Ecology, Environment and Conservation Paper

PRODUCTION AND APPLICATION OF COMPATIBLE SOLUTE GLYCINE BETAINE FROM HALOPHILIC BACTERIA ACTINOPOLYSPORA HALOPHILA

Z.P. Bhathena and A. Madkekar

Abstract

Cell extracts of Actinopolyspora halophifa producing a compatible solute glycine betaine was detected qualitatively by HPTLC and extracted by the process of "bacterial milking". It was found that milking along with purification by ammonium reineckate precipitation increases the releases of glycine betaine out of the cell by 4.4-folds. The cryoprotectant activity of glycine betaine when used in combination with Sucrose/BSA, for lyophilization of sensitive cultures, allows one to two log cycle increase in viable counts of test cultures as compared to the mixture of only Sucrose/BSA and, hence, is a more effective cryoprotectant for lyophilization of Escherichia coil, Staphylococcus aureus and Vibrio cholerae.