Visualization of Trichoderma reesei cellobiohydrolase I and endoglucanase I on aspen cellulose by using monoclonal antibody-colloidal gold conjugates

Monoclonal antibodies (MAbs) specific for cellobiohydrolase I (CBH 1) and endoglucanase I (EG 1) were conjugated to 10- and 15-nm colloidal gold particles, respectively. The binding of CBH I and EG I was visualized by utilizing the MAb-colloidal gold probes. The visualization procedure involved immobilization of cellulose microfibrils on copper electron microscopy grids, incubation of the cellulose-coated grids with cellulase(s), binding of MAb-colloidal gold conjugates to cellulase(s), and visualization via transmission electron microscopy. CBH I was seen bound to apparent crystalline cellulose as well as apparent amorphous cellulose. EG I was seen bound extensively to apparent amorphous cellulose with minimal binding to crystalline cellulose