GRENIL MENEZES AND K. ARUNA
Abstract
An exopolysaccharide (EPS) producer was isolated from soil sample by primary screening. It was identified as Paenibacillus hunanensis strain Y22 on basis of biochemical studies and 16S rDNA gene sequence analysis. Semidefined medium composition and other physical parameters viz. pH, temperature and time were varied for maximum exopolysaccharide production. The effect of variable carbon and nitrogen sources were also investigated. Paenibacillus hunanensis strain Y22 in semi-defined medium(SDM) Galactose (60g/ L), Tween 80 (1ml/L), Yeast Nitrogen base (5g/L), Bactocasitone (10g/L), MgSO4 ( 0.1g/L), NaNO3 (2g/ L) pH 6.5 under shaker conditions (120rpm) for 6 days at 300C produced 32 g/L of EPS. The other growth parameter like absence of Na-acetate, K2HPO4 and MnSO4 in SDM also showed remarkable increase in EPS yield. HPTLC analysis of EPS from Paenibacillus hunanensis strain Y22 showed presence of galactose, glucose, fructose and mannose. EPS produced by this organism also exhibited adhesive and emulsifying property, whereas Paenibacillus hunanensis strain Y22 exhibited antibacterial activity against some gram positive bacteria.