This work was funded by the Gordon and Betty Moore Foundation, and by the UNCF/Merck Science Initiative.

1. Screening plate preparation
<ol>
	<li>Add 25g LB growth medium, 15g agar, and 1.5g carboxymethyl cellulose (CMC) substrate to 1L distilled water, and autoclave to sterilize.</li>
	<li> After autoclaving, allow medium to cool and add appropriate antibiotics, and IPTG to a final concentration of 100&mu;M.</li>
	<li>Pour 200mL medium each into 5 large square petri dishes/bioassay trays (240 x 240 x 20mm or larger). Allow plates to dry completely.</li>
</ol>

2. Endoglucanase library generation and...

<ol>
	<li>Atsumi, S., Hanai, T., Liao, J. C. <a target="_blank" href="http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/entrez/query.fcgi?db=PubMed&cmd=Search&doptcmdl=Citation&defaultField=Title+Word&term=Non-fermentative+pathways+for+synthesis+of+branched-chain+higher+alcohols+as+biofuels.">Non-fermentative pathways for synthesis of branched-chain higher alcohols as biofuels.</a> Nature. 451, 86-89 (2008).</li><li>Wilson, D. B. <a target="_blank" href="http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/entrez/query.fcgi?db=PubMed&cmd=Search&doptcmdl=Citation&defaultField=Title+Word&term=Cellulases+and+biofuels.">Cellulases and biofuels.</a> Curr Opin Biotechnol. 20, 295-299 (2009).</li><li>Qin, Y. <a target="_blank" href="http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/entrez/query.fcgi?db=PubMed&cmd=Search&doptcmdl=Citation&defaultField=Title+Word&term=Engineering+endoglucanase+II+from+Trichoderma+reesei+to+improve+the+catalytic+efficiency+at+a+higher+pH+optimum.">Engineering endoglucanase II from Trichoderma reesei to improve the catalytic efficiency at a higher pH optimum.</a> J Biotechnol. 135, 190-195 (2008).</li><li>Nakazawa, H. <a target="_blank" href="http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/entrez/query.fcgi?db=PubMed&cmd=Search&doptcmdl=Citation&defaultField=Title+Word&term=Directed+evolution+of+endoglucanase+III+(Cel12A)+from+Trichoderma+reesei.">Directed evolution of endoglucanase III (Cel12A) from Trichoderma reesei.</a> Appl Microbiol Biotechnol. 83, 649-657 (2009).</li><li>Heinzelman, P. <a target="_blank" href="http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/entrez/query.fcgi?db=PubMed&cmd=Search&doptcmdl=Citation&defaultField=Title+Word&term=A+family+of+thermostable+fungal+cellulases+created+by+structure-guided+recombination.">A family of thermostable fungal cellulases created by structure-guided recombination.</a> Proc Natl Acad Sci. 106, 5610-5615 (2009).</li><li>Heinzelman, P. <a target="_blank" href="http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/entrez/query.fcgi?db=PubMed&cmd=Search&doptcmdl=Citation&defaultField=Title+Word&term=SCHEMA+recombination+of+a+fungal+cellulase+uncovers+a+single+mutation+that+contributes+markedly+to+stability.">SCHEMA recombination of a fungal cellulase uncovers a single mutation that contributes markedly to stability.</a> J Biol Chem. 284, 26229-26233 (2009).</li><li>Lantz, S. E. <a target="_blank" href="http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/entrez/query.fcgi?db=PubMed&cmd=Search&doptcmdl=Citation&defaultField=Title+Word&term=Hypocrea+jecorina+CEL6A+protein+engineering.">Hypocrea jecorina CEL6A protein engineering.</a> Biotechnol Biofuels. 8, 3-20 (2010).</li><li>Mahadevan, S. A. <a target="_blank" href="http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/entrez/query.fcgi?db=PubMed&cmd=Search&doptcmdl=Citation&defaultField=Title+Word&term=Site-directed+mutagenesis+and+CBM+engineering+of+Cel5A+(Thermotoga+maritima).">Site-directed mutagenesis and CBM engineering of Cel5A (Thermotoga maritima).</a> FEMS Microbiol Lett. 287, 205-211 (2008).</li><li>Nakazawa, H. <a target="_blank" href="http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/entrez/query.fcgi?db=PubMed&cmd=Search&doptcmdl=Citation&defaultField=Title+Word&term=Characterization+of+the+catalytic+domains+of+Trichoderma+reesei+endoglucanase+I,+II,+and+III,+expressed+in+Escherichia+coli.">Characterization of the catalytic domains of Trichoderma reesei endoglucanase I, II, and III, expressed in Escherichia coli.</a> Appl Microbiol Biotechnol. 81, 681-689 (2008).</li><li>Wang, H., Jones, R. W. <a target="_blank" href="http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/entrez/query.fcgi?db=PubMed&cmd=Search&doptcmdl=Citation&defaultField=Title+Word&term=Properties+of+the+Macrophomina+phaseolina+endoglucanase+(EGL+1)+gene+product+in+bacterial+and+yeast+expression+systems.">Properties of the Macrophomina phaseolina endoglucanase (EGL 1) gene product in bacterial and yeast expression systems.</a> Appl Biochem Biotechnol. 81, 153-160 (1999).</li><li>Howard, R. L. <a target="_blank" href="http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/entrez/query.fcgi?db=PubMed&cmd=Search&doptcmdl=Citation&defaultField=Title+Word&term=Enzyme+activity+of+a+Phanerochaete+chrysosporium+cellobiohydrolase+(CBHI.1)+expressed+as+a+heterologous+protein+from+Escherichia+coli.">Enzyme activity of a Phanerochaete chrysosporium cellobiohydrolase (CBHI.1) expressed as a heterologous protein from Escherichia coli.</a> Afr J Biotechnol. 2, 296-300 (2003).</li><li>Howard, . <a target="_blank" href="http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/entrez/query.fcgi?db=PubMed&cmd=Search&doptcmdl=Citation&defaultField=Title+Word&term=Characterisation+of+a+chimeric+Phanerochaete+chrysosporium+cellobiohydrolase+expressed+from+Escherichia+coli.">Characterisation of a chimeric Phanerochaete chrysosporium cellobiohydrolase expressed from Escherichia coli.</a> Afr J Biotechnol. 3, 349-352 (2004).</li><li>Teather, R. M., Wood, P. J. <a target="_blank" href="http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/entrez/query.fcgi?db=PubMed&cmd=Search&doptcmdl=Citation&defaultField=Title+Word&term=Use+of+Congo+red-polysaccharide+interactions+in+enumeration+and+characterization+of+cellulolytic+bacteria+from+the+bovine+rumen.">Use of Congo red-polysaccharide interactions in enumeration and characterization of cellulolytic bacteria from the bovine rumen.</a> Appl Env Microbiol. 43, 777-780 (1982).</li><li>Gilkes, N. R. <a target="_blank" href="http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/entrez/query.fcgi?db=PubMed&cmd=Search&doptcmdl=Citation&defaultField=Title+Word&term=Mode+of+action+and+substrate+specificities+of+cellulases+from+cloned+bacterial+genes.">Mode of action and substrate specificities of cellulases from cloned bacterial genes.</a> J Bio Chem. 259, 10455-10459 (1984).</li></ol>

No conflicts of interest declared.

The protocol described here enables rapid and high throughput identification of active enzymes, with minimal manipulation. Activity detection is fairly sensitive, and qualitatively reflects the amount of activity within the cell. Its ease of use makes this method suitable for a wide range of enzyme libraries, only limited by functional expression in E. coli. Furthermore, activity screening of this kind is not restricted to fungal cellulases, but can be adapted for any endoglucanase activity, or any cellulase act...

<table border="1">
	<tbody>
		<tr>
			<th>Reagent</th>
			<th>Company</th>
			<th>Product number</th>
		</tr>
		<tr>
			<td>IPTG</td>
			<td>Sigma</td>
			<td>I1284</td>
		</tr>
		<tr>
			<td>Congo Red</td>
			<td>Sigma</td>
			<td>C6277</td>
		</tr>
		<tr>
			<td>Carboxymethyl Cellulose</td>
			<td>Sigma</td>
			<td>360384</td>
		</tr>
		<tr>
			<td>NaCl</td>
			<td>Sigma</td>
			<td>S1679</td>
		</tr>
		<tr>
			<td>Bacto-agar</td>
			<td>BD Biosciences</td>
			<td>214030</td>
		</tr>
		<tr>
			<td>Bioassay plates</td>
			<td>Thermo Scientific</td>
			<td>240845</td>
		</tr>
	</tbody>
</table>

high throughput screening of fungal endoglucanase activity in escherichia coli

Cellulase enzymes (endoglucanases, cellobiohydrolases, and &beta;-glucosidases) hydrolyze cellulose into component sugars, which in turn can be converted into fuel alcohols1. The potential for enzymatic hydrolysis of cellulosic biomass to provide renewable energy has intensified efforts to engineer cellulases for economical fuel production2. Of particular interest are fungal cellulases3-8, which are already being used industrially for foods and textiles processing.
Identifying active variants among a library of mutant cellulases is critical to the engineering process; active mutants can be further tested for improved properties and/or subjected to additional mutagenesis. Efficient engineering of fungal cellulases has been hampered by a lack of genetic tools for native organisms and by difficulties in expressing the enzymes in heterologous hosts. Recently, Morikawa and coworkers developed a method for expressing in E. coli the catalytic domains of endoglucanases from H. jecorina3,9, an important industrial fungus with the capacity to secrete cellulases in large quantities. Functional E. coli expression has also been reported for cellulases from other fungi, including Macrophomina phaseolina10 and Phanerochaete chrysosporium11-12. 
We present a method for high throughput screening of fungal endoglucanase activity in E. coli. (Fig 1) This method uses the common microbial dye Congo Red (CR) to visualize enzymatic degradation of carboxymethyl cellulose (CMC) by cells growing on solid medium. The activity assay requires inexpensive reagents, minimal manipulation, and gives unambiguous results as zones of degradation (&#x201C;halos&#x201D;) at the colony site. Although a quantitative measure of enzymatic activity cannot be determined by this method, we have found that halo size correlates with total enzymatic activity in the cell. Further characterization of individual positive clones will determine , relative protein fitness. 
Traditional bacterial whole cell CMC/CR activity assays13 involve pouring agar containing CMC onto colonies, which is subject to cross-contamination, or incubating cultures in CMC agar wells, which is less amenable to large-scale experimentation. Here we report an improved protocol that modifies existing wash methods14 for cellulase activity: cells grown on CMC agar plates are removed prior to CR staining. Our protocol significantly reduces cross-contamination and is highly scalable, allowing the rapid screening of thousands of clones. In addition to H. jecorina enzymes, we have expressed and screened endoglucanase variants from the Thermoascus aurantiacus and Penicillium decumbens (shown in Figure 2), suggesting that this protocol is applicable to enzymes from a range of organisms.

Watch this Scientific Journal Video about High Throughput Screening of Fungal Endoglucanase Activity in Escherichia coli at JoVE.com

High Throughput Screening of Fungal Endoglucanase Activity in Escherichia coli

We describe a low cost, high throughput method to screen for fungal endoglucanase activity in E. coli. The method relies on a simple visual readout of substrate degradation, does not require enzyme purification, and is highly scalable. This allows for the rapid screening of large libraries of enzyme variants.

High Throughput Screening of Fungal Endoglucanase Activity in Escherichia coli

Cellulase enzymes (endoglucanases, cellobiohydrolases, and &beta;-glucosidases) hydrolyze cellulose into component sugars, which in turn can be converted ...

high-throughput-screening-fungal-endoglucanase-activity-escherichia

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20.4K vistas.  California Institute of Technology. Se describe un método de bajo costo, de alto rendimiento para la detección de hongos en la actividad endoglucanasa E. coli. El método se basa en una lectura simple y visual de la degradación del sustrato, no requiere purificación de la enzima, y ​​es altamente escalable. Esto permite la detección rápida de las grandes bibliotecas de variantes de la enzima.