The novel method for isolating chitinolytic bacteria and its application in screening for hyperchitinase producing mutant of Alcaligenes xylosoxydans.
Vaidya RJ., Macmil SLA., Vyas PR., Chhatpar HS.
AIMS: To develop a novel, rapid and effective screening method for chitinase producing bacteria. METHODS AND RESULTS: A simple and rapid technique for screening of potential chitinolytic bacteria has been developed using the chitin binding dye calcofluor white M2R in chitin agar. Microorganisms possessing high chitinolytic potential gave a clear zone under ultraviolet light after 24-48 h of incubation. This method was successfully applied for isolating the hyperchitinase mutant of Alcaligenes xylosoxydans. The mutant Alc. xylosoxydans EMS 33 was found to produce 3.4 times more chitinase than the wild type. CONCLUSIONS: In this study, the screening method for chitinase producing bacteria has been developed and it was applied to screen chitinase-overproducing mutant of Alc. xylosoxydans. SIGNIFICANCE AND IMPACT OF THE STUDY: The novel screening method for chitinase producer is more sensitive, rapid, user-friendly and reliable, which can also be used for screening of recombinants having chitinase gene.