Factorial optimization of a six-cellulase mixture

A factorial experimental design approach was used to optimize mixtures of six cellulases (five Thermomonospora fusca cellulases and plus/minus Trichoderma reesei CBHI along with beta-glucosidase) so as to maximize the glucose produced from filter paper. Optimized mixture A and mixture B produced glucose at 25 and 8.3 μmol glucose/μmol enzyme/min, respectively, which are 8 and 1.5 times higher than the sum of the activity of the individual cellulases. In both mixtures, the glucose yield depended on the ratio and the cellulases used. Most enzymes showed synergistic interactions that increased the glucose yield. The yield of glucose with the optimum mixtures depended on the total enzyme concentration. Copyright 1998 John Wiley & Sons, Inc.