Characterization of protease-producing bacteria from the arctic ocean

Abstract

Biodiversity of protease-secreting bacteria was investigated from Barentz sea, Cara sea and Russian Harbor area. Microorganisms producing clear zone around the colony on the Zobell agar containing skim milk were isolated. They were grouped based on the RFLP pattern of amplified 16S rDNA and selected isolates from each RFLP group were identified by phylogenetic analysis of partial sequence of 16S rDNA using Kimura's 2-parameter method and neighbor-joining algorithm. As a result, protease producing microorganisms were identified as Bacillus cereus, Bacillus hwajinpoensis, Bacillus indicus, Bacillus licheniformis, Bacillus pumilus, Bacillus simplex, Bacillus subtilis, Bacillus sp., Halobacillus sp., Paenibacillus amylolyticus, Paenibacillus barcinonensis, and Pseudomonas sp. Cultural characteristics of isolates and relative activity of proteases depending on the temperature were compared.