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. 1972 Jul;24(1):83–90. doi: 10.1128/am.24.1.83-90.1972

Cellulolytic Activity of Thermomonospora curvata: Optimal Assay Conditions, Partial Purification, and Product of the Cellulase

Fred J Stutzenberger a,1
PMCID: PMC380551  PMID: 5057375

Abstract

Thermomonospora curvata produces cellulases active against both cotton fibers (designated C1 activity) and carboxymethylcellulose (Cx activity). In reaction systems employing optimal substrate concentration, pH, and temperature, hydrolysis rates (measured by the release of soluble reducing sugars) were initially linear and decreased on prolonged incubation, although only a small amount of substrate (1 to 2%) had been hydrolyzed. Persistence of this lower rate, even after addition of fresh enzyme (in the C1 assay system), indicated alteration of cellulose susceptibility to hydrolysis rather than enzyme inactivation. Partial purification by (NH4)2SO4 precipitation and exclusion chromatography resolved cellulase activity into two fractions. The sole product of purified cellulase activity on ground cotton fibers appears to be cellobiose.

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Selected References

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