Purification and properties of a lytic enzyme from the cell wall of Chlorella ellipsoidea C‐87

Abstract

Cell wall lytic activity was detected in the culture medium and cell wall of 1AM Chlorella ellipsoidea C‐87. The enzymes of both fractions had their highest activity at pH 5. The lytic activity bound to the cell wall consisted of a polysaccharide releasing enzyme, an exo‐type enzyme releasing disaccharide, and glucosidase; but only the polysaccharide releasing enzyme was solubilized by lithium chloride. A polysaccharide releasing enzyme with a molecular weight around 40 kDa was isolated from the culture medium. Hemicellulose is degraded by the polysaccharide releasing enzyme, and the rigid wall by the exo‐type enzyme.