Endocellulase and exocellulase activities of two streptomyces strains isolated from a forest soil

Two Streptomyces strains, M7a and M23, from a Brazilian forest soil were ev aluated for the cellulase production of their supernatants after growth in a microcrystalline cellulose medium, using carboxymethylcellulose and filte r payer as substrates at different temperatures and pH values. Endoglucanas e and exoglucanase activities were compared to a commercial Trichoderma ree sei cellulase using fluorogenic conjugated substrates. Similar specific act ivities were observed for the enzyme preparations of strain M23 and T. rees ei. For M7a the activities were about seven times higher than those obtaine d for T. reesei. Extracellular or cell-associated cellobiase activities wer e not detected in both strains.