Cloning and Sequencing of Endoglucanase Gene from Bacillus megaterium

Genomic DNA of Bacillus megaterium was partially digested by restriction enzyme Sau3A and was used to establish the genomic library in plasmid pBluescripts. Seventy-four clones that showed hydrolysis ability on the ABP plate were obtained. The gene fragment of 941bp for the endoglucanase was cloned. The fragment contains an open reading frame 348 nucleotides starting with the initiation codon ATG at position 571 and ending with the termination codon TAA at position 919, and deduced amino acid is about 116. Sequencing analysis showed that the sequence of endoglucanase fragment exhibits 35% homology with B.subtilis chromosomal DNA(from glyB to aprE), and 27% homology with Bacillus sp. BP23 celB genes, B.pumillus endoglucanase and B.polymyxa beta-1,4-endoglucanase genes, respectively. It was recognized as a new gene sequence encoding for endoglucanase of B.megaterium.