An efficient cellulolytic and acidothermophilic actinobacterium was isolated from soil, adhered to
decomposing tree bark and was identified as Streptomyces DSK59. Screening of synthetic media and
the media components identified that, a medium based on starch casein minerals containing carboxy
methyl cellulose (CMC) and beef extract (BE) could support enhanced cellulase production by the organism.
CMC, BE, NaCl, temperature and pH were accounted as significant for cellulase production and these
were optimized using a response surface central composite design (CCD). Optimization of cellulase production
resulted in an enhancement of endoglucanase activity to 27 IU ml1
. Acidothermophillic
Streptomyces cellulase was found to be efficient for hydrolysis of pretreated sorghum stover and liberated
0.413 gg1 of total reducing sugars which was higher than previously reported sugar yields obtained
using fungal enzymes.