ASSESSMENT OF ENDO-1,4-BETA-D-GLUCANASE ACTIVITY BY A RAPID COLORIMETRIC ASSAY USING DISODIUM 2,2'-BICINCHONINATE

It is widely accepted that viscometric assays are the most sensitive m ethods for evaluation of endoglucanase activities, because of the pref erential attack of these enzymes on internal bonds of the substrate. H owever, due to the high sensitivity of the disodium 2,2 'bicinchoninat e assay, we could measure, in a onestep method, the initial stages of the degradation of cellulose derivatives by endo-1,4-beta-D-glucanases , by determining the reducing end-groups released. We report the appli cability of the method for the determination of activity, and the K-m for the endoglucanase-I from Trichoderma reesei. This assay can be ext ended to the evaluation of reducing groups released by the action of m any other carbohydrases, either with endo- or exo-type activity.