Abstract

Microbes are stated to be an excellent source of novel enzymes and secondary metabolites having potential industrial applications. Many attempts have been made around the globe to unravel novel bioactive molecules from microbes inhabiting different unexplored ecological niches. Myxobacteria, a member of δ-proteobacteria belonging to the order Myxococcales, is a gram-negative rod-shaped bacterium well-known for coordinated movement, fruiting body formation during starvation, gliding mobility, and a well-developed communication system. They have emerged as valuable producers of various natural products belonging to diverse chemical classes with wide-spectrum and unique bioactive molecules that have attracted academicians and researchers for their exploration. The bioactive molecules obtained from myxobacteria have been proclaimed to have the ability to break down macromolecules of biological origin by secreting a large number of extra-cellular enzymes. The current study reports the isolation of myxobacteria from the Mirgund Wetland in the North-Western Himalayas through the dung-baiting method. The isolated myxobacteria showed characteristic morphological features of myxobacteria, like the formation of fruiting bodies and swarming patterns on the solid Casitone-enriched media. 16S ribosomal RNA gene sequencing of the strain showed 100% similarity with Myxococcus spp. The isolated strain produced an active cellulase with an optimum activity at 40°C and pH 7.0 using the 3,5-dinitro salicylic acid method when cultured on minimal broth containing carboxymethyl cellulose. This is the first report of a myxobacterial strain and enzyme from the Mirgund Wetland of the Union Territory of Jammu and Kashmir and highlights the immense potential of the hidden wealth of enzymes in the area.

Key words: Cellulase; Dung-baiting; Wetland; Myxobacteria; Jammu and Kashmir