Screening the capabilities of Indonesian indigenous mold in producing cellulase enzyme

Abstract

This study aims to get the isolates of mold that can potentially produce cellulase enzyme. This research was conducted in December 2017 until January 2018 in Microbiology Laboratory of Universitas Negeri Jakarta. The screening test of potential isolates producing cellulase enzymes was performed on 31 isolates of UNJCC in CDA medium with addition of Carboxymethyl Cellulose (CMC) substrate and testing of clear zone formation using 0.1% congo red reagent. From the result of the research, there are 18 potential mold isolates which can produce cellulase enzyme. 3 isolates which have the highest Cellulolytic index are isolate A17, K4, and 1 which have cellulolytic index value of 1.03, 0.32, 0.29. From macroscopic and microscopic identification it can be assumed that the coded isolates of K4 and A17 belong to the genus Aspergillus, while, isolates code 1 belong to the genus Penicillium. Forming the clear zone on CMC subtrate with dropped congo red reagent it because congo red reagent can bind strongly with polysaccharides containing β (1-4) D-glucopyranosyl bonds. And the ability of clear zone formation on CMC substrates shows the presence of enzyme endo-β-1,4 glucanase (CMCase) that can breaks off the β -1,4-glycosidic bond linking D-glucose monomer to CMC.