Isolation and Screening of Xylanase Producing Fungi from Forest Soils

Enzymes are distinct natural biological polymers which can catalyze the chemical/ biological reactions and convert substrates to specific product (Haq et al. 2006). Xylanase [E.C.3.2.1.8] are a class of hydrolytic enzymes which can hydrolyze the straight polysaccharide -1, 4-xylan in hemicelluloses which is a noteworthy component of secondary cell wall of plants (Dhiman et al. 2008). Xylan, the most abundant in lignocellulosic feedstock in the form of hemicelluloses containing hetero polysaccharides, comprises of a backbone of -1-4-linked xylopyranose residues with side chains of O-acetyl, arabinosyl and methyl glucoronsyl and forms an interface between lignin and other polysaccharides (Chang et al. 2003; Shanti et al., 2014). Xylanases have gained a unique importance in the biotechnology and industries due to their potential applications. The major industrial applications of enzymes are in textile industry (Csiszár et al. 2001) for biopolishing of fabrics and producing stonewashed look of denims, in household laundry detergents for improving fabric softness and brightness (Cavaco-Paulo, 1998), in food, leather, paper/pulp industries (Kirk and Jefferies, 1996; Bhat, 2000), in the fermentation of biomass for the biofuel production (Goldschmidt, 2008), in ruminant nutrition for improving ISSN: 2319-7706 Volume 4 Number 9 (2015) pp. 586-591 http://www.ijcmas.com