Isolation and Characterization of Low-Temperature and High-Salinity Amylase from Halomonas sp. KS41843

Abstract

The polar regions harbor uniquely diverse organisms adapted to low temperatures. Strains obtained from these regions are likely to produce enzymes that are industrially useful at low temperatures. In this study, a Halomonas sp. strain isolated from the Antarctic Sea was cultured at 15 °C to obtain partially purified α-amylase. This enzyme exhibited maximum activity at 30 °C and pH 5.0, retaining over 80% of its maximum activity even at 5 °C. Its activity was >1.5-fold in the presence of Co2+, Mn2+, Mg2+, Fe2+, and Na+, indicating enhancement by most metal ions. Halophilic strain-derived enzyme maintained up to 95% of its maximum activity even at 4 M NaCl, highlighting its potential for industrial applications and possible cost savings. In this study, the low-temperature and high-salinity active amylase produced by Antarctic Halomonas sp. KS41843 was identified as a promising candidate for future biotechnology applications.