The cellulolytic mesophilic isolate Streptomyces albolongus (A5) was used to determine the effect of nitrogen and carbon sources on the production of cellulolytic enzymes using cellobiose octaacetate (COA) as an inducer. The isolate was able to degrade various cellulosic carbon sources. However, the rate of degradation, production of extracellular protein, reducing sugar, saccharification and production of enzyme were enhanced when 0.6% COA was used as an inducer in addition to the main substrate. Among the nitrogen sources tested, beef extract showed maximum production of the enzyme (136.7 U/ml CMCase) in Winstead's medium. The enzyme production was further enhanced in the medium supplemented with 0.6% COA, which corresponded to 154.69 U/ml CMCase activity. Among the carbon sources, carboxymethylcellulose (CMC) was found to be the best carbon source and again supplementation of the medium with 0.6% COA enhances CMCase production. Other than CMCase activity, the organism also produced appreciable levels of filter paper cellulase (FPase), avicelase and â-glucosidase activities.
