Study on the production of acetyl esterase and side-group cleaving glycosidases of ammonia fungi

Abstract

Acetyl esterase was found to be widely distributed in ammonia fungi in a screen comprising 26 species (71 strains). No great differences appeared in enzyme production for acetyl esterase, β-xylosidase, α-arabinosidase, or β-glucosidase between different strains of the same species, but differences were detected between different genera. Acetyl esterase of Coprinus phlyctidosporus and Lyophyllum tylicolor may act cooperatively with β-glucosidase. An increase in urea concentration significantly affected enzyme activity. It was supposed that urea used as 20 mg/g litter may solubilize leaf nutrients. At 20 mg urea added/g litter, a sizable increase in β-glucosidase activity of C. phlyctidosporus and L. tylicolor was found, whereas a decrease in enzyme production of α-arabinosidase and β-xylosidase was detected in some strains. Acetyl esterase and β-glucosidase of C, phlyctidosporus, L. tylicolor, C. leucocephala 589, and C, rhombisperma 248 were most active in acidic conditions (pH 5.3-6.3), whereas acetyl esterase of L. nude 561 and L. tarda 564 was most active in alkaline conditions (pH 8.3).