STUDIES ON ENZYMES OF BLUE-STAIN FUNGI .I. CELLULASE-, POLYGALACTURONASE-, PECTINESTERASE- AND LACCASE-ACTIVITY

Three blue-stain fungi were cultivated in an unbuffered nutrient solution with glucose or carboxymethyl cellulose (CMC) as carbon source. The culture filtrates were used for detecting cellulase (carboxymethyl cellulase), polygalacturonase, pectinesterase and p-diphenoloxidase. 1. Each of the fungi produced these four enzymes. 2. The production of the enzymes was influenced by the pH value of the medium. The polygalacturonase of Alternaria showed a remarkable sensibility to pH values about 7. 3. For Aureobasidium the course of the pH optimum curve as well as the stability of the pectic enzyme in neutral solution suggest the presence of a polygalacturonide lyase. 4. With glucose as carbon source the acidity increased at the beginning of the fungal growth, whereas with CMC the pH values changed immediately to the neutral point. 5. In the glucose solution the production of cellulase was higher than in the medium with CMC. 6. To find most favorable experimental conditions some properties of cellulases and polygalacturonases were investigated. © 1969 Springer-Verlag.