title: Suggested improvements to the standard filter paper assay used to measure cellulase activity.
abstract: Two suggestions can be found in the literature to improve the reproducibility of the Mandels' filter paper assay: add supplemental cellobiase and increase the boiling time for color development. Here we provide data that strongly supports adding supplemental cellobiase. Adding supplemental cellobiase increased assay response by 56%. Cellulases from different sources have different cellobiase activities, which would cause significant variation in the assay response. There is no need for additional boiling time-5 minutes is sufficient. For maximum reproducibility, it is essential that the water bath vigorously boil so that temperature excursions are minimized.
authors.affiliation: Department of Chemical Engineering, Texas A & M University, College Station, Texas 77843-3122, USA.
authors.forename: Guillermo
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Coward-Kelly
authors.forename: Cateryna
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Aiello-Mazzari
authors.forename: Sehoon
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Kim
authors.forename: Cesar
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Granda
authors.forename: Mark
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Holtzapple
mesh_terms: D015374:Biosensing Techniques / Q000379:methods*; D002480:Cellulase / Q000032:analysis* / Q000737:chemistry*; D003124:Colorimetry / Q000379:methods*; D004789:Enzyme Activation; D005374:Filtration / Q000379:methods*; D006358:Hot Temperature; D011786:Quality Control; D012459:Salicylates / Q000737:chemistry*; D012680:Sensitivity and Specificity; D013379:Substrate Specificity; D001617:beta-Glucosidase / Q000737:chemistry*
chemical_list: D012459:Salicylates; C027011:3,5-dinitrosalicylic acid; D001617:beta-Glucosidase; D002480:Cellulase