Hydrolysis of cellulose by purified cellulase components: Synergistic effects

The hydrolysis of cellulose by purified cellulase components is reported. The adsorption of purified cellobiohydrolases (CBH I and II) and endoglucanases (EG I and II) from Trichoderma reesei strain L27 to microcrystalline cellulose (Avicel) has been studied. Scatchard analysis of the adsorption data gave the maximum amount of each component that bound to Avicel at saturation. Hydrolysis of Avicel was thus carried out by saturating and non-saturating (50% saturation) concentrations of cellulase components alone and in combination with each other, and it was found that the greatest amount of synergism between them was observed when Avicel was incubated with non-saturating concentrations of enzyme. Synergism was observed between CBH I and CBH II, as well as between EG I and CBH I; however, inhibition of hydrolysis occurred using a combination of EG I and EG II. Synergism between cellulase components may be significant during cellulose hydrolysis only when non-saturating enzyme concentrations are used. 4 refs., 3 figs.