Microbial xylanases in xylooligosaccharide production from lignocellulosic feedstocks

• Published in: Biomass conversion and biorefinery Vol. 13; no. 5; pp. 3619 - 3658
• Main Author: Yegin, Sirma
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: Berlin/Heidelberg Springer Berlin Heidelberg 01-04-2023; Springer Nature B.V
• Subjects: Biotechnology; Degree of polymerization; Energy; Glycosidases; Lignocellulose; Microorganisms; Oligomers; Raw materials; Renewable and Green Energy; Review Article; Xylanase; Xylanase; Lignocellulose; Enzymatic hydrolysis; Microbial strains; Xylooligosaccharide
• ISSN: 2190-6815; 2190-6823
• DOI: 10.1007/s13399-022-03190-w

Xylooligosaccharides (XOS) are one of the emerging oligomers exhibiting prebiotic activity. They are mainly produced by the hydrolysis of cheap and abundant lignocellulosic feedstocks. It has been demonstrated that the oligomers with low degree of polymerization (2–4) are more selective for the microbiota. Therefore, several attempts have been made to develop efficient processes for the production of such types of XOS by employing different strategies. Microbial xylanases possess a crucial role in these processes. They are highly specific biocatalysts that do not produce any undesirable byproducts during oligomer production. This review provides detailed information about the xylanases belonging to different glycoside hydrolase families with respect to their ability to produce XOS. The enzyme integrated methodologies for XOS production are described from a commercial perspective. The studies focusing on XOS production by xylanase enzymes from different microbial sources were summarized in a strain specific manner for the first time. The physicochemical and technological properties of XOS, their current applications, and market potential were presented.