A seven-gene cluster in Ruminiclostridium cellulolyticum is essential for signalization, uptake and catabolism of the degradation products of cellulose hydrolysis

Abstract

For the first time in a Gram-positive strain, we identified a three-component system and a conjugated ABC transporter/cellobiose phosphorylase system which was shown to be essential for the growth of the model cellulolytic bacterium <i>R. cellulolyticum</i> on cellobiose and cellulose. This efficient and energy-saving system of transport and phosphorolysis appears to be the major cellobiose utilization pathway in <i>R. cellulolyticum</i>, and seems well adapted to cellulolytic life-style strain. It represents a new way to enable engineered strains to utilize cellodextrins for the production of biofuels or chemicals of interest from cellulose.