Molecular cloning of a cellulase gene from Bacillus subtilis and its expression in Escherichia coli.

The gene for an endolytic cellulase of Bacillus subtilis was cloned on pBD64 in B. subtilis. The recombinant plasmid, pBC5, contained a 4.8-kb fragment derived from the B. subtilis chromosome, and the transformant overproduced the extracellular enzyme. The inserted fragment was subcloned on pBR322 and the recombinant plasmid, pBRC5, was introduced into Escherichia coli JM105. The E. coli transformant produced the enzyme in both the periplasmic space of cells and the cultural broth.