Screening and Production of Protease Enzyme from Marine Microorganism and Its Industrial Application

Abstract

Marine sediment samples were collected from the Gulf of Mannar, Mandapam coast to screen for protease producing microbes. Among the five isolates screened only two isolates showed maximum proteolytic activity with the zone of 21mm and 19mm respectively. Biochemical characterization of the isolates were performed and identified as strain P2 belonged to Bacillus subtilis and strain P5 belonged to Bacillus licheniformis. Both the strains have the ability to tolerate 7%Nacl concentration. The amount of protease produced was expressed in microgram of tyrosine released under standard assay conditions. The total protein content of crude enzyme extracts of Bacillus subtilis and Bacillus licheniformis were quantified which revealed 21.2mg/ml for strain P2 and 22.4mg/ml of protein content was presented by strain P5. The proteolytic bacteria gave an optimum performance were both strains exhibited the enzymes stable at P H 7. In the present study Bacillus subtilis showed a remarkable activity at 40oC where as Bacillus licheniformis exhibited maximum activity at 50oC. Studies pertaining to carbon sources starch and lactose were utilized by Bacillus subtilis and Bacillus licheniformis and maximum production was achieved. Among the different nitrogen sources tested yeast extract induced maximum proteolytic activity where as ammonium sulphate was found to be the best nitrogen sources for protease production. The crude enzyme was efficient to remove hair dye and blood stain by Bacillus subtilis and Bacillus licheniformis.