Effect of melanin on enzymatic hydrolysis of cellulosic waste.
Wood waste powder from Tectona grandis containing melanin was less susceptible to enzymatic hydrolysis than powder without melanin. About a 53% increase in saccharification was noted when melanin was removed. Melanin caused inhibition to all cellulolytic enzymes, but in different degrees. Endo-beta-1,4-glucanase and beta-glucosidase were markedly inhibited when melanin was preincubated with enzyme, while exo-beta-1,4-glucanase was severely inhibited when melanin was preincubated with substrate. The latter was found to be dependent on the contact time. The activities of endo-beta-1,4-glucanase and beta-glucosidase were noncompetitively inhibited by melanin.
Microbiology and Life Science Division, PG Department of Biosciences, Sardar Patel University, Vallabh Vidyanagar 388 120, India.
R M
RM
Ray
J D
JD
Desai