ISOLATION AND SCREENING OF AMYLASE PRODUCING BACTERIA FROM SOIL AND PRODUCTION OF AMYLASESwaleha A. Shaikh*, Dipali R. Khot and G.R. PathadeAbstract Amylase falls under class of hydrolytic enzymes catalysing breakdown of starch into monosaccharide units. There are various biological sources of enzymes viz. plants, fungi and bacteria. But the preferred one is microbial source due to ease of bulk production and stability of enzymes to work at extreme environmental conditions. This study reports isolation of amylase producing bacteria from sorghum cultivated farm soil and using them for production of amylase enzyme. During the course of the study three isolates viz. AP- 1, AP-2 and AP-3 were obtained which were identified as Bacillus cereus, Bacillus alvei and Bacillus licheniformis, respectively on the basis of morphological and biochemical characters. Amongst three isolates highest yield was obtained from Bacillus alvei which was 17.6 U/ml. Optimum conditions of pH, temperature and substrate concentration were determined for enzymatic activity. Crude enzyme samples obtained from all three isolates found to work best at 1.5% starch concentration and slightly acidic to neutral pH. The enzyme produced by B. alvei and B. cereus was found to be thermostable working best at 50 oC. In view of applications and demands of amylases in various fields further extension of study is needed for qualitative and quantitative enhancements. |