Purification and Mode of Action of an Alkali-Resistant Endo-1,4-β-glucanase fromBacillus pumilus

Alkaline endo-1,4-β-d-glucanase was secreted byBacillus pumilusgrown in submerged culture on a combination of oat spelt xylan and corn starch as carbon sources. The enzyme was purified to homogeneity by Sephacryl S-200 and Q-Sepharose column chromatography. The protein corresponded to molecular mass and pIvalues of 67 kDa and 3.7, respectively. The enzyme was optimally active at pH 7.0–8.0 and 60°C and retained 50% of its optimum activity at pH 12. The most notable characteristic of the endoglucanase was its high stability up to pH 12 for 20 h at 30°C. The enzyme hydrolyzed carboxymethylcellulose (CMC) and cello-oligosaccharides but was inactive on cellobiose, cellotriose, Avicel, xylan, 4-nitrophenyl-β-d-glucoside, 4-nitrophenyl-β-d-cellobioside, and 4-nitrophenyl-β-d-xyloside. Analysis of reaction mixtures by HPLC revealed that the enzyme produced almost exclusively cellotriose when acted on CMC and appeared to hydrolyze cello-oligosaccharides by successively releasing cellotriose. The use of 4-methylumbelliferyl cello-oligosaccharides and the determination of bond cleavage frequency revealed that the enzyme preferentially hydrolyzed the third glycosidic bond adjacent to the glycon. The enzyme mediated a decrease in the viscosity of CMC associated with a release of only small amounts of reducing sugar. The enzyme activity was not inhibited by metal ions, surfactants, and chelating agents used as components of laundry detergents.