ZYMOGRAPHIC ANALYSES OF CARBOXYMETHYLCELLULASES SECRETED BY THE BACTERIUM FROM WOOD-BORING MARINE SHIPWORMS

Zymographic techniques were used for identifying multiple carboxymethy lcellulase (CMCase) activities present in the cell free culture broth of the marine shipworm bacterium. CMCase activity was associated with at least three major and four minor polypeptides. After sodium dodecyl sulphate (SDS) removal from polyacrylamide gels, the major CMCase pol ypeptides became active, apparently renaturing, even when samples were boiled for 10 minutes in the presence of SDS and beta-mercaptoethanol (betaME) prior to electrophoresis. The relative binding affinity of t he active polypeptides for microcrystalline cellulose was also qualita tively determined by zymography.