Abstract:
Lipases are enzymes that catalyze the hydrolysis of fat and perform essential role
in digestion, transport, and processing in dietary lipids. These biocatalyst are
interesting substitute for chemical catalyst because of their fast rate of reaction and
better specificity. Lipases are produced by various plants, animals and
microorganisms. Lipases such as triacylglycerol hydrolyses are important group of
enzyme related to biotechnology. The present study was aimed to isolate
microorganisms having the ability to produce lipase, from vermicompost. Isolated
strains were identified as Staphylococcus sp, Bacillus sp, Pseudomonas sp, and
Corynebacterium sp. Detection of lipase enzyme was carried out using three different
methods. Isolated strains were grown on agar plates augmented with olive oil as lipid
substrate. Formation of transparent rings around bacterial colonies shows hydrolysis
of lipids was due to production of extracellular lipases. Methyl orange was used as
indicator to detect acidic changes in the medium. Bacterial isolates are grown on agar
plates with olive oil as substrate, color change of methyl orange suggested conversion
of lipid substrate into fatty acids confirming lipase activity. Production of lipase was
also confirmed by UV- spectrometry. UV-spectrometry was carried out after every 7
days for 5 weeks at 470nm; increase in absorption shows presence of lipase. The
study was concluded on the note that vermicompost is the potential source of lipase
producing bacteria and should be considered for production of bacterial lipases in
environmental biotechnology.
