A cellobiohydrolase from a thermophilic actinomycete,Microbispora bispora

A screening for thermophilic cellulolytic microbes from the soils of volcanic areas yielded several potentially useful bacteria. Of these,Microbispora bispora was the most useful. The enzyme complex was stable at 60–65‡C. Analysis of the complex indicated the presence of endoglucanase, cellobiohydrolase, and Β-glucosidase components. The two former enzymes were secreted, whereas the Β-glucosidase was cell-associated. The cellobiohydrolase was of particular interest, since this type of enzyme has rarely been reported from bacteria, and therefore was characterized in greater detail. Its mechanism of action was clarified through its action pattern towards soluble (and reduced) oligosaccharides. Synergism was observed between the cellobiohydrolase and endoglucanases during attack on crystalline cellulose (cotton and Avicel). This represents one of the first demonstrations of synergism in a procaryotic cellulase system.     

Cellulase lessons revealed through the microbe's perspective

Applied Biochemistry and Biotechnology - Cellulose, the world's most abundant organic material, is central to the world's ecosystem. This energy resource is mobilized and recycled by...     

Immunochemical characteristics and preparative application of agarose-based immunosorbents

The physical and chemical properties of immunosorbents prepared from Sepharose 4B have been studied, with the objective of improving their utility in preparative applications. The most significant factors influencing efficient use of these immobilized reagents are loss of immunochemical reactivity with increasing protein substitution and the restrictions imposed by the porous nature of the support. Similar effects are observable with controlled-pore glass matrices, but they are of less significance when solid, nonporous supports are used. Considerable improvements in operational efficiencies have been obtained by limiting the amount of protein immobilization and restricting reaction to the more accessible surface regions of the porous supports. Improved operating protocols based on these principles have been adapted to automated chromatographic systems, resulting in a fourfold increase in productive capacity. With the addition of the continuous dialysis and concentration system described here, routine daily production of gram quantities of specific antibodies from antisera becomes possible. Similarly, with a knowledge of the basic characteristics of these immunosorbents, it has been possible to increase greatly the efficiency of small-scale separations and purifications of immunological reagents from limited sources. The general approach toward the practical exploitation of immunosorbents for preparative applications is discussed in the context of these findings.