Aims:The present study aims to discover a new lipase enzyme from an extremophile isolated from an unexplored region of Palghar district, Maharashtra, India.Methodology and results: Initially, the samples were enriched in high-salt media (25% NaCl), after which three bacterial halotolerant isolates were obtained.Among the isolates, one bacterial strain (isolate D*) was later identified as Staphylococcus arlettae SHK2 and showed the ability to produce an extracellular lipase enzyme.It was characterized as a halotolerant, alkali-tolerant, and thermo-tolerant organism and identified by 16S rRNA gene sequencing.Maximum lipase activity of 1.86 U/mL was achieved at a substrate concentration of 7%, a salt concentration of 5%, and at 37 C, pH 7.0, using a spectrophotometric assay.Stability studies of crude lipase revealed residual activities of 22%, 28%, 34.48%, and 55.17% when exposed to 50 C, pH 10, 25% salt concentration, and butanol, respectively.Experiments evaluating lipase's detergent activity demonstrated its ability to remove cloth stains when used unaided.Its enhanced activity in combination with detergent signifies its stability in the presence of detergent.Conclusion, significance and impact of study: Extracellular crude lipase from S. arlettae SHK2 would serve as a good starting point for future research on bio-detergent formulation, reducing reliance on synthetic chemicals that contribute to environmental pollution.
Shettigar et al. (Sun,) studied this question.