Lonar Soda Lake: A Natural Habitat of the Industrially Important Diverse Alkaline Protease Producers

Abstract

Soda lakes, soda deserts and alkaline springs are the natural primary habitats for the occurrence of industrially important alkaline protease producers. Alkaline proteases are preferred for industrial use from the extreme alkaline habitats since the proteases from such habitats can withstand at high pH and thereby fulfill the current industrial need and global demand. In this scenario, we report the isolation and identification of 21 bacterial isolates from the Lonar soda lake with emphasis on their biotechnologically important characters. The alkaline protease producers were identified based on their morphological, microscopic and physiological characters, enzyme profile, sugar utilization and antibiotic susceptibility pattern. The identified isolates belonged to the genera Bacillus, Halomonas, Alteromonas, Pseudomonas, Alcaligenes, Paracoccus and Micrococcus. Of these, 10 isolates belonged to the phylum firmicutes; nine from proteobacteria and two from actinobacteria. The present study marks the significance of mesmeric habitat of the Lonar soda lake for the presence of many alkaline protease producers. Alkaline proteases and other alkalozymes from these isolates can be used for many biotechnological applications.

Keywords: Abiotic characters, alkaline protease, firmicutes, Lonar lake, soda lake

Cite this Article

Rathod MG, Pathak AP. Lonar Soda Lake: A Natural Habitat of the Industrially Important Diverse Alkaline Protease Producers. Research & Reviews: A Journal of Life Sciences. 2019; 9(1): 81–93p.