Solubilization of native and derived forms of cellulose by cell-free microbial enzymes

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Abstract
Cell-free enzymes from Myrothecium verrucarla and Trichoderma koningii hydrolyse native undegraded cellulose, as found In cotton fibers, in a random manner to short insoluble fibers and to minor amounts of soluble products. Enzyme preparations from M. verrucaria fall to attack the short fibers whereas preparations from T. koningii solubilize them completely to sugars at an optimum pH 4.2-4.6. The mode of hydrolysis of cotton cellulose by preparations from T. koningii involves from the earliest stages the formation of reducing sugars, followed closely by the appearance of short fibers, until the Insoluble and soluble products each constitute about 40-50% of the weight of the Initial substrate. After this stage the quantity of sugars Increases at the expense of the insoluble short fibers. Depending upon the method of preparation, derived forms of cellulose may be hydrolyzed more slowly, much more rapidly, or at the same rate as cotton fibers by enzyme preparations from T. koningii.