MOLECULAR IDENTIFICATION AND CHARACTERIZATION OF AMYLASE PRODUCING POTENTIAL BACTERIA FROM INDUSTRIAL SOIL OF PUNJIPATHRA, RAIGARH, CHHATTISGARH

This study focuses on the isolation, biochemical characterization, and Molecular Identification of amylase-producing bacteria from the soil of the unexplored industrial site of Punjipathra, Raigarh, Chhattisgarh. Six soil samples were collected from two industrial sites (Jagdamba Sponge Pvt. Ltd & Ajay Steel Casting Pvt. Ltd) and 14 morphologically distinct bacterial colonies were isolated. Primary screening on 1% Starch agar revealed one amylase enzyme-producing isolates from Ajay Steel Casting Pvt. Ltd indicated by a clear zone of hydrolysis. Secondary screening confirmed isolate exhibiting significant enzyme activity of 7.87 ± 0.1 U/mg protein under optimal conditions of 37 °C and pH 7 after 5 minutes of incubation. Comprehensive biochemical characterization for the isolate was conducted using standard tests. Molecular identification through 16S rRNA gene sequencing confirmed the identity of the isolate with 96.24% similarity with Bacillus cereus EGU66. Further this sequence submitted in NCBI with accession number PX613660.1 as BIOTECH_THMKS01. These findings suggest that bacteria inhabiting industry-polluted environments have adaptive enzymatic potential and underscore their applicability in industrial-scale amylase production.