Molecular cloning of genes from Ruminococcus flavefaciens encoding xylanase and beta(1-3,1-4)glucanase activities.

Clones expressing activity against xylan or beta(1-3,1-4)glucan (lichenan) were isolated from a library of Ruminococcus flavefaciens 17 DNA made in bacteriophage lambda EMBL3. Hybridization analyses indicated the recovery of four separate genes encoding xylanases that showed no detectable associated carboxylmethylcellulase activity. One of these genes was associated with clones that also expressed beta(1-3,1-4)glucanase and beta-xylosidase activities.