Isolation of thermophilic enzyme-producing Parageobacillus bacteria from chipped woody waste

Abstract

The morphological and biochemical properties were investigated for 18 types of thermophilic bacteria isolated from a woody-chip pile at a wood processing plant in Northern Russia. Genetic fingerprinting and 16S rRNA identification were used to divide the investigated microorganisms into groups according to their genetic affiliation. It was found that the isolated bacteria belonged to a minimally studied genus of Parageobacillus and exhibited optimum temperature and pH in the ranges of 57 to 60 °С and 7.0 to 8.5, respectively. The amylase activity was determined for all of the 18 isolated strains. Catalytic properties of the bacteria-produced xylanases were evaluated with respect to their activity towards xylan and xylan-containing carbon substrates. Biotechnological potential of the two most promising bacterial strains (Parageobacillus caldoxylosilyticus and Parageobacillus thermoglucosidasius) and their possible use in xylanase production was evaluated. The results showed that bacteria present in the chipped woody waste is an important source of thermoalkalophilic enzymes.