Question

Gelatin hydrolysis can benefit pathogens and soil dwelling microbes. Explain.

Answer 1

Gelatin hydrolysis test can detect how able an organism is to produce gelatinase (which is a proteolytic enzyme) that can liquefy gelatin.  

This process of gelatin hydrolysis takes place in two different steps.

In the first reaction, gelatinases degrade gelatin to produce polypeptides.

Then in the second step, the polypeptides are converted into amino acids.

The pathogens and the soil-dwelling microbial cells can then take up these amino acids and theycan use them in their metabolic processes.