The Cellulolytic and Amylolytic Activity of Papulaspora Thermophila

Abstract

Papulaspora thermophila degraded filter paper and ultilized soluble carboxymethyl cellulose. The cellulolytic enzymes produced by the fungus are induced enzymes, because P. thermophila cannot produce them in a medium lacking cellulose. Papulaspora thermophila utilized starch; however, extracellular amylolytic enzymes were detected in a medium lacking starch. Maximum mycelial production in a starch medium was approximately 2.5 times more than that attained in a medium without starch. Maximum amounts of extracellular amylolytic enzymes were detected in media with and without starch before the maximum production of mycelium was attained. The extracellular amylolytic enzymes detected in medium lacking starch were in very low amounts (approximately one eighth the amount of a medium containing starch). Increasing the amount of starch in the medium increased the production of extracellular amylolytic enzymes. When the amount of starch was kept constant, increasing the amount of yeast extract resulted in an increase of extracellular amylolytic enzymes.