Screening and Identification of Chitin Degrading Bacteria from Local Environment
Screening and Identification of Chitin Degrading Bacteria from Local Environment
Farah Mansha, Abdul Rehman*
ABSTRACT
In the present study, three bacterial isolates, named as H1, H4 and M4, were selected on the basis of chitinase assay and diameter of zone of hydrolysis. All the isolates were identified as Bacillus sp. on the basis of biochemical tests, and showed optimum growth at 37°C and pH of 7. All the bacterial isolates showed highest enzyme activity at pH 7. Isolates H4 and M4 showed maximum enzyme activity at 55°C while H1 showed highest activity at 70°C. Chitinase activities exhibited by H1 and M4 are stimulated by the presence of Zn2+ ions, while the presence of Ni2+,Cd2+ and Cu2+ did not show any positive effect. However in H4, presence of Zn²+,Ni²+and Cd²+ showed positive while Cu²+ showed negative effect on the chitinase activity. The isolated strains have the ability to degrade complex chitin thus they could be used to degrade complex polysaccharides present in the organic wastes and would be helpful in cleaning the environment.
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December 2018
Vol. 33, Iss. 2, pp. 99-248
