ABSTRACT:
Xylose isomerases are the class of enzymes having tremendous applications in both physiological and commercial fields. Xylose isomerases catalyses the interconversion of D-xylose and D-xylulose. It is also called glucose-isomerases due to their extensive use in the industry to produce high fructose corn syrup from glucose. In present study an effort was made to isolate different thermophilic fungi from various sites of Durg and Raipur districts of Chhattisgarh. A total of 41 thermophilic/thermotolerant fungal isolates were recorded out of which ten fungal isolates were found positive for xylose isomerase production. The ten isolates found positive for xylose isomerase production were subjected to biomass estimation at 25, 35, 45, 50, 55 and 60°C. Highest biomass was recorded in Penicillium piscium NFCCI-3692 and Penicillium expansum NFFCI-3765 at 55°C. The protein coagulation of 10 isolates was also assessed after 4, 8, 12, 16 minutes of incubation at so°C. Penicillium piscium NFCCI-3692 and Penicillium expansum NFFCI-3765 exhibited minimum coagulation of protein at 50°C after 16 minutes of incubation suggesting that the two isolates may be exhibit thermophilic/thermotolerant properties.