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The present work characterized a new endogenous cellulase (endo-β-1,4-glucanase) gene, CfEG5, uncovered in the transcriptome of Formosan subterranean termite (Coptotermes formosanus). The full-length gene was cloned and sequenced. It is similar to the CfEG3a described earlier (Zhang et al., 2009) but not likely an allelic variant. GenomeWalker™ DNA walking analysis indicated that there may be one copy of CfEG5 and two copies of CfEG3a in the termite genome. As with CfEG3a, the transcript of CfEG5 was detected predominantly in the salivary gland based on quantitative RT-PCR. Phylogenetic analysis of translated amino acid sequence showed that the CfEG5 is more related to CaEG, derived from an Australian subterranean termite (Coptotermes acinaciformis), than CfEG3a and other cellulases from Coptotermes formosanus, Reticulitermes speratus, or Reticulitermes flavipes. Recombinant CfEG5, produced in Escherichia coli, was active against filter-paper cellulose, resulting in mostly cellobiose and cellotriose, similar to the enzymatic and biochemical properties of CfEG3a. These findings would lead to further investigation of both the evolutionary origin of eukaryotic cellulase genes and the evolutionary relationship of termite species. The cellulose-degrading enzyme is applicable for bioconversion of wood to simple sugars and production of biofuels. The recombinant cellulase should also be useful for designing and screening of inhibitors for the development of target-specific and environment-friendly bio-termicides., (Published by Elsevier Ltd.)

An endogenous cellulase gene (CfEG3a) of Coptotermes formosanus, an economically important pest termite, was cloned and overexpressed in both native form (nCfEG) and C-terminal His-tagged form (tCfEG) in Escherichia coli. Both forms of recombinant cellulases showed hydrolytic activity on cellulosic substrates. The nCfEG was more active and stable than tCfEG even though the latter could be purified to near homogeneity with a simple procedure. The differential activities of nCfEG and tCfEG were also evidenced by hydrolytic products they produced on different substrates. On CMC, both acted as an endoglucanase, randomly hydrolyzing internal beta-1,4-glycosidic bonds and resulting in a smear of polymers with different lengths, although cellobiose, cellotriose, and cellotetraose equivalents were noticeable. The hydrolytic products of tCfEG were one unit sugar less than those produced by nCfEG. Using filter paper as substrate, however, the major hydrolytic products of nCfEG were cellobiose, cellotriose and trace of glucose; those of tCfEG were cellobiose, cellotriose and trace of cellotetraose, indicating a property similar to that of cellobiohydrolase, an exoglucanase. The results presented in this report uncovered the biochemical properties of the recombinant cellulase derived from the intact gene of Formosan subterranean termites. The recombinant cellulase would be useful in designing cellulase-inhibiting termiticides and incorporating into a sugar-based biofuel production program.