Filamentous marine fungi as producers of O-glycosylhydrolases: beta-1,3-glucanase from Chaetomium indicum.

Ninety fungal strains (42 species) isolated from marine habitats were studied for their ability to produce extracellular enzymes. Cultural filtrates of these strains were shown to contain a series of glycosidases (beta-glucosidases, N-acetyl-beta-glucosaminidases, beta-galactosidases alpha-mannosidases) and glucanases (1,3-beta-glucanases, amylases) which varied with habitat. The level of activity depended on the species of fungi. Several promising strains capable of producing both individual enzymes and a set of enzymes for splitting carbohydrate-containing compound have been isolated. Optimal conditions for growth of Chaetomium indicum and for biosynthesis of beta-1,3-glucanase were determined. beta-1,3-Glucanase was isolated using ion-exchange chromatography, ultrafiltration, and gel filtration. The presence of 2 enzyme forms was shown; both forms were exo-beta-1,3-glucanases.