Purification of endoglucanase produced by Penicillium citrinum isolated from Amazon

Background The cellulolytic enzyme complex has many important biotechnological applications such as beverage, textile, food, paper and cellulose industries, as well as in degradation of lignocellulosic for ethanol biofuel production [1]. According to the enzymatic activity, cellulolytic complex is subdivided in three classes: endoglucanases, exoglucanases and b-D-glycosidases. Endoglucanases (endo-b-1,4-glucanase, EC 3.2.1.4) are responsible to initiate cleavage, hydrolyzing randomly internal regions from the amorphous cellulose fiber structures, releasing oligosaccharides from different grades of polymerization. These will be hydrolyzed by exoglucanases releasing cellobiose followed by b-D-glycosidades being hydrolyzed to glucose [1]. Penicillium citrinum has worldwide occurrence. Commonly in the soil, this specie is described as good xylanase and cellulase producer [2,3]. This work describes liquid chromatography to separate endoglucanases of Penicillium citrinum supernatant from submerse fermentation process.