Cellulose-binding domain of endoglucanase III from Trichoderma reesei disrupting the structure of cellulose

The DNA fragment encoding the cellulose binding domain of endoglucanase III (CBDEG III) from Trichoderma reesei was subcloned and expressed in E. coli . The CBDEG III had a high affinity for cellulose. The morphological and st ructural changes of cellulose after treatment with CBDEG III indicated a 17 % decrease in number of hydrogen bonds and a 16.5% decrease in crystalline index. X-ray diffraction and IR spectra analyses indicated that the destabi lization and breakage of the hydrogen bonds in crystalline cellulose accoun ted for the non-hydrolytic disruption of the structure of cellulose.