ISOLATION OF THE CELLULASE ENZYMES FROM THE THERMOPHILIC FUNGUS THERMOASCUS-AURANTIACUS AND REGULATION OF ENZYME-PRODUCTION

Thermoascus aurantiacus is capable of good growth and cellulase enzyme production at 50 degree C. The enzyme system was produced when grown on a variety of cellulosic and non-cellulosic substrates and is stable at 70 degree C for at least 24 h. In time course studies on 1. 0% glucose, CM-cellulase production began when the glucose concentration was reduced to a non-repressive level (ca. 2 mg ml** minus **1). beta -Glucosidase and alpha -amylase, enzymes considered constitutive in other organisms, were not produced until much later when autolysis became evident. The cellulase enzyme components were identified on non-denaturing (native) polyacrylamide gels by direct assay procedures.