Lipases are particularly important because they specifically hydrolyze acyl
glycerol, oils, which are of great interest for different industrial applications.
Some halophilic microorganisms produced some lipases. Halophilic bacteria
have greater ability to produce salt and thermo tolerant enzymes like amylases,
proteases and lipases. Most industrial enzymatic functions may be stopped by
concentrated salt solutions and high temperatures; therefore, halophilic
enzymes that have optimal activity at a vast range of temperature, pH and ionic
strength, would be considered as suitable biocatalysts in industrial processes.
The aim of this study was to isolate and study the halophilic lipase producing
bacteria from the Miankaleh Wetland. The lipase activity was measured using
titrimetric methods. Three halophilic strains (AR11, AR18 and AR28) were
isolated from the Miankaleh wetland and were screened for the production of
hydrolytic enzymes and lipolytic activity. Among three isolates, one strain was
selected for identification using the molecular methods and some
morphological characteristics. The bacterium Halobacillus truperi AR11 with
1.82 ± 0.1 U/mL lipase activity was selected as the highest lipase producing
isolate. Lipase enzyme produced by this potential isolate was also
characterized for determining its optimal activity. Effect of different pH, NaCl
concentration and temperature on lipase activity was determined. The optimum
pH for AR11 was found to be 9, while the optimum temperature and NaCl
concentration for lipase activity was found to be 45ºC and 5 % NaCl,
respectively. This is the first report of isolation and molecular identification of
lipase producing halophilic bacteria from the Miankaleh wetland