Author(s)

Hafiz Muhammad Nasir Iqbal, Shagufta Kamal, Ishtiaq Ahmed, Muhammad Tahir Naveed

Department of Chemistry and Biochemistry, University of Agriculture, Faisalabad, Pakistan.
Transgenic Lab Center of Agriculture Biochemistry and Biotechnology (CABB), University of Agriculture, Faisalabad, Pakistan.

Today, demand exists for cost-effective production of industrially important enzymes from entire scientific sectors. By keeping in mind the extensive industrial applications of cellulase, this study was performed to immobilize the indigenous enzyme produced from Trichoderma viride under pre-optimized SSF of an agricultural waste material, wheat straw. To enhance the bio-catalytic and tolerance properties of the present enzyme gel matrix immobilization engineering was applied. Previously, 2.33~fold purified novel cellulase was immobilized in to a xerogel matrix of TMOS and PTMS. FTIR spectroscopy confirmed the successful immobilization of cellulase. The free and immobilized cellulase was characterized and stability profile showed that after 24 h incubation, immobilization enhanced the thermo-stability up to 75% against 80℃ as compare to the free enzyme. Xerogel matrix immobilization enhanced the catalytic efficiency of entrapped enzyme than that of the free cellulase. Among activators/inhibitors SDS, EDTA, and Hg²⁺ showed inhibitory effect while, gel matrix immobilization enhanced 80% tolerance capacity of the cellulase against inactivating agents.

Bio-Catalysis; Cellulase; T. viride; Immobilization; Characterization

Iqbal, H. , Kamal, S. , Ahmed, I. and Naveed, M. (2012) Enhanced bio-catalytic and tolerance properties of an indigenous cellulase through xerogel immobilization. Advances in Bioscience and Biotechnology, 3, 308-313. doi: 10.4236/abb.2012.34044.