Effect of temperature on cellulose enzyme activity in crude extracts isolated from solid wastes microbes

Abstract

Cellulose is degraded by three major classes of hydrolases. These three classes have been isolated and purified from fungi. They range widely in temperature and pH optima, but the most common enzymes are most active at pH 5.5, 55 o C.Three cellulases are of interest: 1) endoglucanase (carboxymethyl cellulase or CMCase), 2) cellobiohydrolase (CBH or filter paper activity) and 3) β-glucosidase. Endoglucanase (CMCase) attacks randomly in the interior of the cellulose structure. It is not very active against crystalline cellulose, but they are capable of hydrolyzing substituted cellulose such as carboxymethyl cellulose. It produces cellulodextrins also known as cellulooligosaccharides. Cellobiohydrolase (CBH) also known as exocellulase attacks crystalline cellulose from the non-reducing end and produces cellobiose. β-glucosidase hydrolyses cellobiose to glucose.