Muslu, Selman; Genc, Berna; Adiguzel, Mahmut; Albayrak, Seyda; Adiguzel, Ahmet

Enzymes which would be active in cold conditions can be used in a wide range of fields from molecular biology to detergent industry due to their low processing capacity and high activity. In this study, sixty cold-adapted bacteria were isolated from water and sludge samples collected from Erzurum and Van provinces. Identification of eight isolates by molecular [(GTG)5-PCR and 16S rRNA sequencing] techniques and tests for temperature (4-35°C), pH (3-11) and salt (2-15% (w/v) requirements were performed. These bacteria were belonging to Pseudomonas chlororaphis subsp. aureofaciens (SM011A), Psychrobacter faecalis (SM012D), Rahnella aquatilis (SM015A), Shewanella putrefaciens (SM018A), Pseudomonas lactis (SM0110A), Flavobacterium chryseum (SM0112E), Exiguobacterium mexicanum (SM0117A) and Glutamicibacter arilaitensis (SM0118A). The physicochemical requirements for all isolates ranged between 4-25°C, pH 5-7 and 2-15% salt (NaCl) concentration. However, E. mexicanum did not require salt in growth medium. All bacteria were evaluated for protease, lipase and amylase enzymes and all were found to be multiple enzyme producers. The eight isolates were identified from the resources of Turkey, for the first time and enzyme production abilities of some isolates to produce enzymes were declared. The originating of the producers of these enzymes from Turkey shows that Turkey has a remarkable reservoir for cold-adaptive microorganisms and these microorganisms will make important contributions to the detergent industry worldwide.

Albayrak, Seyda; Genc, Berna; Ozkan, Hakan; Taskin, Mesut; Adiguzel, Ahmet

In this study, one hundred and thirty isolates were isolated from water and sludge samples taken from hot springs located in different regions of Turkey. Among them, eleven isolates were chosen according to conventional (morphological, physiological and biochemical tests) and molecular methods (rep-PCR and 16S rRNA sequencing). These bacteria were then tested for their capability to produce valuable enzymes. As a result; species belonging to Bacillus, Anoxybacillus, Aeribacillus, Enterococcus, Exiguobacterium and Paenibacillus were identified. Test strains were found to have optimum reproductive potential at pH 5.0-9.0 and 15-65°C, usually at a concentration of 1.0-10.0% (w/v) NaCl. In addition, all thermotolerant bacteria were Gram, endospore (except E. profundum), catalase and oxidase (except E. faecium and E. profundum) positive, and rod-shaped (except E. faecium). It was observed that all isolates had a 99% similarity percentage as a result of 16S rRNA sequence analysis. All of the isolates were capable of producing industrially important enzymes moreover, eight of them could produce at least two of these enzymes. Test strains had high potential of industrial enzyme production, and the enzymes from these thermo-tolerant isolates will be widely used in biotechnological processes.