title: Endoglucanase-producing fungi isolated from Cape Evans historic expedition hut on Ross Island, Antarctica.
abstract: Early explorers of Antarctica's Heroic Era erected wooden buildings and brought large quantities of supplies to survive in Antarctica. The introduction of wood and other organic materials provided nutrient sources for fungi that were indigenous to Antarctica or were brought in with the materials and adapted to the harsh conditions. Seventy-two isolates of filamentous fungi were cultured on selective media from interior structural wood of the Cape Evans historic hut and 27 of these screened positive for the ability to degrade carboxymethyl cellulose (CMC). Four non-CMC-degrading isolates were added to a group of 14 CMC-degrading isolates for further study, and endo-1, 4-beta-glucanase activity was demonstrated in the extracellular supernatant from all of these 18 isolates when grown at 4 degrees C, and also when they were grown at 15 degrees C. Isolates of Penicillium roquefortii and Cadophora malorum showed preference for growth at 15 degrees C rather than 25 degrees C or 4 degrees C indicating psychrotrophic characteristics. These results demonstrate that cellulolytic filamentous fungi found in Antarctica are capable of growth at cold temperatures and possess the ability to produce extracellular endo-1, 4-beta-glucanase when cultured at cold and temperate temperatures.
authors.affiliation: Department of Biological Sciences, University of Waikato, Private Bag 3105, Hamilton, New Zealand.
authors.forename: Shona M
authors.initials: SM
authors.lastname: Duncan
authors.forename: Roberta L
authors.initials: RL
authors.lastname: Farrell
authors.forename: Joanne M
authors.initials: JM
authors.lastname: Thwaites
authors.forename: Benjamin W
authors.initials: BW
authors.lastname: Held
authors.forename: Brett E
authors.initials: BE
authors.lastname: Arenz
authors.forename: Joel A
authors.initials: JA
authors.lastname: Jurgens
authors.forename: Robert A
authors.initials: RA
authors.lastname: Blanchette
mesh_terms: D000864:Antarctic Regions; D001203:Ascomycota / Q000201:enzymology* / Q000254:growth & development / Q000302:isolation & purification; D002480:Cellulase / Q000096:biosynthesis*; D002482:Cellulose / Q000378:metabolism; D003080:Cold Temperature; D008828:Microbiological Techniques / Q000379:methods; D014934:Wood
chemical_list: D002482:Cellulose; D002480:Cellulase