Cellulase production by Penicillium echinulatum on lactose

The inducer effect of lactose on cellulase activity in Penicillium echinulatum 9A02S1 was studied. Submerged cultivation was performed using different concentrations of lactose and cellulose, in which the pH, mycelial mass, soluble proteins, filter paper activity (FPA), and activity of beta-glucosidases were measured. The cultures containing lactose only presented low FPAs (0.1 FPU/ml). The cultures with associated cellulose and lactose and those containing cellulose only presented similar enzymatic activities (1.5 FPU/ml), suggesting the possibility of up to 75% reduction in the cellulose concentration. In relation to the beta-glucosidases, increasing the lactose/cellulose ratio results in a proportional increase of enzymatic activity. In the cultures using both inducers, there is a longer duration of the acid phase in relation to treatments using only cellulose or lactose, indicating diauxia and catabolic repression.