Back to Contents

FREE FULL TEXT PDF

BIOPHYSICOCHEMICAL CHARECTERIZATION OF BACTERIOCIN(S) FROM INDIGENOUSLY ISOLATED AGROBACTERIUM RADIOBACTER NA6

NUSRAT JABEEN^1,2, HUMA GUL¹, SYED ABDUS SUBHAN¹, MUSHTAQ HUSSAIN^1,2, MUNNAZA AJAZ^1,3 AND SHEIKH AJAZ RASOOL¹*

Abstract: Agrobacterium radiobacter NA6 isolated from local agricultural soil of NIAB, Faislabad was found to produce antibacterial peptide designated as Agrocin NA6. The partial purification of bacteriocin was achieved by 70% Ammonium sulphate precipitation. These agrocin has a narrow spectrum of activity against different gram-positive and gram-negative organisms. It remained stable on boiling (100˚C, 30min.) and autoclaving (121^oC, 15 psi) up to 15 minutes and also showed stability at a wide 3-9 pH range. It was also stable and active in the presence of different heavy metal salts, surfactants and organic solvents. Molecular mass of the bacteriocin was estimated to be less than 12kDa as it passed through dialyzing membrane with cutoff point of 12kDa. The protein nature of the antibacterial substance agrocin NA6 was also confirmed by its sensitivity towards proteinase K. Agrocin NA6 showed bacteriostatic effect when mixed with log phase Agrobacterium tumefaciens B6 cells. The bacteriocin under study exhibit good potential to be used as a biocontrol agent.

¹Lab of Molecular Genetics, Department of Microbiology, University of Karachi, Karachi.

²Molecular pathology , DDRRL, Dow University of Health Sciences, Karachi,

³Department of Microbiology, Federal Urdu University, Karachi, Pakistan