BINDING OF EXTRACELLULAR CARBOXYMETHYLCELLULOSE ACTIVITY FROM THE MARINE SHIPWORM BACTERIUM TO INSOLUBLE CELLULOSIC SUBSTRATES

The binding of extracellular endoglucanase, a carboxymethylcellulase (CMCase), produced by the marine shipworm bacterium to insoluble cellulose substrates was investigated. Up to 70% of CMCase activity bound to cellulosic substrates, and less than 10% bound to noncellulosic substrates. CMCase binding to cellulose was enhanced in basal salt medium or sodium phosphate buffer containing 0.5 M NaCl. Increased cellulose particle size correlated with decreased CMCase binding. Also, cellulose treated with either 5 N NaOH or commercial cellulase reduced the CMCase binding to these surfaces. Pretreatment of CMCase preparations with 0.01% sodium dodecyl sulfate, 5% beta-mercaptoethanol, and 5 mM EDTA or ethylene glycol-bis(13-aminoethyl ether)-N,N,N',N'-tetraacetic acid (EGTA) had little effect on binding to cellulose. While pretreatment of CMCase with trypsin, chymotrypsin, and pronase had little effect on CMCase enzymatic activity, the ability to bind to cellulose was greatly diminished by these treatments.