α-Amylase and cellulase production by novel halotolerant Bacillus sp.PM06 isolated from sugarcane pressmud

A novel Bacillus sp.PM06 isolated from sugarcane waste pressmud was tested for extracellular alpha-amylase and cellulase enzyme production. The effect of different substrates, nitrogen sources, pH, and temperature on growth and extracellular enzyme production was examined. Bacillus sp.PM06 was able to grow with starch and carboxymethyl cellulose (CMC) as a sole source of carbon and ammonium chloride was found to be the best nitrogen source. Maximum enzyme production was obtained at 48 H for both alpha-amylase and cellulase. The optimal condition for measuring enzyme activity was found to be pH 5.5 at 50 degrees C for alpha-amylase and pH 6.4 at 60 degrees C for cellulase respectively. It was found that Bacillus sp.PM06 exhibited halotolerance up to 2 M Sodium chloride (NaCl) and Potassium chloride (KCl). The isolate could produce alpha-amylase in the presence of 2 M NaCl and 1 M KCl. However, the strain produced cellulase even in the presence of 2 M NaCl and KCl. Concomitant production of both enzymes was observed when the medium was supplemented with starch and CMC. A maximum of 31 +/- 1.15 U/mL of amylase and 15 +/- 1.5 U/mL of cellulase was produced in 48 H. The enzyme was partially purified by Ammonium sulphate (NH4)(2)SO4 precipitation with 2.2 and 2.3-fold purification.