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Appl Environ Microbiol. 1968 August; 16(8): 1140-1145
Copyright © 1968 American Society for Microbiology. All Rights Reserved.

Isolation and Characterization of a Cellulose-utilizing Bacterium

Department of Microbiology, Louisiana State University, Baton Rouge, Louisiana 70803

ABSTRACT

A cellulose-decomposing aerobic and mesophilic bacterium has been isolated from soils of sugar cane fields. The terminal dilution method was adapted to isolate a single clone of cellulolytic organism from closely related contaminants. The cultural and physiological characteristics of the isolate were studied, and the organism was identified as a member of the genus Cellulomonas. The isolate excreted cellulase into the menstruum, and it hydrolyzed various cellulosic materials producing cellobiose as the final breakdown product in the menstruum. When sugar cane bagasse was properly treated with alkali and heat, the organism could decompose up to 90% of the initial substrate within 5 days. Amino acid analysis of the cell crop revealed a high content of lysine, and the essential amino acid pattern compared favorably with that of Food and Agricultural Organization reference protein.