Endo-and exoglucanase activities in bacteria from mangrove sediment

Author(s)

Fábio Lino Soares Júnior ; Armando Cavalcante Franco Dias ^{[2, 3]} ; Cristiane Cipola Fasanella ^[4] ; Rodrigo Gouvêa Taketani ^[4] ; André Oliveira de Souza Lima ^[5] ; Itamar Soares Melo ^[3] ; Fernando Dini Andreote ^[4]

• Document type: Journal article
• Source: Brazilian Journal of Microbiology; v. 44, n. 3, p. 969-976, 2013-09-00.

Abstract

The mangrove ecosystem is an unexplored source for biotechnological applications. In this unique environment, endemic bacteria have the ability to thrive in the harsh environmental conditions (salinity and anaerobiosis), and act in the degradation of organic matter, promoting nutrient cycles. Thus, this study aimed to assess the cellulolytic activities of bacterial groups present in the sediment from a mangrove located in Ilha do Cardoso (SP, Brazil). To optimize the isolation of cellulolytic bacteria, enrichments in two types of culture media (tryptone broth and minimum salt medium), both supplemented with 5% NaCl and 1% of cellulose, were performed. Tests conducted with the obtained colonies showed a higher occurrence of endoglycolytic activity (33 isolates) than exoglycolytic (19 isolates), and the degradation activity was shown to be modulated by the presence of NaCl. The isolated bacteria were clustered by BOX-PCR and further classified on the basis of partial 16S rRNA sequences as Alphaproteobacteria, Gammaproteobacteria, Actinobacteria, Firmicutes or Bacteroidetes. Therefore, this study highlights the importance of studies focusing on the endemic species found in mangroves to exploit them as novel biotechnological tools for the degradation of cellulose. (AU)

• FAPESP's process: 08/54013-8 - Diversity of archaea and bacteria involved in the nitrogen cycling in mangrove sediments
• Grantee: Armando Cavalcante Franco Dias
• Support Opportunities: Scholarships in Brazil - Doctorate
• FAPESP's process: 04/13910-6 - Biodiversity and functional activities of microorganisms from mangrove of the State of São Paulo
• Grantee: Itamar Soares de Melo
• Support Opportunities: BIOTA-FAPESP Program - Thematic Grants