Study of Cellulose-Destroying Activity of Actinobacteria Associated with Ants

Abstract

Abstract— Among actinobacteria associated with ants Camponotus vagus , Formica cunicularia , and Lasius niger , their nests, and intact soils, cellulolytic activity was screened in medium with carboxymethyl cellulose (CMC) using Congo Red dye. Assessment of culture fluids of tested strains on the CMC-plates and comparing them with solutions of the commercial cellulase preparation allowed for quantifying their activity. Data were confirmed by evaluating endo-1,4-glucanase activity using the 3,5-dinitrosalicylic acid (DNS) method. The three most active strains of actinobacteria were isolated from ants Camponotus vagus , Lasius niger , and Formica cunicularia and belonged to the genus Streptomyces . The 16S rDNA sequences of the strains Streptomyces sp . Fu 2 , Streptomyces sp . Ln 9 , and Streptomyces sp . Pe 3 were deposited in the GenBank under accession numbers MN227506, MN227508, and MG 705182, respectively. Specific endoglucanase and β-glucosidase activity of these strains corresponded to that of cellulose- and lignin-destroying streptomycetes described in the literature.