Production of Extracellular Enzymes by Halophilic Bacteria Isolated from Solar Salterns

During the course of survey of halophilic microorganisms, a total of sixteen bacterial isolates were obtained from coastal solar salterns of Orissa and West Bengal, India. Morphological, physiological and biochemical characteristics of these isolates indicate that majority of them belong to the genus Halomonas, however, members belonging to Cobetia and Halococcus were not uncommon. These isolates were screened for the production of extracellular enzymes such as amylase, glutaminase, asparaginase, xylanase, cellulase, gelatinase, inulinase, caseinase, pectinase, urease and lipase. Among these hydrolytic enzymes, glutamine and asparagine hydrolytic activities were predominant, although lipid and casein degrading activities were not inferior. However, amylase and gelatinase production were rare. None of these halophiles was able to degrade cellulose, inulin, pectin and xylan and only one isolate was capable of hydrolyzing urea.