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Rhodococcus sp. Q5, a novel agarolytic bacterium isolated from printing and dyeing wastewater

Folia Microbiologica volume 57, pages 379–386 (2012)Cite this article

Abstract

An agar-degrading bacterium, Rhodococcus sp. Q5, was isolated from printing and dyeing wastewater using a mineral salts agar plate containing agar as the sole carbon source. The bacterium grew from pH 4.0 to 9.0, from 15 to 35°C, and in NaCl concentrations of 0–5 %; optimal values were pH 6.0, 30°C, and 1 % NaCl. Maximal agarase production was observed at pH 6.0 and 30°C. The bacterium did not require NaCl for growth or agarase production. The agarase secreted by Q5 was inducible by agar and was repressed by all simple sugars tested except lactose. Strain Q5 could hydrolyze starch but not cellulose or carboxymethyl cellulose. Agarase activity could also be detected in the medium when lactose or starch was the sole source of carbon and energy. Strain Q5 could grow in nitrogen-free mineral media; an organic nitrogen source was more effective than inorganic carbon sources for growth and agarase production. Addition of more organic nitrogen (peptone) to the medium corresponded with reduced agarase activity.

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Acknowledgments

This work was supported by the National Natural Science Foundation of China (no. 51079094) and the Natural Science Foundation of Jiangsu Province (no. BK2010215).

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  1. College of Basic Medical and Biological Science, Soochow University, Suzhou, 215123, People’s Republic of China

    Zehua Feng, Lin Peng, Mei Chen & Mengying Li

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  1. Zehua Feng
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  2. Lin Peng
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  3. Mei Chen
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  4. Mengying Li
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Correspondence to Mengying Li.

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Feng, Z., Peng, L., Chen, M. et al. Rhodococcus sp. Q5, a novel agarolytic bacterium isolated from printing and dyeing wastewater. Folia Microbiol 57, 379–386 (2012). https://doi.org/10.1007/s12223-012-0150-5

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s12223-012-0150-5

Keywords

  • Mineral Salt Medium
  • Organic Nitrogen Source
  • Inorganic Nitrogen Source
  • China General Microbiological Culture Collection Center
  • Agarase Activity