Cellulases from Penicillium species for producing fuels from biomass

Abstract

This review focuses on cellulases from Penicillium species with emphasis on cellulose biodegradation; the most laborious step in the production of biofuels from lignocellulosic biomass. Extracellular multienzyme systems secreted by various Penicillium species proved to be highly efficient destroyers of cellulose in comparison with competitive producers of cellulases. Data on cellulase production levels by Penicillia, enzyme induction and regulation, composition of the secreted multienzyme systems, examples of their application for hydrolysis of lignocellulosic residues, as well as reasons for their high saccharification performance, are discussed. Analysis of the data shows that Penicillium cellulases are very promising candidates for production of the second-generation biofuels; however, some issues should be resolved in order for them to become cost competitive to enzymes produced by other microorganisms (in particular, to those from Trichoderma reesei).

Financial & competing interests disclosure

This study was supported in part by the research project DISCO (Targeted DISCOvery of novel cellulases and hemicellulases and their reaction mechanisms for hydrolysis of lignocellulosic biomass) funded under the EU’s Seventh Framework Programme (FP7-KBBE-2007–3.2–01, contract number FP7–211863) and by the federal target program ‘Research and Pedagogical Personnel for Innovative Russia’. The authors have no other relevant affiliations or financial involvement with any organization or entity with a financial interest in or financial conflict with the subject matter or materials discussed in the manuscript apart from those disclosed. No writing assistance was utilized in the production of this manuscript.