800 ENZYME ACTION 



Rennet. 



When 0.25 gm. of fungous meal was added to 10 cc. of fresh milk, 

 coagulation occured in 3 hours in the case of Polyporus volvatus, 

 and in 4§ hours in the case of Fomes igniarius. 



Catalase. 



The presence of catalase was demonstrated by the action of the 

 fungous meal upon a 3 per cent solution of hydrogen peroxide. When 

 0.25 gm. of the meal was added to 100 cc. of solution, 9.5 cc. of oxygen 

 were Hberated in the case of Polyporus volvatus, and 12 cc. in the case 

 of Fomes igniarius in a period of 5 minutes. 



Protease. 



Tryptic and ereptic femientation was studied by the use of albumin, 

 peptone, casein, and fibrin in enzyme cultures having a neutral 

 acid and alkahne reaction. The biuret test was employed in testing 

 for the action of erepsin. The enzyme cultures were filtered, crystal- 

 line ammonium sulphate was added to the filtrate to precipitate the 

 native proteins, and the solutions were again filtered through bone- 

 black to remove the precipitate. In no case was a pink color pro- 

 duced when sodium hydroxide and dilute copper sulphate were added 

 to the second filtrate. 



A tryptophane test was also made of the filtrate by adding a few 

 drops of glacial acetic acid and a few drops of strong bromine 

 water. In no case was a pink color produced. 



SUMMARY. 



Circumstantial evidence is presented which indicates that Poly- 

 porus volvatus is parasitic. 



Cultures of Polyporus volvatus and Fomes igniarius may be obtained 

 from the young sporophores by the tissue method. 



In Polyporus volvatus the presence of the following enzymes was 

 demonstrated: esterase, maltase, lactase, sucrase, rafiinase, diastase, 

 inulase, cellulase, hemicellulase, glucosidase, rennet, and catalase. 



In Fomes igniarius the presence of the following enzymes was 

 demonstrated: esterase, maltase, lactase, sucrase, raffinase, diastase, 

 inulase, cellulase, hemicellulase, glucosidase, urease, rennet, and 

 catalase. 



