Characterization of Total Cellulase and endo- β-1, 4- glucanase and their Applications in Biofuels Production as well as Protection of Crops from Damaging by Insects

Abstract: Efficient and low-cost cellulolytic enzymes are urgently needed to degrade recalcitrant plant biomass during the industrial production of biofuels. Nevertheless, Blepharomastix is a serious pest of okra plant as it feeds on the leaves, soft stems, fruit of okra and eventually damage okra production. Therefore, the aim of this study is to characterize the total cellulase and endo- β-1, 4-glucanase (digestive enzymes) present in the larvae of Blepharomastix as it is a popular trend to apply enzymes in biofuels production and application of enzyme inhibitors to protect crops from damaging throughout the world. The result analysis showed that the whole gut from the larvae exhibited the activities of total cellulase and endo-β-1, 4-glucanase enzymes that hydrolyzed crystalline cellulose and carboxymethyle cellulose (CMC) to glucose and the activities in insect were 0.076 µmol min-1 ml-1 and 0.398 µmol min-1 ml-1 respectively. However, the optimum temperature for the activity of total cellulase and endo-β-1, 4-glucanase in Blepharomastix were 45˚C and 50˚C respectively. The pH optima of total cellulase and endo-β-1, 4-glucanase in Blepharomastix was 9.0. The cellulase activity was inhibited by ethylenediaminetetraaceticacid (EDTA), sodium dodecyl sulphate (SDS) and urea, whereas enhanced b