Clostridium cellulolyticum H10
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Classification
Bacteria; Firmicutes; Clostridia; Clostridiales; Clostridiaceae; Clostridium; Clostridium cellulolyticum
Genus: Clostridium; Species cellulolyticum H10
Description and Significance
Clostridium cellulolyticum strain H10 is a gram-positive, rod-shaped, anaerobic, mesophillic cellulolytic bacterium. The bacteria was first isolated from compost containing decayed grass. Studies have confirmed that this microbe is not a part of any ruminant system.
The ability of Clostridium cellulolyticum H10 to degrade cellulose is an active area of research. One of the products of cellulose degradation by this organism is ethanol, which can be used as an alternative source of energy.
Genome Structure
Clostridium cellulolyticum H10 has a circular genome consisting of 4,068,724 base pairs. The sequencing of this genome is relatively new and very little is known about the specific functions of the sequence.
Cell Structure, Metabolism and Life Cycle
Clostridium cellulolyticum H10 is a gram-positive rod-shaped bacterium. This bacteria gains its energy by fermenting cellulose in a process called aceto-lactic fermentation. Some of the byproducts that this bacterium produces are acetate, hydrogen and ethanol.
This is a generic diagram of what a typical cellulose degrading anaerobe looks like.
This is Clostridium cellulolyticum H10
Ecology and Pathogenesis
Clostridium cellulolyticum H10 plays an important role in the carbon cycle, by consuming the carbon stored in cellulose. A paper recently noted that "microbial cellulose utilization is responsible for one of the largest material flows in the biosphere."
References
[Giallo, J., C. Gaudin, J. P. Belaich, E. Petitdemange, and F. Caillet-Mangin. 1983. Metabolism of glucose and cellobiose by cellulolytic mesophilic Clostridium sp. strain H10. Appl. Environ. Microbiol. 45:843-849]
[Schwarz, W. H. 2001. The cellulosome and cellulose degradation by anaerobic bacteria. Appl. Microbiol. Biotechnol. 56:634-649.]
[Desvaux, M., E. Guedon, and H. Petitdemange. 2001. Carbon flux distribution and kinetics of cellulose fermentation in steady-state continuous cultures of Clostridium cellulolyticum on a chemically defined medium. J. Bacteriol. 183:119-130.]