Biochemical properties and industrial potential of a thermostable, Alkali-tolerant cellulase from Bacillus krulwichiae BW4(3)
Vishal Dhundale, Swati Chandak, Rahul Shelke, Jitendra Bajare, Pravin Deshmukh, Akshata Deshmukh, Shraddha Palekar, Alisha Sayyad, Rutuja Badgude, Vaishnavi Jadhav
Abstract
A cellulase-producing bacterium, Bacillus krulwichiae BW4(3), was isolated from the hypersaline and hyperalkaline environment of Lonar Lake, India, and evaluated for its cellulase activity under various parameter and nutritional conditions. The cellulase works best at a pH of 11 and a temperature of 50ºC, meaning₢ it’s highly tolerant of alkaline conditions and moderately tolerant of heat. Kinetic analysis revealed a Michaelis constant (Km) of 0.33 mM and a maximum velocity (Vmax) of 158.73 U/mL, suggesting high substrate affinity and catalytic efficiency. The cellulase showed optimal performance in the presence of 4% NaCl, confirming moderate halotolerance, and retained significant activity in organic solvents, particularly methanol and ethanol. The cellulase activity was markedly enhanced by Mn2+ and K+ ions, whereas Na+ and Ca2+ ions were less effective in stimulating its function. Yeast Extract was identified as the most effective nitrogen source, followed by peptone and beef extract, whereas inorganic nitrogen sources such as ammonium chloride were less favorable. These findings highlight the potential of Bacillus krulwichiae BW4(3) cellulase as a robust biocatalyst for industrial applications in alkaline, moderately saline, and solvent-rich environments, as well as for cost-effective enzyme production using plant-based protein substrates.
Keywords
References
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Submitted date:
12/05/2025
Accepted date:
04/20/2026
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