THE EFFECT OF YELLOW AFFINITY SUBSTANCE ON CELLULASES OF RUMINOCOCCUS-FLAVEFACIENS

Cellulolytic cultures of Ruminococcus flavefaciens produced a yellow a ffinity substance (YAS) with a strong affinity to microcrystalline cel lulose (MC). YAS was bound to MC in the range of pH from 5 to 8 and at temperatures from 10 degrees C to 60 degrees C. The positive effect o f YAS on adsorption of ruminococcal cellulases was demonstrated by com paring the adsorption behaviour of endoglucanases and cellobiohydrolas es onto MC and YAS-treated MC. HPLC chromatography proved the presence of two yellow compounds with affinity to cellulose as well as to rumi nococcal cellulases. Both YAS compounds were sensitive to oxidation. T he observed YAS properties showed a close relation to YS of Clostridiu m thermocellum.