Isozyme polymorphism of cellulases in Aspergillus terreus

Maximum cellulase production in Aspergillus terreus was obtained at a temperature of 28 degrees C, pH 4.0 and a substrate concentration of 1% CMC. Variability in cellulase enzyme production and isozyme polymorphism of endo-beta-1,4-glucanase and beta-1,4-glucosidase was studied in 45 natural isolates of A. terreus. Different electrophoretic patterns were evident for endoglucanase. Three zones of activity viz EG 1, EG 11 and EG 111 were observed showing different electrophoretic mobilities. Some of the isolates exhibited the presence of null alleles for EG 1. During development EG 1 and EG 11 were observed throughout while EG 111 appeared on the eighth day. For beta-1,4-glucosidase two zones of activity viz beta-glu 1 and beta-glu 11 were observed. beta-glu 1 showed variable electrophoretic mobilities. beta-glu 1 appeared throughout during development while beta-glu 11 appeared on the twelfth day.