| abstract |
It has been found that Pyrococcus furiosus produces several starch hydrolyzing enzymes, both extracellularly and intracellularly, which retain their activity for several hours at or above 100° C. These comprise an alpha-glucosidase, which has been highly purified, and amylolytic enzymes including an amylase and a pullulanase. In addition, at least one thermostable enzyme activity from P. furiosus that is useful in the process of degradation of cellulose to D-glucose has also been found, namely a beta-glucosidase, which is also active up to at least 95° C. |