Cellulolytic Themrophilic Fungi

Abstract

Fungal enzymatic equipment for breaking down cellulose is quite variable, from simple systems, made up essentially of cellulases capable of hydrolysing only amorphous cellulose, to more complex multicomponent systems whose elements act synergistically on native crystalline cellulose to bring about its complete solubilization. Consequently, fungi provided with such complex systems are capable of growing on pure cellulose as carbon source and are, therefore, considered truly cellulolytic (125). Among thermophilic fungi, some have been shown to thrive on pure crystalline cellulose and to secrete a set of enzymes, which are also active “in vitro”. Such fungi are the subjects of this review.