ABSTRACT
I. Introduction ................................................................................................645 II. Methods for Assay of β-Glucosidase ........................................................646 III. Substrate Specificity ..................................................................................648 IV. Effect of Temperature and pH on Activity and Stability ..........................654 V. Effect of Inhibitors ....................................................................................659 VI. Enzyme Purification ..................................................................................664 VII. Molecular Mass and Isoelectric Point........................................................665 VIII. Carbohydrate Content ................................................................................665 IX. Isoenzyme Forms ......................................................................................666 X. Sequence and Structure ..............................................................................667 XI. Biotechnological Applications ..................................................................672 XII. Conclusions ................................................................................................674 Acknowledgments ..................................................................................................675 References ..............................................................................................................675
The recurrent crisis in the Persian Gulf illustrates the overdependence of the world on readily accessible and inexpensive sources of oil, and also shows the importance of developing alternative renewable sources of liquid fuels. Lignocellulosic materials, being inexpensive and abundant, represent one of the most promising raw materials for the production of such fuels. However, despite of numerous research efforts in different parts of the world, the biodegradation of lignocellulose (the main component of which is cellulose) is still not economically competitive, especially because of the high costs of the enzymes involved.1
