Properties of Cellulases of Two Brown-Rot Fungi and Two White-Rot Fungi

Authors

  • Terry L. Highley

Keywords:

<i>Coriolus versicolor</i>, <i>Ganoderma applanatum</i>, <i>Poria monticola</i>, <i>Gloeo-phyllum trabeum</i>, cellulase, enzyme, wood decay, enzyme activity, enzyme stability

Abstract

Cellulases from two brown-rot fungi (Cx) and from two white-rot fungi (Cx and C1) were compared. The Cx cellulases of the brown-rot and the white-rot fungi responded differently to pH and temperature effects. Cx activity of the brown-rot fungi was optimum in the low pH region—2 to 3, whereas the activity of the white-rot fungi was considerably lower than optimum. Cx activity of the white-rot fungi was more depressed at low temperatures than was that of the brown-rot fungi. Stability of Cx from the brown-rot fungi was uniform for the range 23 to 60 C, whereas Cx from the white-rot fungi was substantially reduced at temperatures above 50 C. The C1 cellulases produced by only the white-rot fungi were more unstable than those of the Cx to pH and temperature changes. Sulf-hydryl groups apparently are not active sites for any of the cellulases. Degradation of carboxymethylcellulose by Cx was similar for the four fungi and proceeded in a random manner; degradation of microerystalline cellulose by C1 was in an endwise manner, and evidently acts as a β-1-4-glucan cellobiohydrolase. β-glucosidase produced by the four fungi hydrolyzed the cellulase breakdown products to glucose.

References

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Published

2007-06-05

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Research Contributions