beta-Glucosidases from cellulolytic fungi Aspergillus terreus, Geotrichum candidum, and Trichoderma longibrachiatum as typical glycosidases.

By ethanol precipitation (v/v) and chromatography on Sephadex SP, DEAE (or DEAE-cellulose), and G-200 beta-glucosidases (EC 3.2.1.21) from the culture filtrates of cellulolytic fungi Aspergillus terreus, Geotrichum candidum, and Trichoderma longibrachiatum grown on the medium with cellulose containing materials were isolated. The enzymes were homogenous as shown by different techniques. The substrate specificities of the obtained enzymes were studied. beta-Glucosidases had higher affinity for p-nitrophenyl-beta-D-glucopyranoside than for cellobiose (Km 1.25, 0.34, 0.20 and 5.4, 2.0, 1.2 mM, respectively) and were able to hydrolyze both laminaribiose and gentiobiose; but they were unable to cleave cotton fiber, carboxymethylcellulose, and other glycans to reducing sugars. They showed transglycosylase activity. Ki values for arylglucosidase activity of beta-glucosidases from A. terreus, G. candidum, and T. longibrachiatum in the presence of either glucose or glucono-1,5-lactone were 12.2, 6.0, 2.1 and 0.20, 0.19, 0.07 mM, respectively. The Mr's were estimated by gel filtration and by sedimentation equilibrium centrifugation to 200,000, 200,000, 350,000, respectively. The isoelectric points of beta-glucosidases were 4.8, 5.9, and 4.2, respectively. The optimum temperatures and pH's were 60, 50, and 50 degrees C and at pH 4.5, 4.5, and 4.8-5.7, respectively. These properties appear to relate beta-glucosidases obtained in the present study to typical glycosidases.