Arabinan degrading enzymes fromAspergillus nidulans: Induction and purification

Abstract

The presence in Aspergillus nidulans of two enzymes related to the Aspergillus niger endo-arabinase and α-l-arabinofuranosidase B has been established using antibodies against the purified A. niger enzymes. Moreover, the absence of an equivalent in A. nidulans to the α-l-arabinofuranosidase A of A. niger has been confirmed both at the protein and at the DNA level. Both A. nidulans arabinases have been purified and physico-chemically and kinetically characterized. They have a much higher temperature optimum than the corresponding A. niger enzymes. The pattern of induction has been studied on media containing different carbon sources showing an important role of l-arabitol in the induction of these enzymes.