Enhancement of Cellulose Degradation Potential of Bacillus sp. Hcb-21 through Mutagenesis

Abstract

Mutagenesis is a cost economic process generally preferred to produce some specific changes in the genetic makeup of organisms aiming to produce the desired protein/enzymes. Enzymes can be achieved to specific features like selectivity, stability, better substrate and product tolerance and better performance under harsh conditions with mutagenesis. Cellulase producing bacterial strain Bacillus sp. HCB-21 isolated from the forest soil of Himachal Pradesh showed highest cellulolytic activity, i.e., 8.56 ± 0.32 U/mg protein. Different physiochemical parameters were optimized which resulted in 1.7 fold increase in cellulolytic activity. Further, mutants of Bacillus sp. HCB-21 were generated using physical and chemical mutagens for increased activity, stability and higher substrate/product tolerance of its cellulase enzyme. Mutant E-11 showed better cellulolytic potential besides enhanced tolerance to substrate concentration with 10 folds increase in overall enzymatic activity i.e. 85.04 ± 0.46 U/mg protein in comparison to wild. This highly active and stable mutant can be used in various industrial applications to produce the valuable products.