Comparison of Cellulase Activity Assays with Stained and Unstained Cellulose Derivatives

V. A. Baraznenok,¹ N. V. Ankudimova,¹ A. P. Sinitsyn,^1,2 N. N. Popova,¹ B. Gutyerres,¹ O. N. Okunev,¹ and I. N. Zorov¹

¹School of Chemistry, Lomonosov Moscow State University, Moscow, 119899 Russia; fax: (095) 939-09-97; E-mail: sinitsyn@enzyme.chem.msu.su

²To whom correspondence should be addressed.

Submitted February 6, 1997; reversion submitted April 4, 1997.

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Methods of cellulase activity assay were compared with carboxymethylcellulose (CMC) stained with Remazol Brilliant Blue R, cross-linked hydroxyethylcellulose stained with azurin, and unstained CMC as the substrates and preparations of various cellulase complexes from different producers, and purified cellulases. Generally, there is no correlation between specific endo-1,4-beta-glucanase activity assayed with viscosimetry and activity assayed with stained substrates. Effects of pH and temperature obtained with CMC and stained CMC can differ significantly. The observed differences may be due to variable specificity of cellulases towards stained and unstained cellulose derivatives.

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KEY WORDS: Penicillium verruculosum, Trichoderma reesei, Chaetomium cellulolyticum, endoglucanase.

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