CELLULOMONAS

Abstract

The genus Cellulomonas contains a heterogeneous collection of cellulose-decomposing bacteria principally isolated from soil materials. The genus Cellulomonas along with Jonesia, Oerskovia, and Promicromonospora has recently been assigned to a new family Cellulomonadaceae. Phylogenetically the family belongs to the order Actinomycetales. A combination of chemotaxonomic and morphological properties differentiate members of Cellulomonadaceae from related taxa. Despite their apparent close phenotypic relationship, members of the genus Cellulomonas are genotypically different though they have several common genes. Distinction between species is based on a number of morphological and biochemical characteristics for which different schemes have been reported to identify species of Cellulomonas. Strains of the genus produce cellulases and hemicellulases which have several industrial applications. Intergeneric hybrids have been constructed between Cellulomonas and Zymomonas or multiple genes coding for different enzymes have been cloned in Z. mobils and Saccharomyces cerevisiae to extend their substrate consumption efficiency and produce valuable biochemicals from inexpensive substrates.