Diversity of hydrolytic enzymes in haloarchaeal strains from Chabahar solar salterns

Halophiles which require high salt concentration for their growth are an important group of extremophiles. Because many industrial enzymatic reactions are carried out in harsh conditions such as high temperature, high salt, alkali pH and in the presence of organic solvents, extremozymes which are active in these conditions are so important and interesting. In the current study for the first time extreme halophiles from Chabahar solar salterns were isolated and their hydrolytic activity were evaluated. Samples including salt, brine and soil were cultured in SW medium supplemented by 20% NaCl. Plates were kept in 37°C for at least one month and pure isolates were obtained by successive cultivations. A total of 50 extreme halophilic strains were tested for their hydrolytic enzymes production including lipase, pectinase, amylase, protease and gelatinase qualitatively. A total of 43, 25, 13, 7 and 6 strains could produce gelatinase, amylase, protease, pectinase and lipase, respectively. The strains were phylogenetically related to the following genera: Haloarcula, Natronoarchaeum, Halococcus,Halostagnicola, Haloferax and Halogeometricum. Strain F161 which belonged to the genus Haloferax produced all of the enzymes simultaneously.

Keywords:

Haloarchaea , Hydrolytic enzymes , Chabahar solar salterns , Haloferax