Cellulolytic activity of aerobic soil actinomycetes

The cellulolytic activity of several aerobic soil actinomycetes against insoluble cellulose and soluble cellulose derivatives (CMC-carboxymethylcellulose) was studied. From the soil, 8 actinomycete strains were isolated after enrichment growth and purification on the same synthetic medium. The actinomycete strains were able to degrade insoluble cellulose, with the production of cellobiose and various oligosaccharide intermediates as degradation products, indicating the random attack of the cellulose chain. The actinomycete strains showed also a great activity against soluble cellulose (CMC). The viscosity of CMC solutions decreased rapidly and was followed by an increase in reducing compounds. The degree of substitution of CMC solutions had an effect on the degradation by the actinomycetes. The degree of polymerization did not affect the rate of hydrolysis, however.