Enzymatic degradation of cellulose, cellulose derivatives and hemicelluloses in relation to the fungal decay of wood

Summary

Cellulases and hemicellulases (mannanase and xylanase) from culture filtrates of various fungi, including a brown rot fungus, Polyporus schweinitzii and a soft rot fungus, Chaetomium globosum, have been isolated and characterized. Investigations of their molecular weights, pH- and temperature optima and stabilities indicate that hydrolases of the wood destroying fungi are very similar to one another and to hydrolases from various other plant organisms. Substrate specificities and the effect of substituents on the natural substrates have also been investigated. Routine tests for mannanase and xylanase were carried out with model substrates (mannan from Tubera salep, xylan from wheat straw), but preliminary tests with complex hemicelluloses isolated from wood showed that these too could be broken down to monoor oligosaccharides. The results presented are discussed in relation to possible roles of the various enzymes in vivo.