Plate assay for fungal enzymes using cellophane membranes.
Fungal mycelia mass and pigments are major obstacles to investigating the secretion of bioactive substances such as enzyme activities using a plate assay. In this study, we applied a cellophane membrane and demonstrated that it can block mycelia mass and conidia (especially pigmented spores that would likely interfere with any subsequent color development-based activity detection) while allowing secreting enzymes to pass through. Visual observation after lifting the cellophane membrane and the collected mycelia and conidia indicated that the bioactivities on specific plates were improved significantly, although some fungal growth hurdle was noted. This proved to be true whether the assays were color development based or not.
Liu
Shu-Ying
SY
Department of Molecular Biotechnology, Da-Yeh University, Changhua 51591, Taiwan.
Feng
Pei-Char
PC
Lo
Chaur-Tsuen
CT
Peng
Kou-Cheng
KC
D002130:Calcium Phosphates / Q000737:chemistry; D002476:Cellophane / Q000737:chemistry*; D002480:Cellulase / Q000378:metabolism*; D025282:Mycelium / Q000201:enzymology; D013172:Spores, Fungal / Q000201:enzymology; D014242:Trichoderma / Q000201:enzymology
D002130:Calcium Phosphates; D002476:Cellophane; D002480:Cellulase; C018392:tricalcium phosphate