Abstract
Many species of fungi are good source of several important enzymes. In the present studies, an endoglucanase
(endo-1,4-D-glucanase,EC 3.2.1.4) was produced from a thermostable fungus Chaetomium thermophile. It was
grownon Vogel's medium with different carbon sources like xylan, carboxymethylcellulose, corncobs and glucose
for 5-days at 180 rpm at 28°C in orbital shaker. Production of endoglucanase was very low with glucose as
carbon source, whereas xylan and carboxymethylcellulose produced the enzymes in appreciable amount. Growth
conditions of Chaetomium thermophile were optimized for maximal production of endoglucanase (EG): pH 5.0,
temperature50°C, incubation period 120 h, substrate 1% CMC. The enzyme was produced and isolatedfrom the
culture filtrate through centrifugation. The crude enzyme extract had 0.064 IU/mL endoglucanase activity. Total
proteininthe crude extract was 0.103 mg/mL and the specific activity was 0.615 IU/mg.
