Abstract
The CelA β-glucosidase of
Azospirillum irakense,
belonging to glycosyl hydrolase family 3 (GHF3), preferentially hydrolyzes cellobiose and releases glucose units from the C
3
, C
4
, and C
5
oligosaccharides. The growth of a Δ
celA
mutant on these cellobiosides was affected. In
A. irakense
, the GHF3 β-glucosidases appear to be functional alternatives for the GHF1 β-glucosidases in the assimilation of β-glucosides by other bacteria.