Selection of transformants of <i style="">Escherichia coli </i>containing cellulase gene from <i style="">Ruminococcus</i> <i style="">albus</i> isolated from rumen of crossbred steers

Abstract

<i style="">Ruminococcus albus</i>, considered best fibrolytic bacterium was isolated and characterized from the rumen of crossbred steers. It was found as wrinkled white colonies, slightly elevated with a slightly undulated margin, no surface spreading with the absence of liquefaction and a zone of hydrolysis. The cells were gram positive single cocci or diplococci. <i style="">R. albus</i> DNA was a high molecular weight DNA and it had just moved out of the well during electrophoresis. A genomic library of the Hind III fragments of <i style="">R. albus</i> DNA in pBR322 was constructed in <i style="">Escherichia coli</i>. Four clones were obtained with cellulase activity.