Influence of cell disruption and elution on cellulase release of Clostridium straminisolvens (CSK1)

Clostridium straminisolvens (CSK1) is a novel cellulolytic bacterium isolated from a cellulose-degrading bacterial community MC1. In this study, the influence of the following cell disruption and elution methods on CSK1cellulase release was investigated: (1) freezing-thawing, (2) ultrasonication, (3) elution, (4) freezing-thawing following elution, (5) ultrasonication following elution, and lastly (6) high-pressure homogenization following elution. The activity of the cellulases CMCase, β-glucosidase, Avicelase, FPase, and xylanase in crude extracts increased 81.5, 23.8, 87.7, 46.3, and 51.7 %, respectively, with an observed optimal treatment method for each cellulase type. The release of protein from CSK1 cells increased following either cell disruption or elution and was highest at 88.3 % in the homogenization high pressure following elution treatment. A newly observed protein was present following cell elution. The performance of cell elution as determined by real time-PCR indicated that the first time cell elution removed more than 90 % of the CSK1 cells from the substrate. These findings demonstrate that cell disruption and elution are effective methods for inducing cellulase release, and elution is the key step for CSK1. To our knowledge, this study presents the first evidence of optimal treatments for induction of cellulase release of Clostridium straminisolvens. This information will be of great value for use in subsequent efforts to better understand the cellulase characteristics of CSK1 and cellulose degradation mechanisms of the MC1 community.