Xylanase

Other names: Xylanase, Trichoderma longibrachiatum

Harm score: 2 (Derivatives of natural substances)

Xylanase, also known as Xylanase or Trichoderma longibrachiatum, is an enzyme that breaks down xylan - the main component of hemicellulose, which is part of plant cell walls. This enzyme is produced by a variety of microorganisms including bacteria, yeasts, moulds and some species of fungi. Xylanase has wide application in industry where it is used to improve the quality and efficiency of production.

In the food industry, xylanase is used in the production of bread and other baked goods, where it is used to improve the texture of the dough and increase the volume of the final product. Furthermore, the enzyme is used in the animal feed industry where it helps to increase the digestive efficiency of farm animals by breaking down the structure of plant matter to release absorbable nutrients. Xylanase is also important in the paper industry where it is used in bleaching wood without the need for chlorine. Another application is in the bioenergy industry where xylanase is used in the production of bioethanol from plant biomass.

In biotechnology, xylanase is often used to produce xylo-oligosaccharides, which are used as prebiotics to promote the growth of beneficial gut bacteria. Furthermore, this enzyme is used in laboratory research to study the structure and function of plant cell walls. New applications for xylanase are also emerging, for example in the textile and leather industries, where the enzyme can be used for bio-friendly paint removal. Such a wide use of xylanase is possible due to its ability to efficiently degrade xylan into simpler carbohydrates under a variety of conditions.