Halophilic and Halotolerant Actinomycetes of Sambhar Salt Lake, India: Screening and Optimization of Cellulolytic Activity

Actinomycetes are Gram-positive filamentous bacteria well known for the production of bioactive compounds. Recently, many halophilic habitats have been explored isolation actinomycetes that exhibit biotechnological potentials. In this investigation, a saline habitat Rajasthan, Sambhar Salt Lake (SSL) was selected to study population and Carboxy Methyl Cellulase (CMCase) by native isolates. A total sixteen actinomycete isolates, halotolerant moderately halophilic, were obtained using culture-dependent methods characterized morphologically biochemically. They identified as members Streptomyces, Nocardiopsis, Pseudonocardia, Saccharospolyspora, Microbispora. Streptomyces most dominating genus, followed Nocardiopsis. Agar plate assay used screening isolates CMCase production. Thirteen found produce enzyme, apparent hydrolysis observed on media plates. The highest relative activity 22.04 shown isolate SSL 14 Nocardiopsis sp. 16S rDNA sequencing studies thus further optimization studies. Maximum enzyme (1.08 ± 0.09 U/ml) produced medium containing Cellulose (Carbon source) yeast extract (nitrogen at 12% NaCl pH 9.0, incubated 30 °C 96 h. high salt concentration suggests can be industrial processes operate under excessive alkaline conditions.