THERMOSTABLE ENZYMES SCREENED ON THERMOPH ILIC MICROORGANISMS FROM DEEP-SEA HYDROTHERMAL VENTS

During 3 cruises in the Pacific ocean, hydrothermal samples have been collected and some thermophilic bacteria and archaea have been purifie d. Four enzymatic activities have been screened on 77 chemo-organohete rotrophic thermophilic microorganisms. Forty-two isolates exhibited in tracellular beta-glucosidase activity whereas only 7 (including only o ne archaeon) showed alcohol dehydrogenase one. Protease activity was n ot detected on only 6 isolates over 77. Twenty-seven isolates exhibite d esterase activity and 3 different electrophoretic patterns have been revealed No isolate was found to exhibit the 4 activities. Preliminar y characterization of these activities showed high thermophily and the rmostability, properties which could be used in potential biotechnolog ical applications.