Review

Diversity and industrial potential of hydrolase-producing halophilic/halotolerant eubacteria

Mathabatha Evodia Setati

Discipline of Microbiology, School of Biochemistry, Genetics and Microbiology, University of KwaZulu-Natal, P/Bag X54001, Durban 4000, South Africa. E-mail: setatim@ukzn.ac.za. Fax: +27(31) 260 7809. Tel: +27(31) 260 7405.

Accepted 21 December, 2009

   Abstract

Halophilic and haloterant eubacteria have been isolated from different marine and hypersaline environments. Halophilic eubacteria also occur in environments typified by more than one soda lakes which are both hypersaline and extremely alkaline. These organisms have been shown to produce a wide array of hydrolytic enzymes including proteases, amylases, xylanases, cellulases as well as lipases and DNases. These enzymes are commonly applied in the production of fermented food and food supplements, in animal feed, laundry detergents and textile industries. Several studies have shown that enzymes derived from halophilic and halotolerant eubacteria are not only halostable but may also be thermostable and alkalistable. This extremophilicity make the enzymes suitable candidates in various fields of biotechnology and may even open up new application opportunities.

Key words: Halophilic/halotolerant, Hydrolases, biodiversity, alkaliphilic, proteases, amylases, xylanases, cellulases.