Cellulolytic preparations from Micro-organisms of the Rumen and from Myrothecium verrucaria

Abstract

A study was made of the degradation of different forms of cellulose, comprising soluble substituted derivatives, insoluble cellulose powder, swollen cellulose, hydrocellulose and native cotton fibers. Mixed rumen microorganisms are shown to be one of the most powerful sources of cellulolytic enzyme, in that they produce almost complete solubilization of all the above forms of cellulose in a relatively short period (3 days). Cell-free filtrates from Myrothecium verrucaria were shown to possess cellulolytic properties very similar to those of alumina extracts from enrichment cultures of rumen microorganisms. The significance of the results is discussed in relation to the mode of breakdown of cellulose.