Effect of beta-glucanases on Penicillium oxalicum cell wall fractions.

The polysaccharidic effect of a purified 1,3-beta-glucanase, a purified beta-glucosidase, and of partially purified endo-1,3-beta-glucanase from autolysed Penicillium oxalicum cultures on cell wall isolate fractions from the same fungus were studied. Fractionation of 5-day-old cell wall gave rise to a series of fractions that were identified using infrared spectrophotometry. The fractions used were: F1, an alpha-glucan; F3, a beta-glucan; F4, a chitin-glucan; and F4b, a beta-glucan. The fractions were incubated with each of the enzymes and with a mixture of equal parts of the three enzymes and the products of the enzymatic hydrolysis were analyzed after 96 h incubation. The enzymes were found to degrade fraction F4b (beta-glucan); the greatest degree of hydrolysis was reached when the three enzymes were used together, suggesting the need for synergic action by these enzymes in the cell wall degradation process.