COMPARISON OF CELLULASE ACTIVITY ASSAYS WITH STAINED AND UNSTAINED CELLULOSE DERIVATIVES

Methods of cellulase activity assay were compared with carboxymethylce llulose (CMC) stained with Remazol Brilliant Blue R, cross-linked hydr oxyethylcellulose stained with azurin, and unstained CMC as the substr ates and preparations of various cellulase complexes from different pr oducers and purified cellulases. Generally, there is no correlation be tween specific endo-1,4-beta-glucanase activity assayed with viscosime try and activity assayed with stained substrates. Effects of pH and te mperature obtained with CMC and stained CMC can differ significantly. The observed differences may be due to variable specificity of cellula ses towards stained and unstained cellulose derivatives.