HYDROLYTIC ENZYME PRODUCING ACTINOMYCETES FROM THE ALKALINE LONAR CRATER ECOSYSTEM AND THEIR BIOTECHNOLOGICAL POTENTIAL
Keywords:
Actinomycetes, Lonar Crater, Hydrolytic Enzymes, Protease, Amylase, Cellulase, LipaseAbstract
Actinomycetes are well known for their ability to produce a wide range of extracellular enzymes and therefore represent an important source of industrially useful biocatalysts. In the present study, actinomycetes isolated from the extreme environmental conditions of Lonar Crater, Maharashtra, India, were investigated for their ability to produce hydrolytic enzymes. Isolates recovered from water, sediment, and microbial mat samples were screened qualitatively for four extracellular enzymes, namely protease, amylase, cellulase, and lipase as these are the main hydrolytic enzymes. The isolates showed noticeable differences in their enzyme-producing profiles. The isolates were tentatively identified in the analysis based on morphological, physiological, biochemical and cultural characteristics. Nocardiopsis synnemataformans was positive for protease, amylase, and cellulase production but did not exhibit lipase activity. In contrast, Streptomyces viridodiastaticus produced protease, amylase, and lipase, while cellulase activity was not detected. Among the tested isolates, Nocardiopsis valiformis and Nocardiopsis alba showed positive reactions for all four enzymes. These findings indicate that actinomycetes inhabiting the Lonar Crater ecosystem possess varied hydrolytic capabilities, which may be associated with their adaptation to the physicochemical conditions of this unusual environment. The enzyme-positive isolates, particularly those exhibiting multiple activities, could serve as promising candidates for further studies involving enzyme production, optimization of culture conditions, purification, characterization, and assessment of potential industrial applications.
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