Isolation and identification of extracellular cholesterol oxidase producing microorganisms from various sources

Abstract

Cholesterol oxidase (EC1.1.3.6; CHO) is an enzyme, which catalyzes the oxidation of cholesterol and converts 5-cholesten-3β-ol into 4- cholesten-3-one. The objective of this study is to isolate extracellular cholesterol oxidase (CHO) producing microorganisms to obtain an abundant source of cholesterol oxidase (CHO) for industrial and medicinal needs. Cholesterol oxidase producing bacteria were isolated from waste of regional oil mill, soil and compost. Twenty-five isolates are tested for cholesterol oxidase activity by screening method. As the result of the screening, CHO producer strain was isolated and identified as Streptomyces sp., Arthrobacter sp. and Aspergillus sp. CHO activity of isolates were measured by spectroscopic assay method. Purification and characterization of CHO enzyme is under way.