Characterization of extracellular cellulose-degrading enzymes from Bacillus thuringiensis strains

The gram-positive spore-forming bacteria, Bacillus thuringiensis (Bt) strains produced novel cellulases which could liberate glucose from soluble cellulose, carboxymethyl cellulose (CMC), and insoluble crystalline cellulose. The maximal cellulase activities were obtained after 60 hrs incubation at 28oC in a LB broth medium with 1% CMC. Maximum CMCase activities were got at 40oC and pH 4.0, respectively, and more than 50% of its maximal activity was retained at 40-60oC for 1 hr, while approximately 40% of its maximal activity was also retained after incubating at 70oC for 1 hr. Most metal ions and reagents such as Ca, Mg, Cd, Pb, Zn, Cu, EDTA, and SDS inhibited the enzyme activities, but K and Mn activated the activities. The enzymes from Bacillus thuringiensis strains could be applied in bioconversion of lignocellulosic biomass into fermentable sugars.