Cloning and expression of an intronless gene encoding endoglucanase from <i style="">Aspergillus fumigatus</i> MKU1

Abstract

Endoglucanase (carboxymethyl cellulase) production by an alkali tolerant fungus <i style="">Aspergillus fumigatus</i> MKU1 was characterized under submerged fermentation conditions. The carboxymethyl cellulase (CMCase) activity was optimal at <i style="">p</i>H 5.0 and 60°C. Intronless gene <i style="">eng</i>61 coding for endoglucanase from <i style="">A. fumigatus </i>MKU1 was cloned and sequenced. The <i style="">eng</i>61 gene contains 993 bp ORF encoding a polypeptide of 330 amino acids. <i style="">In silico</i> analysis of the translated sequence revealed the presence of C-terminal cellulose binding module and signal peptide cleavage site between 20^th and 21^st amino acids. The <i style="">eng</i>61 was cloned in pET30b and expressed in <i style="">Escherichia coli </i>BL21 DE3. Thus, an intronless endoglucanase gene from an alkali tolerant strain of <i style="">A. fumigatus </i>has been cloned and expressed.