Cloning and expression of an intronless gene encoding endoglucanase from Aspergillus fumigatus MKU1

Endoglucanase (carboxymethyl cellulase) production by an alkali tolerant fungus Aspergillus fumigatus MKU1 was characterized under submerged fermentation conditions. The carboxymethyl cellulase (CMCase) activity was optimal at pH. 5.0 and 60 degrees C. Intronless gene eng61 coding for endoglucanase from A. fumigants MKUI was cloned and sequenced. The eng61 gene contains 993 bp ORF encoding a polypeptide of 330 amino acids. In silico analysis of the translated sequence revealed the presence of C-terminal cellulose binding module and signal peptide cleavage site between 20(th) and 21(st) amino acids. The eng61 was cloned in pET30b and expressed in Escherichia coli BL21 DE3. Thus, an intronless endoglucanase gene from an alkali tolerant strain of A. fumigatus has been cloned and expressed.