Research Paper ISOLATION AND CHARACTERIZATION OF MODERATE HALOPHILIC Salinicoccus sp. PRODUCING EXTRACELLULAR HYDROLYTIC ENZYMES

A moderate halophilic bacterium was isolated from the brine samples of Sambhar salt lake, Rajasthan (India). The isolate formed pigmented colonies and the bacterial cells are motile, Coccoid, Gram positive, strictly aerobic, catalaseand oxidasepositive, ferments carbohydrates, while failed to utilize citrate as sole carbon source. The isolate grew in presence of 2-20% (w/v) NaCl and at pH 7-11, with optimum growth at 12% (w/v) NaCl. Isolate showed extracellular enzymes such as Amylase, Protease and Gelatinase, but production of lipase was found to be negative. Genotypic analysis carried out by 16S rDNA amplification followed by phylogenetic analysis showed that the bacterium clustered with the members of the Genus Salinicoccus. The bacterial isolate is halophilic alkalitolerant with maximum similarity with Species Salinicoccus roseus. The Genebank Accession No of the isolate is KM461125.