ORIGIN OF OXIDIZED CELLULOSE DEGRADATION PRODUCTS AND MECHANISM OF THEIR PROMOTION OF CELLOBIOHYDROLASE-I BIOSYNTHESIS IN TRICHODERMA-REESEI

Cellobiono-1,5-lactone (CBL) induces cellulase, particularly cellobiohydrolase I (CBH I) formation in Trichoderma reesei. When used as a sole source of carbon, it promoted comparably poor growth, because (a) the delta-gluconolactone arising by the action of beta-glucosidase is not metabolized by the fungus, and (b) it is a low-V(max) substrate of the T. reesei beta-glucosidase. Induction of higher amounts of CBH I were observed when CBL was supplied as carbon source together with cellobiose than when supplied alone. Maximal CBH I levels formed under these conditions were comparable to those when T. reesei was grown on cellobiose plus delta-gluconolactone, an inhibitor of beta-glucosidase. These data suggest an indirect effect of CBL on CBH I induction, probably by inhibiting cellobiose hydrolysis. The origin of CBL during growth of T. reesei on cellulose was also investigated: aldonic acids and aldonolactones were released from cellulose by T. reesei culture fluids. Artificially oxidized celluloses gave rise to the appearance of higher concentrations of oxidized products but the addition of cellobiose did not, suggesting that their appearance is not due to a cellobiose-oxidizing enzyme. No accumulation of oxidized cello-oligosaccharides occurred when the action of both cellobiohydrolases (CBH I and II) was simultaneously blocked by monoclonal antibodies. These data suggest that cellulose already contains oxidized chain termini, and that these aldonolactones and aldonic acids are released by the action of the two cellobiohydrolases and not by a 'cellulose-oxidizing' enzyme.