EFFECT OF VARIOUS INHIBITORS ON TREHALASE ACTIVITY IN ASPERGILLUS NIGER

The black-spored fungus Aspergillus niger produces trehalase, which catalyzes the conversion of trehalose to glucose. Conidia from 15-day old culture were used for trehalase extraction, purification and characterization. Enzyme activity was assayed by estimating glucose released using 3,5-Dinitrosalicylic acid. The enzyme was purified 46-fold using Diethylaminoethyl-cellulose column chromatography. Then this purified enzyme was used for inhibition studies using three known trehalase inhibitors, Trehazolin, Validamycin and Validoxylamine A. The results showed that Trehazolin couldn't inhibit trehalase whereas Validamycin and Validoxylamine A showed strong inhibition.