Sharma_2024_3.Biotech_14_168

The lignocellulolytic accessory enzyme, Feruloyl esterase C (FE_5DR), encoded in the genome of thermotolerant Myceliophthora verrucosa was successfully cloned and heterologously expressed in Pichia pastoris. The expressed FE_5DR was purified using UNOsphere Q anion exchange chromatography column, exhibiting a homogeneous band of~39 kDa. Its optimum temperature was determined to be 60 degreesC, with an optimal pH of 6.0. Additionally, the enzyme activity of FE_5DR was significantly enhanced by preincubation in a buffer containing Mg(2+), Cu(2+) and Ca(2) metal ions. Enzyme kinetic parameters, computed from double reciprocal Lineweaver-Burk plots, yielded observed V(max) and K(m) values of 0.758 U/mg and 0.439 mM, respectively. Furthermore, the potential of custom-made cocktails comprising FE_5DR and benchmark cellulase derived from the developed mutant strain of Aspergillus allahabadii MAN 40, as well as the biorefinery-relevant lignocellulolytic enzyme Cellic CTec 3, resulted in improved saccharification of unwashed acid pretreated (UWAP) rice straw slurry and mild alkali deacetylated (MAD) rice straw when compared to benchmark MAN 40 and Cellic CTec 3. SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: The online version contains supplementary material available at 10.1007/s13205-024-04013-7.