Enzymatic hydrolysis of cellulosic materials: A kinetic study

A kinetic study of the enzymatic hydrolysis of two celluloses with different structural features was performed at various temperatures (26–50°C). The enzymatic system consisted of three types of enzymes: E 1 —β‐1,4‐glucan glucanohydrolase; E 2 —β‐1,4‐glucan cellobiohydrolase; and E 3 —β‐glucosidase. A mathematical model for the mechanism of the hydrolysis of cellulosic materials catalyzed by a multienzymatic system was checked and a good rationalization of the experimental results was achieved. Uncompetitive and competitive glucose inhibition on E 1 and E 2 , respectively, appeared to occur for both substrates. Inhibition by cellobiose was checked at 34°C on one substrate. The V max , K m , and glucose inhibition constants were optimized and their dependence on temperature determined.