S48 Purification and characterization of halophilic, alkalithermophilic amylases, proteases, cellulases and lipases from the alkaline, hypersaline lakes of the Wadi An Natrun, Egypt
Tuesday, August 4, 2015: 9:00 AM
Independence CD, Mezzanine Level (Sheraton Philadelphia Downtown Hotel)
Noha M. Mesbah1, Asmaa Abdel-Hameed1 and Juergen Wiegel2, (1)Biochemistry, Faculty of Pharmacy Suez Canal University, Ismailia, Egypt, (2)Microbiology, University of Georgia, Athens, GA

Enzymes isolated from extremophiles show maximal stability and activity under extreme conditions and have great biocatalytic potential for various industries. Aerobic and anaerobic halophilic, alkalithermophilic organisms were isolated from alkaline, hypersaline lakes of the Wadi An Natrun, Egypt. Isolates displayed protease, amylase, cellulase and lipase activity. Aerobic isolates, based on 16S rRNA sequencing, belong to the genera Alkalibacillus and Amphibacillus. Amphibacillus sp. NM-Ra2 produced an extracellular halophilic, thermophilic, alkalitolerant α-amylase that exhibited maximal activity at 1.9M NaCl, 54°C and pH50°C 8.0, and showed activity at 0 to 4.3M NaCl, 37 to 65°C and pH50°C 7 to 10.5. The amylase was stable in the presence of different inhibitors, surfactants and organic solvents. Alkalibacillus spp. NM-Fa4 and NM-Da2 both produced extracellular proteases. Protease from Alkalibacillus sp. NM-Da2 was extremely halophilic with maximal activity at 2.7M NaCl and retained activity at 3.4M NaCl. The protease was alkaliphilic and thermophilic with maximal activity at pH50°C 10 and 56°C, and was stable in the presence of detergents and oxidizing agents. Alkalibacillus sp. NM-Fa4 produced an alkaline, halo- and thermostable protease, AbCP, that had maximal activity at 1M NaCl, pH50°C9.5 and 50 - 52°C. AbCP was stable in the presence of detergents, oxidizing agents and organic solvents, and its activity was stimulated by reducing agents. Anaerobic isolates tested positive for extracellular cellulase and lipase activity. Enzyme assays performed in vitro with cell free extracts showed that enzymes have optimal activity between 45 and 49°C, pH50°C8.0 – 9.0 and 1 – 1.5M Na+. Further characterization is underway.