This Article Full Text (PDF) Alert me when this article is cited Alert me if a correction is posted Services Similar articles in this journal Similar articles in PubMed Alert me to new issues of the journal Download to citation manager Reprints and Permissions Copyright Information Books from ASM Press MicrobeWorld Citing Articles Citing Articles via HighWire Citing Articles via Google Scholar Google Scholar Articles by Mansfield, S. D. Articles by Saddler, J. N. Search for Related Content PubMed PubMed Citation Articles by Mansfield, S. D. Articles by Saddler, J. N. Agricola Articles by Mansfield, S. D. Articles by Saddler, J. N.

 Previous Article  |  Next Article 

Appl. Environ. Microbiol., Oct 1997, 3804-3809, Vol 63, No. 10
Copyright © 1997, American Society for Microbiology

Cellobiose Dehydrogenase, an Active Agent in Cellulose Depolymerization

SD Mansfield, E De Jong and JN Saddler
Department of Wood Science, Faculty of Forestry, University of British Columbia, Vancouver, British Columbia, Canada

The ability of cellobiose dehydrogenase purified from Phanerochaete chrysosporium to modify a Douglas fir kraft pulp was assessed. Although the addition of cellobiose dehydrogenase alone had little effect, supplementation with cellobiose and iron resulted in a substantial reduction in the degree of polymerization of the pulp cellulose. When the reaction was monitored over time, a progressive depolymerization of the cellulose was apparent with the concomitant production of cellobiono-1,5-lactone. Analysis of the reaction filtrates indicated that glucose and arabinose were the only neutral sugars generated. These sugars are derived from the degradation of the cellobiose rather than resulting from modifications of the pulp. These results suggest that the action of cellobiose dehydrogenase results in the generation of hydroxyl radicals via Fenton's chemistry which subsequently results in the depolymerization of cellulose. This appears to be the mechanism whereby a substantial reduction in the degree of polymerization of the cellulose can be achieved without a significant release of sugar.

This article has been cited by other articles:

• Vanden Wymelenberg, A., Sabat, G., Mozuch, M., Kersten, P. J., Cullen, D., Blanchette, R. A. (2006). Structure, Organization, and Transcriptional Regulation of a Family of Copper Radical Oxidase Genes in the Lignin-Degrading Basidiomycete Phanerochaete chrysosporium.. Appl. Environ. Microbiol. 72: 4871-4877 [Abstract] [Full Text]  
• Hallberg, B. M., Henriksson, G., Pettersson, G., Vasella, A., Divne, C. (2003). Mechanism of the Reductive Half-reaction in Cellobiose Dehydrogenase. J. Biol. Chem. 278: 7160-7166 [Abstract] [Full Text]  
• Maheshwari, R., Bharadwaj, G., Bhat, M. K. (2000). Thermophilic Fungi: Their Physiology and Enzymes. Microbiol. Mol. Biol. Rev. 64: 461-488 [Abstract] [Full Text]  
• Temp, U., Eggert, C. (1999). Novel Interaction between Laccase and Cellobiose Dehydrogenase during Pigment Synthesis in the White Rot Fungus Pycnoporus cinnabarinus. Appl. Environ. Microbiol. 65: 389-395 [Abstract] [Full Text]