands with high and low molecular weights.

O efeito da temperatura sobre a germinação e a atividade de endo-beta-mananase em sementes de Sesamum indicum foi investigada. A temperatura mínima de germinação (Tmin) está localizada entre 12,8°C e 13,2°C enquanto a temperatura máxima (Tmax) encontra-se entre 45,5°C e 46°C. As germinabilidades (G%) não foram significativamente diferentes da viabilidade estimada (88%) entre 18,8°C e 43,2°C. O teste de Mann-Whitney apontou o intervalo de 31,9°C a 35,1°C como sendo a faixa de temperatura ótima (Tot). Quando sementes incubadas a temperaturas próximas ou abaixo de Tmin e próximas ou acima de Tmax foram transferidas para 30°C, aquelas submetidas a baixas temperaturas atingiram germinabilidade elevada. Por outro lado, quanto maior a temperatura de pre-incubação acima de Tmax, menor a germinabilidade alcançada. O principal monossacarídeo encontrado na parede celular do endosperma das sementes foi manose. Somente em temperatura supra-ótima foi observada elevação na atividade de endo-beta-mananase na região micropilar do endosperma anterior à germinação.

The effects of temperature on germination and endo-beta-mannanase activity in seeds of Sesamum indicum was investigated. The minimum germination temperature (Tmin) lies between 12.8°C and 13.2°C while the maximum temperature (Tmax) is located between 45.5°C and 46°C. Germinabilities are statistically not different from estimated viability (88%) between 18.8°C and 43.2°C. The Mann-Whitney test indicated the interval 31.9°C to 35.1°C as the optimum temperature (Topt) range for germination rate. When seeds incubated at temperatures at or below the Tmin and close to or above the Tmax were transferred to 30°C, those incubated at lower temperatures achieved high germinability. On the other hand, the higher the pre-incubation temperature above Tmax, the lower the germinability achieved near Topt. Seed endosperm cell wall was found to contain mannose as the main monosaccharide. An increase in endo-beta-mannanase activity in the micropylar endosperm prior to seed germination was observed only at supra-optimum temperature.

Uma enzima xilanolítica (xilanase II) foi purificada a partir de culturas de estado sólido de Aspergillus fumigatus Fresenius. O peso molecular de xilanase II foi estimado em 19 e 8,5 kDa por SDS-PAGE e FPLC, respectivamente. A enzima purificada apresentou maior atividade a 55°C e pH 5,5, além de hidrolisar especificamente xilana. Os valores aparentes de Km e Vmax de xilanas solúveis e insolúveis, isoladas de cereal e madeira, mostrou que xilanase IIa foi mais ativa em xilana solúvel de madeira. Estudos sobre produtos de hidrólise de xilanas e xilooligômeros por xilanase II em HPLC revelou que a enzima liberou uma variedade de xilooligômeros (xilobiose-xilohexose) e uma pequena quantidade de xilose a partir de xilooligômeros, apresentando atividade de transferase.

A xylan-degrading enzyme (xylanase II) was purified to apparent homogeneity from solid-state cultures of Aspergillus fumigatus Fresenius. The molecular weight of xylanase II was found to be 19 and 8.5 kDa, as estimated by SDS-PAGE and gel filtration on FPLC, respectively. The purified enzyme was most active at 55 °C and pH 5.5. It was specific to xylan. The apparent Km and Vmax values on soluble and insoluble xylans from oat spelt and birchwood showed that xylanase II was most active on soluble birchwood xylan. Studies on hydrolysis products of various xylans and xylooligomers by xylanase II on HPLC showed that the enzyme released a range of products from xylobiose to xylohexaose, with a small amount of xylose from xylooligomers, and presented transferase activity.