Isolating Two Native Extreme Halophilic Bacterial Strains Producing Bacteriorhodopsin Protein from Aran-Bidgol Lake

Bacteriorhodopsin operates as a light/proton transfer pump which converts the light energy into a proton gradient. Energy stored in the proton gradient can be used in a variety of ways. Bacteriorhodopsin producing sources are some Halobacterium species such as Halobacterium sodomense and Halobacterium salinarum which continue to grow in harsh and salt-saturated conditions. Two types of red pigment (IRLS.1) and orange pigment (IRLS.2) producing strains were isolated in order to isolate bacteriorhodopsin producing strains from Aran-Bidgol Lake. Spectroscopy reviews and the results of SDS-Page of membrane proteins of two isolated strains and Iranian native Halobacterium salinarum showed that there is bacteriorhodopsin protein in the sample. Spectroscopic studies showed that Halobacterium salinarum produces the maximum amount, then IRLS.1 and finallyIRLS.2 with the lowest amount of bacteriorhodopsin. The results of biochemical and molecular identification based onthe16srRNA of both mentioned strains indicated their highest similarity with Natrinema sp. XA3-1 and Archaeon RC34, respectively. In this study, the presence of bacteriorhodopsin protein in Iranian native strains was examined for the first time and was isolated purely from Halobacterium salinarum membrane by gel filtration chromatography that given the widespread use of bacteriorhodopsin protein, it will be so effective.