CHARACTERIZATION OF XYLANASE AND CELLULASE FROM EXTREMELY HALOALKALIPHILIC ARCHAEON NATRINEMA SP. SSBJUP-1 ISOLATED FROM LONAR LAKE.

Abstract

The extremely halophilic archaeon Natrinema sp. strain SSBJUP-1, which produces extracellular cellulase and xylanase, was isolated from the Lonar Lake situated in Buldhana, Maharashtra. The enzymes were optimally active at pH 9–10 and temperature 40–60 ⁰C and they were most stable up to pH 11 and 16 % of NaCl concentration. The xylanase showed maximum activity at 50⁰C and cellulase at 40⁰C. Xylanase kept excellent activity over a broad range of salt concentration from 12 to 22% with highest activity at 16 % NaCl while Cellulase showed maximum activity at 14% of salt. Unlike xylanase that was stimulated by Cu²⁺, Mg²⁺and Ca²⁺, cellulase activity was reduced when treated with Hg²⁺and Cu²⁺ and stimulated by Mg²⁺and Ca^2+. This investigation showed that Natrinema sp. strain SSBJUP-1 is a potential source of xylanase and cellulase and an interesting candidate for application in biotechnological processes.