Cellulolytic activity of Actinomycetes isolated from termites (Termitidae) gut

Abstract Cellulolytic actinomycetes were isolated from the hindgut of four different termites: Macrotermes, Armitermes, Odontotermes and Microcerotermes spp.
The isolated actinomycetes ( Streptomyces sp. and Micromonospora sp.) were grown on cellulosic substrates and their extracellular cellulase (C_l, C_x and cellobiase) activity evaluated; using filter paper as a substrate for C_l, carboxymethylcellulose (CMC) for C_x and d -cellobiose for cellobiase, all strains were shown to degrade soluble and insoluble cellulose; optimum pH for growth was 6.2–6.7 at 28°C; three strains could grow at 48°C on cellulosic substrates.
Some strains exhibited high cellulase activity, constant for 5–7 days, but inhibition by glucose was a common feature for almost all isolates.