Isolation and partial characterization of a new moderate thermophilic Albidovulum sp. SLM16 with transaminase activity from Deception Island, Antarctica

Sebastián L Márquez,Jenny M Blamey

doi:10.1186/s40659-018-0210-7

Abstract

BackgroundA moderately thermophilic, slightly halophilic, aerobic, Gram-stain negative, bacterial strain, SLM16, was isolated from a mixed of seawater–sand-sediment sample collected from a coastal fumarole located in Whalers Bay, Deception Island, Antarctica. The aim was to screen for thermophilic microorganisms able to degrade primary amines and search for amine transaminase activity for potential industrial application.ResultsIdentification and partial characterization of the microorganism SLM16 were carried out by means of morphological, physiological and biochemical tests along with molecular methods. Cells of strain SLM16 were non-motile irregular rods of 1.5–2.5 μm long and 0.3–0.45 μm wide. Growth occurred in the presence of 0.5–5.5% NaCl within temperature range of 35–55 °C and pH range of 5.5–9.5, respectively. The DNA G+C composition, estimated from ftsY gene, was 66% mol. Phylogenetic analysis using de 16S rRNA gene sequence showed that strain SLM16 belongs to the marine bacterial genus Albidovulum.ConclusionStrain SLM16 is a moderate thermophilic Gram negative microorganisms which belongs to the marine bacterial genus Albidovulum and is closely related to Albidovulum inexpectatum species based on phylogenetic analysis. Additionally, amine-transaminase activity towards the arylaliphatic amine α-methylbenzylamine was detected.

Highlights

Deception Island (62°57′S, 60°38′W) in Antarctica is the caldera of a currently active volcano located in the South Shetland Islands archipelago
For the screening of microorganisms potentially able to utilize (R,S)-α-methylbenzylamine (MBA) as a sole carbon source, a modified half-diluted Zobell Marine Broth 2216 medium supplemented with 20 mM 4-(2-hydroxyethyl)-1-piperazineethanesulfonic acid (HEPES) and 10 mM α-methylbenzylamine as inductor for amine-transaminase activity was further used for selection of microorganisms
Sample site and isolation of a moderate thermophilic bacteria The microorganism designated SLM16 was isolated from a seawater-sediment sample collected from coastal fumaroles emerging at the shore at Whalers Bay in Deception Island, Antarctica

Summary

Introduction

Deception Island (62°57′S, 60°38′W) in Antarctica is the caldera of a currently active volcano located in the South Shetland Islands archipelago. This island is one of the most singular environments in Antarctica due to the abundance of geothermal activity including hot soils, hot springs and fumaroles that evidentiate the volcanic activity of this site. Only one additional species has been reported and characterized: Albidovulum xiamenense [3] Both organisms are moderately thermophilic/halophilic, catalase and cytochrome oxidase positive, Gram-stain negative rodshaped bacteria isolated from hot springs. The finding of this new member, Albidovulum sp. The aim was to screen for thermophilic microorganisms able to degrade primary amines and search for amine transaminase activity for potential industrial application

Methods

Results

Conclusion