Mutagenesis by ultraviolet light to increase chitinolytic activity of a Mexican Acinetobacter strain. (English)

Mutagénesis por luz ultravioleta para incrementar la actividad quitinolítica de una cepa mexicana de Acinetobacter. (Spanish)

The genus Acinetobacter comprises Gram-negative bacteria, which have the ability to produce chitinases, enzymes used for the degradation of chitin to its mono and oligomers components. However, the production of chitinases in chitinolytic microorganisms at industrial level generates low yields; for this reason, it is necessary to implement techniques that allow obtaining highly productive microorganisms with fermentative stability. Strategies such as the use of physical mutagenesis with ultraviolet (UV) radiation is an alternative that has allowed improving the production response and yield of desired metabolites. The objective of the present work was to isolate, identify and evaluate the chitinolytic activity of a strain from marine debris; in addition, this strain was subjected to mutagenesis with UV light, under the conditions of: 254 nm and at a distance of 47 cm between the light source and the cell culture, with different time intervals. The selected bacterium was identified as Acinetobacter; approximately 50% of the cells exposed to UV light for 30 seconds survived, of which 6 mutant strains that increased the chitinolytic capacity with respect to the wild type were analyzed. These mutant strains have potential for industrial use. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

El género Acinetobacter comprende bacterias Gram negativas, que tienen la capacidad de producir quitinasas, enzimas utilizadas para la degradación de la quitina a sus componentes mono y oligómeros. Sin embargo, la producción de quitinasas en microorganismos quitinolíticos a nivel industrial genera bajos rendimientos, por lo que es necesario implementar técnicas que permitan obtener microorganismos altamente productivos y con estabilidad fermentativa. Estrategias como el uso de mutagénesis física con radiación ultravioleta (UV) es una alternativa que ha permitido mejorar la respuesta de producción y el rendimiento de los metabolitos deseados. El objetivo del presente trabajo fue aislar, identificar y evaluar la actividad quitinolítica de una cepa proveniente de desechos marinos; además, esta cepa fue sometida a mutagénesis con luz UV, bajo las condiciones de: 254 nm y a una distancia de 47 cm entre la fuente de luz y el cultivo celular, con diferentes intervalos de tiempo. La bacteria seleccionada se identificó como Acinetobacter; aproximadamente el 50% de las células expuestas a la luz UV durante 30 segundos sobrevivieron, de las cuales se analizaron 6 cepas mutantes que aumentaron la capacidad quitinolítica con respecto al tipo salvaje. Estas cepas mutantes tienen potencial para su uso industrial. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

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