PRODUCTION OF THE ANTITUMOR L-GLUTAMINASE ENZYME FROM THERMOTOLERANT Streptomyces sp. D214, UNDER SUBMERGED FERMENTATION CONDITIONS

Abstract

L-glutaminase is an amidohydrolase which produced by a variety of microorganisms including bacteria, yeast and fungi. In recent years, it widely used as an anticancer drug and as flavor enhancing agent. This study was aimed to production of extracellular L-glutaminase from bacteria. About 20 soil samples were collected and out of 40 pure bacterial cultures, the isolate RK9 was the most active in L-glutaminase production in solid and broth media containing L-glutamine as the carbon and nitrogen sources. Lglutaminase producing isolate was identified as Streptomyces sp. D214 by using morphological, physiological and molecular characters. Further, it was reported that maximum enzyme production occurred by using minimal medium containing L-glutamine at pH7 and incubation temperature 45C after 5 days of growth at 120 rpm. Addition of 3% NaCl enhanced enzyme production. The enzyme was collected and purified by using column chromatography. The purified enzyme showed excellent antitumor activity against the tumor cell line MCF-7 with IC50 of 10g/ml. In conclusion, saline soil is a good source of bacteria especially genus Streptomyces that produce salt tolerant L-glutaminase, the antitumor agent with more activity and less toxicity.