Escherichia coli expressing endoglucanase gene from Thai higher termite bacteria for enzymatic and microbial hydrolysis of cellulosic materials

Background: Endoglucanase plays a major role in initiating cellulose hydrolysis. Various wild-type strains were searched to produce this enzyme but mostly low extracellular enzyme activities were obtained. To improve extracellular enzyme production for potential industrial applications, endoglucanase gene of Bacillus subtilis M015, isolated from Thai higher termite, was expressed in a periplasmic-leaky Escherichia coli . Then, the use of crude recombinant endoglucanase (EglS) with a commercial cellulase (Cel) for hydrolyzing celluloses and microbial hydrolysis using whole bacterial cells was evaluated. Results: E. coli Glu5 expressing endoglucanase at high levels was successfully constructed. It produced EglS (55 kDa) with extracellular activity of 18.56 U/mg total protein at optimal hydrolytic conditions (pH 4.8 and 50oC). EglS was highly stable (over 80% activity retained) at 40-50oC after 100 h. The addition of EglS significantly improved the initial sugar production rates of Cel on the hydrolysis of carboxymethyl cellulose (CMC), microcrystalline cellulose and corncob about 5.2, 1.7, and 4.0 folds, respectively, as compared to those with Cel alone. E. coli Glu5 could secrete EglS with high activity in the presence of glucose (1% w/v) and Tween 80 (5% w/v) with low glucose consumption. Microbial hydrolysis of CMC using E. coli Glu5 yielded 26 mg reducing sugar/g CMC at pH 7.0 and 37oC after 48 h. Conclusions: The recombinant endoglucanase activity was improved by 17 times compared with that of the native strain, and could greatly enhance the enzymatic hydrolysis of all studied celluloses when combined with a commercial cellulase. Normal 0 false false false EN-US X-NONE X-NONE /* Style Definitions */ table.MsoNormalTable {mso-style-name:"Tabla normal"; mso-tstyle-rowband-size:0; mso-tstyle-colband-size:0; mso-style-noshow:yes; mso-style-priority:99; mso-style-parent:""; mso-padding-alt:0cm 5.4pt 0cm 5.4pt; mso-para-margin:0cm; mso-para-margin-bottom:.0001pt; mso-pagination:widow-orphan; font-size:10.0pt; font-family:"Times New Roman",serif;}