Cellulase activities were also measured for cells grown in culture broth and endoglucanase (CMCase) activity was determined using carboxymethyl cellulose sodium salt (CMC) as a substrate [16]. In these experiments, 0.1 mL of 2.0% (w/v) CMC solution was incubated with 0.1 ml of enzyme solution, diluted with 0.05 M sodium citrate buffer (pH 4.8) at 50 C for 30 min. Then, 0.2 mL of 3,5-dinitrosalicylic acid (DNS) reagent was added and the solution was boiled at 100 C for 5 min. Finally, 0.6 ml of distilled water was added and the absorbance was measured at 540 nm. One unit of enzyme activity was defined as the amount of enzyme that produced 1 mmol of reducing sugar per min under the conditions of the assay.