Cellulose is the earth's most abundant plant polysaccharide containing a large array of glucose units linked through β (1 → 4) linkages by existing in both crystalline and amorphous forms. Cellulose is widely distributed in plants, constituting up to 40-50% overall dry weight of the plant biomass. Majorly, microorganisms secrete three types of enzymes such as endoglucanases, exoglucanases, and beta-glucosidase for the hydrolysis of cellulose, contributing to the total cellulase activity. Industrially, the cellulolytic microorganisms are assessed based on their total cellulolytic activities. Similarly, total cellulase activity can also be used for the isolation and characterization of the cellulolytic microorganisms. In this chapter, we have specifically discussed about the methods used for the purification and characterization of the total cellulase activities of the microorganisms such as filter paper assay and cellulase zymogram assay. Our present chapter can be used as primer for characterizing cellulolytic abilities of cellulose-degrading microorganisms.
Keywords: Cellulose; Endoglucanase; Exoglucanases and β-glucosidases; Total cellulolytic ability.