Characterization of multi-cellulases of Sporotrichum cellulophilum by using monoclonal antibodies

Cellulases of Sporotrichum cellulophilum, CII1, CII2, CII3, CII5, CIII1, CIII2, and CIV1 were purified to homogeneity by column chromatographies and preparative electrophoresis. The specific activity of CII3 was the highest (100 units/mg), while the activities of CII5, CIII1, and CII2 were low (12–17 units/mg). The molecular weight of CII2 was 19,000, while those of the others ranged from 46,000–63,000. All the cellulases were glycoproteins except for CII2. Three monoclonal antibodies (Mab CII11, Mab CII12, and MabCII13) were prepared against CII1, and Mab CIV11 against CIV1. From the immunological reactivities, it was found that CII1, CIII2, and CIV1 had a common antigenic site recognized by Mab CII11, Mab CII12, and Mab CII13, while CII12 and CVI1 had a different antigenic site that was recognized by Mab CIV11, MabCII11, MabCII12, MabCII13, and MabCIV11 did not react with CII2, CII3, CII5, and CIII1. The classification of these cellulases was discussed.