Identification of Key Components for the Optimization of Cellulase Mixtures Using a Proteomic Strategy.

Efficient degradation of complex lignocellulosic materials requires the synergistic action of different types of enzymes. Characterizing the compositions of lignocellulolytic enzyme mixtures could provide comprehensive understandings about the enzymatic degradation of lignocelluloses. In this chapter, we present a proteomic strategy for the analysis of enzyme mixtures produced by lignocellulolytic fungi. The described method is easy to carry out and is suitable to determine the composition of lignocellulolytic enzyme mixtures in a semiquantitative manner. Comparison of the compositions of enzyme mixtures with different degrading efficiencies allows for the identification of candidate targets for the optimization of lignocellulolytic enzyme mixtures.