Abstract

ENZYME ARRAY FROM THERMOPHILIC FUNGAL ISOLATERSND

Devipriya R. Majumdar*, Roma Singh, Summaiya Dondilkar, Nazeyia Shaikh, Ganesh Pawale, Pranali Shinde and Prathamesh Sakate

Abstract

The first known thermophilic fungi was Mucor pusillus isolated from bread over a century ago. Thermophiles are found in various geothermally heated regions of the Earth, such as hot springs like those in Yellowstone National Park and deep sea hydrothermal vents, as well as decaying plant matter, such as peat bogs and compost. Thermophilic fungi have the exceptional ability to grow at high temperatures of 50°– 60°C. Thermophilic fungi offer several advantages as they are highly thermostable and also have minimum chances of fermentor contamination at elevated temperature. Thermophilic fungi are potential sources of enzymes with academic and commercial interest. For this study, soil sample was collected from Pashan Lake, Pune for the isolation of thermophilic fungi. Soil sample was inoculated on GPYE medium and incubated at 55°C for 4-5 days. Microscopic and macroscopic analysis of the isolate RSND suggested that the genus might be Aspergillus. Pure culture was screened for thermophilic enzymes such as lipase, pectinase and tyrosinase because of their commercial and industrial application. Pectinase, Tyrosinase and Lipase were partially purified by ammonium sulphate. SDS-PAGE result revealed the approximate molecular weights of pectinase, tyrosinase and lipase as 29.8 kDa, 138.2kDa and 31.1kDa respectively. Specific activity of pectinase, tyrosinase and lipase in purified extract was found to be 0.26U/ml, 29.3U/mg and 80U/mg respectively. Thermophilic enzymes are gaining importance in agriculture, industry and human health. Therefore, this study contributes to the knowledge of thermophilic fungi and their ability to produce thermophilic enzymes.

Keywords: Thermophilic fungi, Aspergillus sp, Lipase, Pectinase, Tyrosinase and SDSPAGE.