Requirement of the type II secretion system for utilization of cellulosic substrates by Cellvibrio japonicus

The ability of Cellvibrio japonicus, a sequenced Gram-negative cellulolytic bacterium, to degrade bioenergy-related feedstocks is examined. A method is developed for constructing directed gene disruptions in Cellvibrio japonicus and has shown that efficient cellular secretion and growth on biomass are prevented by disruption of the type II secretion system.