Abstract
The profiling of ligninase, hemicellulase and cellulase of Pleurotus sajorβcaju after inoculation of spawn in bags containing sawdust was done at monthly intervals for a period of 6 months. Xylanase (EC 3.2.1.8) was produced throughout the 6 months studied with the productivity range from 5.60 to 7.51 U g^β1^. Cellulase (EC 3.2.1.4) and Ξ²βglucosidase (EC 3.2.1.21) productivities were highest at 4 months, producing 3.31 U g^β1^ and 121.13 U g^β1^ respectively. Laccase (EC 1.10.3.2) productivity was highest at 2 months with a value of 7.59 U g^β1^. Lignin peroxidase (EC 1.11.1.14) productivity was highest at 5 months with a value of 206.20 U g^β1^. Total soluble proteins were highest at 4 months with a value of 0.139 mg cm^β3^. The profiling of lignin peroxidase in 5βmonthβold spent mushroom compost was monitored over a period of 10 months. It was observed that lignin peroxidase was produced throughout the period but productivity was variable. The average lignin peroxidase productivity ranged from 30 to 110 U g^β1^. The activities of the enzymes extracted in tap water at pH 8.4 were comparable to that extracted in 50 mmol sodium citrate buffer at pH 4.8 and distilled water at pH 5.2 at 4 Β°C using an incubator shaker at 200 rpm for 18 h. The optimum extraction time was 1 h using an incubator shaker at 4 Β°C. When an incubator shaker was used, there was no significant difference in the recovery of xylanase, cellulase and laccase at different pH values at 4 Β°C and 28 Β°C. No significant difference was observed in the recovery of Ξ²βglucosidase using an incubator shaker at different pH values at 4 Β°C although the enzyme recovery was slightly higher at pH 8.12, with a value of 29.27 U g^β1^. The optimum extraction of Ξ²βglucosidase was at pH 4 at room temperature using an incubator shaker. For the lignin peroxidase enzyme, the optimum pH for extraction was 6 at 4 Β°C and pH 7 at room temperature using an incubator shaker at 200 rpm for 1 h. Homogenization for 8 min at 8000 rpm using tap water at pH 4 had an advantage over the use of the incubator shaker for the extraction as high titers of enzymes were recovered. Copyright Β© 2003 Society of Chemical Industry