TESTING CARBOXYMETHYL CELLULASE ACTIVITY SECRETED BY TRICHOPHYTON TERRESTRE IN CARBOXYMETHYL CELLULOSE SOLUTION

Abstract

The techniques employed for bioconversion of cellulosic biomass to simple sugars by cellulases have a great industrial brunt. Cold-adapted microorganisms are potential resource of cold-active carboxymethyl cellulases secluded from the cold regions. In this study, Trichophyton terrestre-a rare fungal species in Indian soils, isolated from the rhizosphere of Juglans regia L. during winter season was subjugated for the production and commotion of an enzyme carboxymethyl cellulase in carboxymethyl cellulose solution by DNS method at an ample range of temperatures, using Lineweaver-Burk plot which offers a practical graphical method for the analysis of Michealis-Menten equation, to establish the imperative terms in enzyme kinetics as K_m and V_max. The enzyme kinetic parameters like maximum activity (V_max), K_m and turnover number were recorded at varying concentrations of CMC and different temperatures (4°C and 50°C). The enzyme was found to be tolerant and stable at two varying temperatures which enables this fungal species to survive in the extreme environmental conditions of northern India. Such property of carboxymethyl cellulase enzyme has extensive range of applications and the potential to open new application fields in the areas of industrial processes.