The role of the cellulolytic high molecular mass (HMM) complex of the anaerobic fungus Piromyces sp. strain E2 in the hydrolysis of microcrystalline cellulose.
The anaerobic fungus Piromyces sp. strain E2 produces extracellular cellulolytic enzymes present both in a high molecular mass (HMM) complex or as individual proteins. Although the HMM complex was present in the culture fluid during all growth stages, the highest amounts of complex were obtained when cultures were harvested at the end of fungal growth. The complex obtained after gel-filtration chromatography on Sephacryl S-300 HR was found to be the major factor in hydrolysis of cellulose to glucose (sole product, up to 250 mM). The complex was very stable as demonstrated by identical hydrolysis patterns with fresh preparations or preparations stored at 4 degrees C for 2 months. From inhibition experiments with gluconic acid lactone and glucose, it was concluded that the HMM complex must contain at least one glucohydrolase. SDS-PAGE analysis revealed that a partially purified HMM complex was composed of at least ten polypeptides and contained numerous endoglucanases and one beta-glucosidase.
Dijkerman
R
R
Department of Microbiology and Evolutionary Biology, Faculty of Science,University of Nijmegen, Toernooiveld 1, NL-6525 ED Nijmegen, The Netherlands. rem@sci.kun.nl
Op den Camp
H J
HJ
Van der Drift
C
C
Vogels
G D
GD
D000693:Anaerobiosis; D002480:Cellulase / Q000037:antagonists & inhibitors / Q000302:isolation & purification* / Q000378:metabolism*; D002482:Cellulose / Q000378:metabolism; D002850:Chromatography, Gel; D002851:Chromatography, High Pressure Liquid; D004591:Electrophoresis, Polyacrylamide Gel; D005656:Fungal Proteins / Q000032:analysis; D005658:Fungi / Q000201:enzymology* / Q000254:growth & development / Q000378:metabolism*; D005947:Glucose / Q000378:metabolism / Q000494:pharmacology; D005959:Glucosidases / Q000037:antagonists & inhibitors / Q000302:isolation & purification* / Q000378:metabolism*; D007783:Lactones / Q000494:pharmacology
D005656:Fungal Proteins; D007783:Lactones; D002482:Cellulose; D005959:Glucosidases; D002480:Cellulase; D005947:Glucose