Localization and release mechanism of cellulases in Trichoderma reesei QM 9414

Summary A significant increase in the extracellular yield of -glucosidase was observed when Trichoderma reesei QM 9414 was cultivated on a cellulose medium containing chitin. Measurement of enzyme activities in the various fractions of the mycelium revealed that endoglucanase was truly extracellular while -glucosidase was cell wall bound. Treatment of Trichoderma mycelium with cell wall degrading enzymes (produced from Trichoderma) led to a release of -glucosidase from the mycelium. Apparently chitin, in the presence of cellulose, induces the synthesis of chitinase and other cell wall lytic enzymes which promote release of the intramural -glucosidase into the medium.