Cell-wall-bound lytic activity in Chlorella fusca: function and characterization of an endo-mannanase

A cell-wall-degrading activity was solubilized from young cells and from mother cell walls of Chlorella fusca by treatment with LiCl. The cytoplasmic enzyme hexokinase was not detectable in these extracts. The LiCl-solubilized activity increased in the cell cycle parallel to the release of autospores. The enzyme was purified on a chromatofocusing column followed by gel filtration. Sodium dodecyl sulfate/polyacryl amide gel electrophoresis of the purified enzyme revealed a molecular weight of 44 kDa, whereas gel filtration indicated a molecular weight of 25 kDa. Cell-wall-lytic activity and β-1,4-mannanase activity coeluted in gel filtration and were separated from β-D-fucosidase activity. The enzyme degraded isolated cell walls and ivory nut mannan primarily to oligosaccharides with an estimated degree of polymerization ≧6. The soluble degradation products of the cell wall consisted of 92-96% mannose and 4-8% glucose. It is concluded that the cell-wall-lytic activity is caused by an endo-mannanase. In vivo, this enzyme probably degrades the mother cell wall and, after autospore release, remains bound to it as well as to the surface of the daughter cells by ionic forces. The identity of this bound enzyme with a soluble wall-degrading enzyme previously obtained from mother cells is discussed.