Quantitative colorimetric measurement of cellulose degradation under microbial culture conditions

We have developed a simple, rapid, quantitative colorimetric assay to measure cellulose degradation based on the absorbance shift of Congo red dye bound to soluble cellulose. We term this assay “Congo Red Analysis of Cellulose Concentration,” or “CRACC.” CRACC can be performed directly in culture media, including rich and defined media containing monosaccharides or disaccharides (such as glucose and cellobiose). We show example experiments from our laboratory that demonstrate the utility of CRACC in probing enzyme kinetics, quantifying cellulase secretion, and assessing the physiology of cellulolytic organisms. CRACC complements existing methods to assay cellulose degradation, and we discuss its utility for a variety of applications.