DIGESTIVE ENZYMES OF THE CRYSTALLINE STYLE OF STROMBUS GIGAS LINNE. I. CELLULASE AND SOME OTHER CARBOHYDRASES

Abstract

The crystalline style was extracted in buffered saline and the extract subsequently lyophilized. The activity of the resulting enzyme powder was determined by measuring the amount of reducing sugar it liberated from various substrates under different conditions, and by measuring the decrease in viscosity of these substrates. Cellulase activity was proportional to enzyme concentration. The pH optimum was between pH 6.8 an pH 7.2. Optimum temperature for enzyme activity was 40° C. Between 45° and 50° C., cellulolytic activity was markedly reduced. Cellobiase activity of the style extract was slight. Bacteria-free extracts were as active as unsterile preparations. Some implications of these observations are discussed.