Transfer of DNA coding for cellulases from Cellulomonas species to Bacillus subtilis by protoplast fusion

Cellulose utilising hybrids between Cellulomonas spp. and Bacillus subtilis were isolated after PEG mediated protoplast fusion. These stable hybrids selected using genomic markers harboured DNA from both the parents. Higher CMCase and β-glucosidase activities were detected extracellularly in case of one of the hybrids unlike only CMCase in case of Cellulomonas.