Characterisation of a novel thermostable endoglucanase from Alicyclobacillus vulcanalis of potential application in bioethanol production

A novel endoglucanase encoding gene was cloned from Alicyclobacillus vulcanalis and expressed in E. coli. The deduced amino acid sequence showed highest identity with α-l-arabinofuranosidase-like proteins from glycoside hydrolase family 51. The recombinant enzyme was purified by affinity chromatography and characterised in terms of its potential suitability for lignocellulose hydrolysis at high temperature in the production of bioethanol. The...