Extracellular enzyme system utilized by the fungus Chrysosporium lignorum for the breakdown of cellulose : II. Separation and characterization of three cellulase peaks

Abstract

The separation of three cellulase peaks (CMC activity) from culture solutions of the fungus Chrysosporium lignorum has been demonstrated on a DEAE-Sephadex A-50 column. The carbohydrate content in the different peaks decreased upon dialysis to 13, 10, and 7 percent. The carbohydrate moiety consisted of mannose and traces of galactose. The hydrolysis products of cellodextrins and dewaxed cotton fibers incubated with the enzyme peaks were in all cases cellobiose and glucose in the approximate proportions 3:1. It was found that the higher the carbohydrate content of the peak, the higher the transglucosidation caused by the peak. Strong indications for the existence of a C 1 enzyme in the culture solution of C. lignorum are reported.