Trichoderma reesei cellulases and their core domains in the hydrolysis and modification of chemical pulp

The action of monocomponent Trichoderma reesei endoglucanases (EG I, EG II; EC 3.2.1.4) and cellobiohydrolases (CBH I, CBH II; EC 3.2.1.91) and their core proteins was compared using isolated celluloses and bleached chemical pulp. The presence of cellulose binding domain (CBD) in the intact enzymes did not affect their action against soluble substrates. In the case of insoluble isolated celluloses and the chemical pulp the presence of CBD enhanced the enzymatic hydrolysis of cellulose. The effect of CBD was more pronounced in the cellobiohydrolases, hydrolysing mainly crystalline cellulose, than in the endoglucanases which were more efficient in hydrolysing amorphous cellulose. The pulp properties measured, that is, viscosity and strength after PFI refining, were equally affected by the treatment with intact enzymes and corresponding core proteins, suggesting that the presence of CBD in intact cellulases affects mainly the cellulose hydrolysis level and less the mode of action of T. reesei cellulases in pulp. The better beatability of the bleached chemical pulp treated with intact endoglucanases than that treated with the corresponding core proteins suggests that the presence of CBD in endoglucanases could, however, result in beneficial effects on pulp properties.