Comparative metagenomic discovery of the dynamic cellulose-degrading process from a synergistic cellulolytic microbiota

To reveal the dynamic process of cellulose biodegradation and explore more potential cellulases, a microbiota (FPDM) with cellulose-degrading ability was cultivated, and different stages of filter paper degradation were compared. Ion chromatography and comparative metagenomic sequencing revealed that the diversity of FPDM enhanced as the hydrolysate length diversity increased. Sporocytophaga and Cohnella dynamically dominated the synergistic degradation of cellulose in early-intermediate and intermediate-final periods, respectively. Moreover, 363 declining shifting and 231 progressive shifting unannotated genes were speculated to participate in the catabolism of cellulose to cellodextrin/cello-oligosaccharide and to cellobiose, respectively. Based on the dynamic changes in hydrolysates, community structure and gene abundance, a dynamic cellulose-degrading pathway of FPDM was predicted. Our work should provide a new perspective for subsequent identification of key cellulolytic strains and enzymes and clarification of the mechanism of cellulose biodegradation.

Automated summary

In this study, a microbiota (FPDM) with cellulose-degrading ability was cultivated to investigate the dynamic process of cellulose biodegradation and explore potential cellulases. The results showed that Sporocytophaga and Cohnella dynamically dominated the synergistic degradation of cellulose in different periods, while unannotated genes were speculated to participate in cellulose catabolism. The dynamic cellulose-degrading pathway of FPDM was predicted based on changes in hydrolysates, community structure, and gene abundance, providing a new perspective for identifying key cellulolytic strains and enzymes.