Study on the production of acetyl esterase and side-group cleaving glycosidases of ammonia fungi

Abstract

Acetyl esterase was found to be widely distributed in ammonia fungi in a screen comprising 26 species (71 strains). No great differences appeared in enzyme production for acetyl esterase, β-xylosidase, α-arabinosidase, or β-glucosidase between different strains of the same species, but differences were detected between different genera. Acetyl esterase of Coprinus phlyctidosporus and Lyophyllum tylicolor may act cooperatively with β-glucosidase. An increase in urea concentration significantly affected enzyme activity. It was supposed that urea used as 20 mg/g litter may solubilize leaf nutrients. At 20 mg urea added/g litter, a sizable increase in β-glucosidase activity of C. phlyctidosporus and L. tylicolor was found, whereas a decrease in enzyme production of α-arabinosidase and β-xylosidase was detected in some strains. Acetyl esterase and β-glucosidase of C. phlyctidosporus, L. tylicolor, C. leucocephala 589, and C. rhombisperma 248 were most active in acidic conditions (pH 5.3–6.3), whereas acetyl esterase of L. nuda 561 and L. tarda 564 was most active in alkaline conditions (pH 8.3).