Genomics of cellulolytic bacteria

- About 40% of the genomes of sequenced bacteria encode at least one cellulase gene but only about 4% of these bacteria are described as truly cellulolytic.
- Strain isolation and screening for their cellulolytic properties is necessary for the identification of truly cellulolytic bacteria.
- Three types of microbial enzyme systems are involved in the decomposition of natural cellulose.
- New molecular mechanisms to regulate substrate and catabolite dependent cellulase expression were discovered.