AEM
Home Help [Feedback] [For Subscribers] [Archive] [Search] [Contents]
This Article
Right arrow Full Text (PDF)
Right arrow Alert me when this article is cited
Right arrow Alert me if a correction is posted
Services
Right arrow Similar articles in this journal
Right arrow Alert me to new issues of the journal
Right arrow Download to citation manager
Right arrowReprints and Permissions
Right arrow Copyright Information
Right arrow Books from ASM Press
Right arrow MicrobeWorld
Citing Articles
Right arrow Citing Articles via Google Scholar
Google Scholar
Right arrow Articles by Romanelli, R. A.
Right arrow Articles by Barnett, S. M.
Right arrow Search for Related Content
PubMed
Right arrow Articles by Romanelli, R. A.
Right arrow Articles by Barnett, S. M.
Agricola
Right arrow Articles by Romanelli, R. A.
Right arrow Articles by Barnett, S. M.

 Previous Article  |  Next Article 

Appl Environ Microbiol. 1975 August; 30(2): 276-281
Copyright © 1975 American Society for Microbiology. All Rights Reserved.

Studies on Thermophilic Cellulolytic Fungi

R. A. Romanelli1, C. W. Houston and S. M. Barnett

* Department of Chemical Engineering and Department of Microbiology and Biophysics, University of Rhode Island, Kingston, Rhode Island 02881

ABSTRACT

Three thermophilic cellulolytic fungi, Chaetomium thermophile var. coprophile, Sporotrichum thermophile, and Thermoascus aurantiacus were studied to determine the conditions for a high rate of cellulose degradation. The range of temperature over which good growth occurred was determined first in a temperature gradient incubator; the optimum temperature was then established in shake flask cultures. T. aurantiacus had the highest optimum growth temperature range (46 to 51 C), whereas S. thermophile had the broadest range over which good growth occurred (36 to 43 C). Optimum temperatures for the three organisms, T. aurantiacus, S. Thermophile, and C. thermophile were 48, 40, and 40 C, respectively. It was found that the addition of an organic carbon and nitrogen source to a cellulose mineral solution medium markedly increased the rate of cellulose degradation. The surfactant, Tween 80, which has been reported to be of value in the production and recovery of the enzyme, cellulase, was shown to be detrimental to the degradation of cellulose in culture. In the medium used, S. thermophile gave the highest rate of substrate utilization; 56% of the cellulose was hydrolyzed in 72 h. The average degree of polymerization of cellulose decreased from 745 to 575.

FOOTNOTES

1 Present address: E. I. duPont de Nemours and Co., Victoria, Texas 77901.

Appl Environ Microbiol. 1975 August; 30(2): 276-281
Copyright © 1975 American Society for Microbiology. All Rights Reserved.





Home Help [Feedback] [For Subscribers] [Archive] [Search] [Contents]
J. Bacteriol. Microbiol. Mol. Biol. Rev. Eukaryot. Cell All ASM Journals

Copyright © 1975 by the American Society for Microbiology. All rights reserved.