The hydrolysis of xylan by Cellulomonas preparations

Abstract Thin layer chromatography was demonstrated as an effective technique for observing the time course of hydrolysis of a substituted xylan (arabinoxylan) by crude preparations of Cellulomonas. The chromatograms revealed a sequential pattern of appearance of xylooligomers and arabinoxylooligomers, with early appearance of relatively large oligomers and subsequent accumulation of xylobiose and (to a lesser extent) xylose and arabinose. The pattern indicated that the dominant enzymic activity towards arabinoxylan is that of an endoxylanase.