The application of recombinant-DNA technology to cellulases and lignocellulosic wastes

• Published in: Philosophical transactions of the Royal Society of London. Series A: Mathematical and physical sciences Vol. 321; no. 1561; pp. 449 - 454
• Main Authors: Knowles, J., Lehtovaara, P., Teeri, T., Penttilä, M., Salovuori, I., André, L.
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: London The Royal Society 30-04-1987; Royal Society of London
• Subjects: Agronomy. Soil science and plant productions; Biochemistry; Biodegradation; Biological and medical sciences; Biological Degradation; Biotechnology; Complementary DNA; Enzymes; Fundamental and applied biological sciences. Psychology; General agronomy. Plant production; Genes; Genetic engineering; Genetic technics; Hydrolysis; Lignocellulosic wastes; Methods. Procedures. Technologies; Miscellaneous; Molecular biology; Synthetic digonucleotides and genes. Sequencing; Technology; Use of agricultural and forest wastes. Biomass use, bioconversion; Yeasts; Biotechnology; Yeast; Enzyme; Cellulolysis; Lignocellulosics; Recombinant DNA; Trichoderma reesei; Vegetal waste; Fungi; Enzymatic activity; Gene; Cellulase; Biotransformation; DNA; Production; Ascomycetes; Genetic engineering; Fungi Imperfecti; Saccharomyces cerevisiae; Thallophyta
• ISSN: 0080-4614; 2054-0272
• DOI: 10.1098/rsta.1987.0022

The efficient utilization of different lignocellulosic wastes will require an understanding of the roles of the different enzymes involved in enzymatic hydrolysis. Towards this goal, we have isolated and characterized the genes coding for four major cellulases, CBH I, CBH II, EG I and EG III, produced by the cellulolytic fungus Trichoderma reesei. It seems that T. reesei produces at least two classes of cellulose and in each class both endo- and exo-type enzyme are found. Full-length cDNAs coding for CBH I, CBH II, EG I and EG III have been expressed in the yeast Saccharomyces cerevisiae, and the cellulases are secreted by these strains. The recombinant cellulases produced by the yeast all show activity towards cellulosic substrates. The information obtained from the cloned genes makes possible the construction of new cellulolytic organisms and may also make possible the development of improved enzymes.