Abstract: A cellulose gel medium having good visibility of microbial colonies, a cellulose gel culture substrate for manufacturing the cellulose gel medium, a method for manufacturing the cellulose gel culture substrate, a method for screening cellulase-producing microorganisms or cellulase activity with greater efficiency and rapidity, and a culture substrate, which includes a cellulose gel containing cellulose and water as medium-solidifying components, the cellulose has the viscosity of 12 to 35 mPa·S as measured at 26° C. with a solution prepared by dissolving the cellulose at a concentration of 2.5 mg/mL in dimethylacetamide containing 8% (W/V) lithium chloride.

Abstract: Providing is a new enzyme assay method for enzymes having a water-insoluble or substantially water-insoluble substrate. In the method for measuring enzymatic activity, a prescribed amount of an enzyme is disposed on a part of the surface of a gel comprising dispersoids, at least some of which are the substrate of the enzyme. Recesses formed in the surface of the gel by the action of the enzyme are measured, and the enzyme activity is calculated on the basis of the measurement results and the amount of the enzyme. The measurement of the recesses formed in the surface of the gel is performed using a method for measuring the shape and the volume of the recesses, a method for measuring changes in the optical transmittance of the gel due to the formation of the recesses, or a method for measuring changes in the optical reflectance of the gel surface due to the formation of the recesses.

Abstract: A cellulose gel medium having good visibility of microbial colonies, a cellulose gel culture substrate for manufacturing the cellulose gel medium, a method for manufacturing the cellulose gel culture substrate, a method for screening cellulase-producing microorganisms or cellulase activity with greater efficiency and rapidity, and a culture substrate, which includes a cellulose gel containing cellulose and water as medium-solidifying components, the cellulose has the viscosity of 12 to 35 mPa·S as measured at 26° C. with a solution prepared by dissolving the cellulose at a concentration of 2.5 mg/mL in dimethylacetamide containing 8% (W/V) lithium chloride.

Abstract: The present invention relates to a solid medium containing as a medium-solidifying component a cellulose gel, in particular a cellulose gel which is a porous cellulose gel structure containing cellulose as the skeletal part and having a cellulose concentration of 0.01% or higher and a porosity of 50% or higher, as well as a process for producing the same. The solid medium of the invention can be obtained by dispersing cellulose in a solvent, especially an aqueous thiocyanate salt solution, stirring and/or heating the dispersion to dissolve the cellulose, subsequently cooling the solution and/or removing the solvent to cause the solution to gel, and permeating nutrients into the resultant cellulose gel. The solid medium usable under a wide range of culture conditions where conventional solid media such as agar medium cannot be used, as well as a method for producing the same is provided.

Abstract: The present invention relates to a solid medium containing as a medium-solidifying component a cellulose gel, in particular a cellulose gel which is a porous cellulose gel structure containing cellulose as the skeletal part and having a cellulose concentration of 0.01% or higher and a porosity of 50% or higher, as well as a process for producing the same. The solid medium of the invention can be obtained by dispersing cellulose in a solvent, especially an aqueous thiocyanate salt solution, stirring and/or heating the dispersion to dissolve the cellulose, subsequently cooling the solution and/or removing the solvent to cause the solution to gel, and permeating nutrients into the resultant cellulose gel. The solid medium usable under a wide range of culture conditions where conventional solid media such as agar medium cannot be used, as well as a method for producing the same is provided.