9th Annual WML Academic Symposium

Presenter(s): Dylan Rogers
Title: Lignocellulose Degrading Proteins Found in the Bacterium Cedecea lapagei
Developed under the guidance of Dr. Stephanie Mathews , College of Arts & Sciences

Cedecea lapagei is a bacterium found within the gut of the camel cricket and may contain lignocellulose-degrading proteins. Polymerase chain reaction was used to amplify a 1kb endoglucanase gene and a 2.5kb peroxidase gene and was then confirmed by gel electrophoresis. A digest was performed on the amplified genes and pET22 using the restriction enzymes BamHI and XhoI. The cut genes were then ligated into the pET22 to create a vector for transformation. Escherichia coli was transformed with these vectors. The products formed from the degradation of lignocellulose by these enzymes could be used in the production of biofuel.