Lipolytic activity produced by Pseudomonas aeruginosa and Acinetobacter calcoaceticus strains grown in wool-scour effluent

Two bacterial isolates from a mixed microbial culture able to degrade wool-scour effluent were found to synthesize and produce lipolytic activity. The growth, esterase production, and wool grease degradation by these strains, a Pseudomonas aeruginosa and an Acinetobacter calcoaceticus, were compared with other characterized P. aeruginosa and A. calcoaceticus strains. Growth of all strains in minimal media containing wool-scour effluent as a carbon source resulted in the synthesis of extracellular lipolytic activity which hydrolysed p-nitrophenyl palmitate, α-naphthyl acetate, α-naphthyl palmitate, cholesteryl oleate, cetyl palmitate, stearyl laurate, and tributyrin.