Purification and characterization of a thermoalkaline, cellulase free thermostable xylanase from a newly isolated Anoxybacillus sp. Ip-C from hot spring of Ladakh

An alkaline, highly thermostable cellulase free xylanase was purified from a thermophilic Anoxybacillus sp. Ip-C, newly isolated from hot spring of Ladakh. The enzyme was purified using ammonia sulphate precipitation followed by Sephadex G-75. The molecular weight of the xylanase was about 45 kDa, as analyzed by SDS-PAGE. The enzyme had optimum activity at pH 9.0 and 70oC temperature; the enzyme retained 90% of its original activity for 96 hrs at 70 oC. V max and K m of the enzyme were found to be 13.5 µmol min -1 mg -1 protein and 4.59 mg ml -1 , respectively. Metal ions, Ca +2 , Fe +2 and Mg +2 highly enhance the enzyme activity to 122.45, 119.06 and 118.98% respectively; whereas SDS and Hg +2 completely inhibit (0 U/ml) the enzyme activity. TLC analysis of enzymatic hydrolysis products showed that this xylanase is an endoxylanase, and generates xylooligosaccharides. Thus, it provides a potential thermostable alkaline xylanase for industrial applications.