Comparison of methods for quantifying the hydrolytic potential of cellulase enzymes

The adequacy of β-glucosidase activity in various cellulase enzyme mixtures was assessed by monitoring the accumulation of cellobiose in the reaction mixture. The influence of accumulated glucose and cellobiose on a filter paper (FP) assay indicated the relative susceptibility of the different enzyme preparations to end-product inhibition. An HPLC analysis of the profile of sugars released also provided a better means of predicting the hydrolytic potential of the various cellulase mixtures. An accurate prediction of the hydrolytic potential of a cellulase preparation could not be based on the conventional FP assay alone. The hydrolytic potential of a Celluclast/Novozym mixture was superior to that of Trichoderma harzianum even when the latter system was supplemented with increased concentrations of β-glucosidase (Novozym).