This study reports the purification and characterization of β-glucosidase from a newly isolated thermophilic fungus,
Melanocarpus sp.
Microbial Type Culture Collection (MTCC) 3922. The molecular weight of β-glucosidase was determined to be ~ 92 and 102 kDa with SDS PAGE and gel filtration, respectively, and pI of ~ 4.1. It was optimally active at 60°C and pH 6.0, though was stable at 50°C and pH 5.0 - 6.0. The presence of DTT, mercaptoethanol and metal ions such as Na
+, K
+, Ca
2+, Mg
2+ and Zn
2+ positively influenced the activity of β-glucosidase but the activity was inhibited in the presence of CuSO
4. β-Glucosidase recognized pNP- β-glucopyranoside (pNPG) as the preferred substrate, and showed very low affinity for pNP- β-D-cellobioside. K
m and V
max for the hydrolysis of pNPG by β-glucosidase was calculated as 3.3 mM and 43.68 μmolmin
-1mg protein
-1, respectively and kcat was quantified as 4 x 10
3 min
-1. β-Glucosidase activity was enhanced appreciably in the presence of alcohols (methanol and ethanol) moreover, purified β-glucosidase showed putative transglycosylation activity that was positively catalyzed in presence of methanol as an acceptor molecule.
