Enhanced Production of Cellulase-Free Thermoactive Xylanase Using Corncob by a Black Yeast, Aureobasidium pullulans CBS 135684

Our aim was to optimize the production of cellulase-free thermoactive xylanase by Aureobasidium pullulans CBS 135684 with statistical methodology based on experimental designs. Among eleven variables, the nutrient sources that had significant effect on xylanase production were corncob, $(NH_4)_2SO_4$ , xylose, $KH_2PO_4$ and tween 80, identified by the initial screening method of Plackett-Burman. The optimum concentrations of these five components were subsequently investigated using response surface methodology. The optimal concentrations ( $g{\cdot}l^{-1}$ ) for maximum production of xylanase were corncob, 39.0; $(NH_4)_2SO_4$ , 3.0; xylose, 1.8; $KH_2PO_4$ 1.4; and tween 80, 1.4, respectively. An improved xylanase yield of $8.74{\pm}0.84U{\cdot}ml^{-1}$ was obtained with optimized medium which is 2.1-fold higher production than previously obtained results ( $4.10{\pm}0.10U{\cdot}ml^{-1}$ ) after 48 h of cultivation. In addition, the xylanase production under optimal condition reached $10.09{\pm}0.27U{\cdot}ml^{-1}$ after 72 h of cultivation.