Xylanase production using inexpensive agricultural wastes and its partial characterization from a halophilic <Emphasis Type="Italic">Chromohalobacter</Emphasis> sp. TPSV 101

A halophilic and alkali-tolerant Chromohalobacter sp. TPSV 101 with an ability to produce extracellular halophilic, alkali-tolerant and moderately thermostable xylanase was isolated from solar salterns. Identification of the bacterium was done based upon biochemical tests and 16S rRNA sequence. The culture conditions for higher xylanase production were optimized with respect to NaCl, pH, temperature, substrates and metal ions and additives. Maximum xylanase production was achieved in the medium with 20% NaCl, pH-9.0 at 40°C supplemented with 1% (w/v) sugarcane bagasse and 0.5% feather hydrolysate as carbon and nitrogen sources. Sugarcane bagasse (250 U/ml) and wheat bran (190 U/ml) were the best inducer of xylanase when used as carbon source as compared to xylan (61 U/ml). The xylanase that was partially purified by protein concentrator had a molecular mass of 15 kDa approximately. The xylanase from Chromohalobacter sp. TPSV 101 was active at pH 9.0 and required 20% NaCl for optimal xylanolytic activity and was active over a broad range of temperature 40–80°C with 65°C as optimum. The early stage hydrolysis products of sugarcane bagasse were xylose and xylobiose, after longer periods of incubation only xylose was detected.