PCR-based screening and characterization of family-19 chitinase producing Streptomyces sp. from western Ghats forest soil Anu S*, Shiburaj S, Prabhakumari C Department of Biotechnology, CEPCI Laboratory and Research Institute, Kollam-691001, Kerala. *Corresponding Author E-mail: anuanjana777@gmail.com
Online published on 30 April, 2021. Abstract In the present study 45 chitinsae producing streptomyces were isolated from the soil samples from Agasthyarkoodam region of Westen Ghat, Kerala. Molecular analysis technique together with traditional morphological and biochemical methods was used for the identification of strains and all strains identified as Streptomyces species of this fifteen identified as potent chitinase producers. forty five isolates out of fifteen showed chitinase activity according to a chitinolytic activity test and on colloidal chitin agar plates. Results indicated that TBG AMLA-5 was found to be the most prominent chitinase producer, giving 58 U/ml chitinase activity. The strains observed to have F-19 gene based on the primer designed from conserved regions of Fungal-19 chitinase gene of Streptomyces spp. Based on the 16S rDNA sequence analysis, these isolates were identified as Streptomyces champavatii (TBG AMLA-5). The identity percentages ranged from 97%. Based on the conserved regions among the family 19 chitinase genes of Streptomyces sp. two primers were used for detection of the chitinase (chiC) gene in the five isolates. A DNA fragment of 1.4 kb was observed only for the isolate TBG AMLA-5. In conclusion, five Streptomyces strains with potential chitinolytic activity were identified from the Agasthyaarkoodam region of Western Ghat. Of these isolates, one belong to family 19 chitinases. To our knowledge, this is the first reported presence of a Family19 chi gene of Streptomyces champavatii in this region. Top Keywords Actinobacter, Streptomyces, Family 19 chitinase, 16Sr RNA, N-acetylglucosamine. Top |