SACCHARIFICATION OF CORN FIBER USING ENZYMES FROM AUREOBASIDIUM SP STRAIN NRRL Y-2311-1

Crude enzyme preparations from Aureobasidium sp. strain NRRL Y-2311-1 were characterized and tested for the capacity to saccharify corn fibe r. Cultures grown on xylan, corn fiber, and alkaline hydrogen peroxide (AHP)-pretreated corn fiber produced specific levels of endoxylanase, amylase, protease, cellulase, and other activities. Using equal units of endoxylanase activity, crude enzymes from AHP-pretreated corn fibe r cultures were most effective in saccharification. Multiple enzyme ac tivities were implicated in this process. Pretreatment of corn fiber w ith AHP nearly doubled the susceptibility of hemicellulose to enzymati c digestion. Up to 138 mg xylose, 125 mg arabinose, and 490 mg glucose were obtained per g pretreated corn fiber under conditions tested.