Binding of cloned Cel enzymes on clay minerals related to the pI of the enzymes and database survey of cellulases of soil bacteria for pI

The <i>Cel</i> genes from <i>Bacillus licheniformis</i> MSB03 were cloned and expressed to investigate binding ability on clay minerals and sea sand at pH ranging 3 to 9. FTIR analysis has been done to characterize bound enzymes on clay minerals. Subsequent, surveying of NCBI database for extracellular enzymes of soil bacteria was carried out. Among the five cloned Cel enzymes assayed for binding to clay minerals, only Cel5H enzyme had the binding ability. Enzyme Cel5H exhibited highest binding to montmorillonite followed by kaolinite and sea sand. Interestingly, Cel5H had higher pI value of 9.24 than other proteins (5.2–5.7). Cel5H binding to montmorillonite was shown to be negatively affected below pH 3 and above pH 9. Infrared absorption spectra of the Cel5H-montmorillonite complexes showed distinct peaks for clay minerals and bound proteins. Furthermore, database survey of soil bacterial extracellular enzymes revealed that <i>Bacillus</i> species enzymes had higher pI than other soil bacterial enzymes. Binding of Cel5H enzyme on clay minerals.