A binding-site-deficient, catalytically active, core protein of endoglucanase III from the culture filtrate of Trichoderma reesei

From the culture filtrate of Trichoderma reesei we have isolated a novel endoglucanase (38 kDa) which was shown to be identical to endoglucanase III (E III, 50 kDa), but lacking the first 61 N-terminal amino acids. This core protein, designated E III core, is fully active against soluble substrates, such as carboxymethylcellulose, whereas both activity against and adsorption to microcrystalline cellulose (Avicel) is markedly decreased. Sedimentation velocity experiments revealed that the intact E III enzyme has much higher asymmetry than the E III core protein, suggesting that the N-terminal region split off constitutes a protruding part of the native enzyme. These results lead to the proposal that native E III consists of two functionally separated domains: a catalytically active core and a protruding N-terminal domain which acts in the binding to insoluble cellulose. The N-terminal peptide missing in E III core corresponds to the heavily glycosylated common structural element found also in the N-terminus of cellobiohydrolase II and in the C-termini of cellobiohydrolase I and endoglucanase I. A similar bifunctional organization could thus be the rule for Trichoderma cellulases, endoglucanases as well as cellobiohydrolases.