Psychrotrophic hydrolytic bacteria from Antarctica & other low temperature habitats

Samples of water, soil, lake sediments and blue-green algal mats from Antarctica were processed for enumeration, isolation and screening of psychrotrophic hydrolytic bacteria. Amylolytic bacteria were preponderant (75 per cent) in the blue-green algal mat samples. Protease, lipase, amylase and urease producing bacteria were also isolated from the samples. Biochemical characteristics indicated that the isolates mainly comprised Pseudomonas and Bacillus species. Proteases and lipases of antarctic bacterial strains preferably hydrolysed denatured protein substrate and water soluble monomeric synthetic lipid substrates, respectively.