THERMOPHILIC MICROORGANISMS AS SOURCE OF HEAT STABLE OXIDASE AND PEROXIDASE

ENZYMES OF INTEREST IN CHEMICAL/BIOLOGICAL DEFENSE, PARTICULALY OXIDASES AND PEROXIDASES, WOULD BE MORE USEFUL IF THEY COULD WITHSTAND HIGH TEMPERATURES AND HAD A LONGER SHELF LIFE. THERMALLY LABILE FORMS NOW AVAILABLE COULD BE SYNTHETICALLY STABILIZED BUT THIS WOULD BE EXPENSIVE. MICROORGANISMS EXISTING IN HIGH TEMPERATURE HABITATS SURVIVE SUCH CONDITIONS BECAUSE THEY PRODUCE HEAT STABLE ENZYMES. THE VARIED ENVIRONMENTAL EXTREMES OF A NEARBY GEOTHERMAL REGION PROVIDE AN UNPARALLELED OPPORTUNITY TO SCREEN BACTERIA, FUNGI AND ALGAE FROM THERMALLY STABLE OXIDASES AND PEROXIDASES. ONCE ISOLATED, AN ATTEMPT WILL BE MADE TO INCREASE ENZYME PRODUCTION IN THE MOST PROMISING ORGANISMS BY MANIPULATION OF AERATION, TEMPERATURE AND CHEMICAL INDUCERS.