Exploring the Hot Springs of Golan: A Source of Thermophilic Bacteria and Enzymes with Industrial Promise

In recent years, there has been a surge in research on extremophiles due to their remarkable ability to survive in harsh environments. Extremophile thermophilic bacteria provide thermostable enzymes for biotechnology and industry. Thermophilic bacteria live in extreme environments like hot springs at 45-80 degrees C. This study screens and isolates thermophilic bacteria and thermozymes from the Golan hot springs in Karakocan, Elazig, Turkey. The study also characterizes thermophilic bacteria and their thermozymes to understand their features and applications better. Golan hot spring water samples at 50 degrees C yielded 12 isolates. GKE 02, 07, 08, and 10 produce amylase, GKE 04, 08, and 11 cellulase, and GKE 06 xylanase. One isolate (GKE 08) displayed both amylolytic and cellulolytic activity on agar plates. GKE 02 had the highest plate assay amylolytic index (2.3) and amylase activity (67.87 U/ml). Plate assay indicates GKE 08 has 1.5 amylolytic index, 1.1 cellulolytic index, 38.57 U/ml amylase, and 6.81 U/ml cellulase. GKE 04 had the greatest cellulolytic index (1.7) and cellulase activity (27.46). GKE 06, the only xylanase producer, has 19.67 U/ml activity and 1.4 plate assay index. The investigation also included determining the optimal pH and temperature conditions for each enzyme. 16S rDNA gene sequencing revealed seven thermozyme-producing bacteria Bacillus, Geobacillus, and Thermomonas. Thermomonas hydrothermalis genome annotation showed glycosyl hydrolase genes for amylolytic and cellulolytic activity. The findings of this study on thermophilic bacteria and thermostable enzyme synthesis in the Golan hot springs are promising, particularly for T. hydrothermalis, which has limited research on its potential as a thermozyme producer.