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Diversity, cold active enzymes and adaptation strategies of bacteria inhabiting glacier cryoconite holes of High Arctic

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Abstract

Cryoconite holes have biogeochemical, ecological and biotechnological importance. This communication presents results on culturable psychrophilic bacterial diversity from cryoconite holes at Midre Lovénbreen (ML), Austre Brøggerbreen (AB), and Vestre Brøggerbreen (VB) glaciers. The culturable bacterial count ranged from 2.7 × 103 to 8.8 × 104 CFUs/g while the total bacterial numbers ranged from 5.07 × 105 to 1.50 × 106 cells at the three glaciers. A total of 35 morphologically distinct bacterial isolates were isolated. Based on 16S rRNA gene sequence data, the identified species belonged to eight genera namely Pseudomonas, Polaromonas, Micrococcus, Subtercola, Agreia, Leifsonia, Cryobacterium and Flavobacterium. The isolates varied in their growth temperature, NaCl tolerance, growth pH, enzyme activities, carbon utilization and antibiotic sensitivity tests. Fatty acid profiles indicate the predominance of branched fatty acids in the isolates. To the best of our knowledge, this is the first record of culturable bacterial communities and their characterization from glacier cryoconites from High Arctic. High amylase and protease activities expressed by Micrococcus sp. MLB-41 and amylase, protease and lipase activities expressed by Cryobacterium sp. MLB-32 provide a clue to the potential applications of these organisms. These cold-adapted enzymes may provide an opportunity for the prospect of biotechnology in Arctic.

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Acknowledgments

We would like to thank the Directors, BITS, NCAOR and ARI for facilities. PS acknowledges the DST, Government of India for the financial support (Project: SR/WOS-A/LS-68/2009). SMS is thankful to Ms Simintani Naik, Mr Masaharu Tsuji and Mr Jakub Žàrský for technical help.

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  1. Birla Institute of Technology and Science, Pilani-K.K. Birla Goa Campus, Zuarinagar, Goa, 403726, India

    Purnima Singh

  2. National Centre for Antarctic and Ocean Research, Ministry of Earth Sciences, Vasco da Gama, Goa, 403804, India

    Shiv M. Singh

  3. Agharkar Research Institute, G.G. Agarkar Road, Pune, 411004, India

    Prashant Dhakephalkar

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  1. Purnima Singh
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Correspondence to Purnima Singh.

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Communicated by A. Oren.

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Singh, P., Singh, S.M. & Dhakephalkar, P. Diversity, cold active enzymes and adaptation strategies of bacteria inhabiting glacier cryoconite holes of High Arctic. Extremophiles 18, 229–242 (2014). https://doi.org/10.1007/s00792-013-0609-6

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