Secretion of thermostable β-glucosidase by an intergeneric bacterial hybrid betweencellulomonas and bacillus subtilis

The intergeneric protoplast fusion hybrid (Bs/C 005) betweenCellulomonas sp. andBacillus subtilisproduced extracellular aryl β-glucosidase that is otherwise intracellular in parentalCellulomonassp. This extracellular aryl β-glucosidase was active at relatively higher temperature (60°C) and lower pH (pH 5.0) conditions than that ofCellulomonas enzyme. It also exhibited increased thermostability and stability over wide range of pH. Cellobiase activity, distinctly different from aryl β-glucosidase detected in bothCellulomonassp. Bs/C 005, was only intracellular. Cellobiase from Bs/C 005, however, was more thermostable than that ofCellulomonassp.