Production and purification of two hemicellulases from Cephalosporium sacchari

The production of extracellular hemicellulases by the fungus Cephalosporium sacchari was studied in the presence of various sources of carbon and at various initial pH values and temperatures. Hemicellulose B and holocellulose from spear grass (Heteropogon contortus) were the best sources of carbon, and the optimum temperature was 27 degrees. The initial pH value had little influence on the final yield of hemicellulases. Two hemicellulases (HC-III and HC-IV) were purified by ammonium sulphate precipitation and isoelectric focusing. Their molecular weights were 10,700 and 9,550, and their pI values 9.40 and 6.0, respectively. HC-III hydrolysed hemicellulose B to oligosaccharides without production of monosaccharides.