INDUCTION OF CELLULASE IN FUNGI BY CELLOBIOSE

Abstract

Cellulase is an adaptive enzyme in fungi and is produced when they are grown on cellulose or cellobiose. Other inducers include lactose, cellobiose octaacetate, and salicin. All known inducers contain the B 1,4 glycosidic linkage, but non-inducing compounds may contain this linkage also. The poor cellulase yields when fungi are grown on cellobiose under optimal conditions are attributable to inhibitory or inactivating influences. The cellulase yields on cellobiose can be increased markedly by slowing the growth rate. It is concluded that induction on the insoluble substrate cellulose is due to its slow hydrolysis to the soluble product, cellobiose; the process being initiated by traces of enzyme produced in the absence of inducer.