Study of Ribulose 1, 5-Bisphosphate Carboxylase from Sulfobacillus acidophilus Strain NY-1 Isolated from Lignite Mines

One of the key compounds engaged in the carbon dioxide fixation cycle (Calvin-Benson-Bassham cycle) is Ribulose 1, 5-Bisphosphate Carboxylase/ Oxygenase (RuBisCo). These are known to act as a carbon sink thus leading to decrease of the carbon level in the atmosphere. This unique property of RuBisCo can therefore help in diminishing an Earth-wide global warming problem, a noteworthy risk in the present world. In the present study, presence of RuBisCo in Sulfobacillus acidophilus strain NY-1 was studied. This strain was isolated from Neyveli lignite mines and their growth parameters such as pH and temperature wereoptimized. The ideal pH and temperature for S. acidophilus was at pH 1.7 and at 45oC respectively. The correlation of growth of S. acidophilus with light, carbon dioxide and aeration was investigated by enumerating the number of cells/mL using a hemocytometer. The cell count was highest in light condition whereas no growth was observed in dark condition. At the 60th hour of incubation, a cell density of 1.60×106 cells/mL was observed. Similarly, in the presence of carbon dioxide the maximum cell count was 2.72×106 at the 40th hour of incubation with aeration. The presence of RuBisCo in S. acidophilus was affirmed by ion exchange chromatography technique.