Evidence for Multiple Nature of Cellulase of Myrothecium verrucaria

Abstract

CONFLICTING views are held on the multiple nature of cellulase of M. verrucaria. Paper and column chromatography^1,2, zone electrophoresis³ and electrophoresis-convection⁴ of crude preparations of the cellulase indicated the multiple nature of this enzyme system. On the other hand, by fractionating the cellulase by precipitation techniques, Whitaker⁵ obtained a preparation homogeneous in the ultra centrifuge and on electrophoresis, which exhibited all the activities tested of the crude enzyme concentrated in about the same ratios. He maintains that 1,4-β-linked oligo- and poly-glucosides are hydrolysed by one enzyme⁶ which possibly forms stable complexes with metabolic products, thus giving rise to a number of components with cellulolytic activity^6,7.