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SCREENING AND CHARACTERIZATION OF FUNGAL CELLULASES ISOLATED FROM THE NATIVE ENVIRONMENTAL SOURCE

SADAF JAHANGEER, NAZIA KHAN*, SAMAN JAHANGEER*, MUHAMMAD SOHAIL*, SALEEM SHAHZAD**, AQEEL AHMAD2* AND SHAKEEL AHMED KHAN*

Abstract: Cellulases are a group of hydrolytic enzymes capable of hydrolyzing the most abundant organic polymer i.e. cellulose to smaller sugar components including glucose subunits. Cellulases have enormous potential in industries and are used in food, beverages, textile, laundry, paper and pulp industries etc. This study was aimed to screen the cellulytic ability of fungi from native environmental source. Furthermore, optimal condition for enzyme activity and induction of enzyme synthesis were also determined. Out of 115 fungal cultures isolated from environmental sources including soil, air and infected plant, 78 (67.83%) were found to possess cellulose degrading ability. Cellulytic fungi belonged to Aspergillus sp., Trichoderma sp., Fusarium sp., Alternaria sp., Penicillium sp., and Rhizopus sp. Cellulase production by fungi was measured by using enzyme assays. Highest yield of enzyme was noted at 37°C while maximum activity in the range of pH 4 - 4.8. Kinetics of enzyme production was also studied on selected Aspergillus isolates and mostly high enzyme production was observed after 7 days. Cellulase synthesis increased by ~10 folds in the presence of cellulose while it repressed in the presence of glucose.
 

Department of Microbiology, Federal Urdu University of Arts, Science & Technology, Karachi, Pakistan.

Department of Microbiology, University of Karachi.
Department of Botany, University of Karachi.