Characterization and biotechnological application of recombinant xylanases from Aspergillus nidulans

•Two xylanases from Aspergillus nidulans were expressed in Pichia pastoris.•XlnB and XlnC differ in their activity on xylans from different origins.•XlnB and XlnC improved xylose and glucose release by commercial cocktails.

Two xylanases from Aspergillus nidulans, XlnB and XlnC, were expressed in Pichia pastoris, purified and characterized. XlnB and XlnC achieved maximal activities at 60 °C and pH 7.5 and at 50 °C and pH 6.0, respectively. XlnB showed to be very thermostable by maintaining 50% of its original activity after 49 h incubated at 50 °C. XlnB had its highest activity against wheat arabinoxylan while XlnC had the best activity against beechwood xylan. Both enzymes were completely inhibited by SDS and HgCl2. Xylotriose at 1 mg/ml also totally inibited XlnB activity. TLC analysis showed that the main product of beechwood xylan hydrolysis by XlnB and XlnC was xylotetraose. An additive effect was shown between XlnB and XlnC and the xylanases of two tested commercial cocktails. Sugarcane bagasse saccharification results showed that these two commercial enzymatic cocktails were able to release more glucose and xylose after supplementation with XlnB and XlnC.