Fungal Cellulases II. The Complexity of Enzymes from Aspergillus Oryzae that Split ,ß-Glucosidic Linkages, and their Partial Separation

Abstract

Filter paper electrophoresis and paper chromatography have been used to test the homogeneity of the ,8-glucosidase of Aspergillus oryzae. In the crude enzyme preparation there are at least eight components capable of breaking ,8-glucosidic linkages and showing varying degrees of specificity towards different substrates. These are active not only in splitting simple glucosides but also in depolymerizing sodium carboxymethyl cellulose. The only exception is provided by the enzymes splitting p-nitrophenyl-,8-glucoside, wWch are sharply limited to two closely related components. TWs two-component mixture has been partially purified from accompanying enzymes.