49. The Novel Cellulolytic Strategy of Cellulomonas gilvus

Project Goals: The use of cellulolytic bacteria for generating cellulosic ethanol has recently been the focus of extensive research. This research has primarily focused on using engineered strains of cellulolytic bacteria, but there is growing interest in understanding the fundamental processes of cellulose degradation for identifying novel enzymes or for finding organisms capable of more efficient cellulose fermentation. One family of Actinobacteria, the Cellulomonadaceae, includes the only reported bacteria capable of both degrading cellulose aerobically and anaerobically and producing ethanol as a byproduct of this metabolism. This could thus represent a novel strategy for cellulolytic activity, as the known strategies for aerobic and anaerobic cellulose degradation are functionally distinct with any given bacterium utilizing only one approach. The goal of this project is to understand the strategy through which the cellulomonad Cellulomonas gilvus accomplishes cellulose degradation.