Digestive cellulose hydrolyzing enzyme activity (endo- β-1,4- D-glucanase) in the gut and salivary glands of blister beetle,Mylabris pustulata

Mylabris pustulata (blister beetle) was studied for the enzymes involved in hydrolysis of cellulose carboxy methyl cellulose hydrolyzing activity (endo- β-1,4- d-glucanase) was detected in the salivary glands and fore gut,very little activity was present in the hind gut. the multiple forms of the enzyme activity were detected on zymogram after non-denaturing page. one of the fractions was purified by gel filtration and preparative native page. the purified protein appeared as single band on sds-page with a molecular weight of 150 kilo dalton. the characteristics of the enzyme showed two optimum ph.values,one acidic and one neutral 2.0 and 7. the optimum temperature for endo-β - d- 1,4- glucanase was 50 °c the enzyme was maximum activity against carboxy methyl cellulose. km and vmax of the enzyme was determined as 0.6g/1 and 0.3,respectively. to our knowledge this is first report on the digestive cellulose hydrolyzing activity of mylabris pustulata. copyright 2011 zoological society of pakistan.