PJB-2011-409
PRODUCTION OF CELLULASES FROM ALTERNARIA SP. MS28 ANDTHEIR PARTIAL CHARACTERIZATION
MUHAMMAD SOHAIL, AQEEL AHMAD AND SHAKEEL AHMED KHAN*
Abstract
Cellulase production was studied after cultivation of Alternaria sp. MS28 in cellulose containing media. This fungus produces different component activities of cellulases, a property influenced by growth temperature. The data indicates that the production of cellulases is a genetically regulated process in the Alternaria sp. MS28, where endoglucanase production was triggered in the presence of CMC; β-glucosidase production by salicin; however, the presence of glucose suppressed the cellulase production. The growth and cellulase production kinetics revealed that the production of endoglucanase and β-glucosidase started in early log-phase and attained its peak in stationary phase. The higher rates of biomass production and shorter generation time were noted in SDB. The rate of endoglucanase and β-glucosidase production was higher in CMC and salicin containing medium, respectively. Partial characterization of cellulases in cell-free culture supernatant showed that endoglucanase has its optimum activity at 50oC and pH 6.0; while β-glucosidase at 45oC and pH 4.5. The melting temperature for endoglucanase and β-glucosidase were 57o and 59oC, respectively. Activity of both the enzymes was slightly affected by the presence of EDTA indicating that these enzymes may not require divalent metallic ions for their activity.
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