A cellulosome gene cluster has been identified and contains cbpA-exgS-engH-engk-hbpA-engL-manA -engM-engN. Some of the cellulosomal enzyme genes are not linked to this gene cluster and include engB, engE, engY, and pelA. It is unlikely that all the cellulosomal genes have been identified.
The properties of the cellulosome suggest that it has the capability of degrading plant cell wall materials very efficiently and can play a major role in the turnover of carbon. Future studies on the structure and function of the cellulosome may lead to idesigner cellulosomesi that can be used for practical purposes.
References;
Tamaru, Y. and Doi, R. H. Three surface layer homology domains at the N-terminus of the Clostridium cellulovorans major cellulosomal subunit, EngE. J. Bacteriol. 181: 3270-3276 (1999).
Tamaru, Y. and Doi, R. H. engL gene cluster of Clostridium cellulovorans contains a gene for cellulosomal manA. J. Bacteriol. 182: 244-247 (2000).
Tamaru, Y., Karita, S., Ibrahim, A, Chan, H. and Doi, R.H. A large gene cluster for the Clostridium cellulovorans cellulosome. J. Bacteriol. 182: submitted (2000).
Doi, R.H., Park. J.-S., Liu, C.-C., Malburg, L.M. Jr., Tamaru, Y., Ichiishi, A. and Ibrahim, A. Cellulosome and non-cellulosomal cellulases of Clostridium cellulovorans.
Extremophiles 2: 53-60 (1998).
