Response of Cellulase Activity in pH-Controlled Cultures of the Filamentous Fungus Acremonium cellulolyticus

Cellulase production was investigated in pH-controlled cultures of Acremonium cellulolyticus. The response to culture pH was investigated for three cellulolytic enzymes, carbomethyl cellulase (CMCase), avicelase, and β-glucosidase. Avicelase and β-glucosidase showed similar profiles, with maximum activity in cultures at pH 5.5–6. The CMCase activity was highest in a pH 4 culture. At an acidic pH, the ratios of CMCase and avicelase activity to cellulase activity defined by filter paper unit were high, but at a neutral pH, the β-glucosidase ratio was high. The pH 6.0 culture showed the highest cellulase activity within the range of pH 3.5–6.5 cultures. The saccharification activity from A. cellulolyticus was compared to those of the cellulolytic enzymes from other species. The A. cellulolyticus culture broth had a saccharification yield comparable to those of the Trichoderma enzymes GC220 and Cellulosin T2, under conditions with the same cellulase activity. The saccharification yields from Solka floc, Avicel, and waste paper, measured as the percent of released reducing sugar to dried substrate, were greater than 80% after 96 h of reaction. The yields were 16% from carboxymethylcellulose and 26% from wood chip refiner. Thus, the A. cellulolyticus enzymes were suitable for converting cellulolytic biomass to reducing sugars for biomass ethanol production. This study is a step toward the establishment of an efficient system to reutilize cellulolytic biomass.