ISOLATION AND CHARACTERIZATION OF A MODERATELY HALOPHILIC PROTEASE PRODUCING PSEUDOMONAS SP. FROM BRINE SAMPLES OF A COASTAL AREA SOLAR SALTERN

Abstract

Screening of the brine samples of a solar saltern has yielded one moderately halophilic protease producing bacteria. The bacterial isolate has been identified as a Pseudomonas sp. and it produced an extracellular protease and an amylase. Maximal protease production was detected at the early stationary phase. The enzyme showed the highest activity at 400C and pH 8.0 in 15% NaCl. The enzyme was active over a range of salt (0-25%), pH (6.5-10.0) and temperature (200C-550C). These broad ranges of tolerance of the enzyme indicate potential applications of this enzyme in fish sauce fermentation and detergent formulations.