Effect of β ‐glucanases on Penicillium oxalicum cell wall fractions

1. Summary The polysaccharidic effect of a purified 1,3‐ β ‐glucanase, a purified β ‐glucosidase, and of partially purified endo‐1,3‐ β ‐glucanase from autolysed Penicillium oxalicum cultures on cell wall isolate fractions from the same fungus were studied. Fractionation of 5‐day‐old cell wall gave rise to a series of fractions that were identified using infrared spectrophotometry. The fractions used were: F 1 , an α ‐glucan; F 3 , a β ‐glucan; F 4 , a chitin‐glucan; and F 4b , a β ‐glucan. The fractions were incubated with each of the enzymes and with a mixture of equal parts of the three enzymes and the products of the enzymatic hydrolysis were analyzed after 96 h incubation. The enzymes were found to degrade fraction F 4b ( β ‐glucan); the greatest degree of hydrolysis was reached when the three enzymes were used together, suggesting the need for synergic action by these enzymes in the cell wall degradation process.