Title: Micro-organisms from Polar Environments: Bioprospecting out of Biodiversity

Presenter: Dr. Donatella de Pascale

University: Institute of Protein Biochemistry, National Research Council, Naples, Italy

Time: 10:00-11:00, 7 June, 2011

Venue: A102, Institute of Microbiology, Chinese Academy of Sciences

Abstract:

Cold-active enzymes produced by psychrophilic micro-organisms often show a high catalytic efficiency at low temperatures, very frequently associated to low stability at moderate and high temperatures. The specific activity of psychrophilic enzymes is higher than that of their mesophilic homolog at temperatures comprises between 0-30 °C. In the past decade, the attention of many researchers have been focused on the biotechnological application of these enzymes, thank to numerous economical and ecological advantages over the use of the enzymes that operate at lower temperatures These fascinating resources of new enzymes will increase the diversity of cold-adapted enzymes and help in selection of suitable biocatalyst for challenging reactions.

For many years, our research interests have been focused on cloning, recombinant expression and characterization of hydrolytic enzymes from psychrophilic microorganisms. Recently, a metagenomic approach, starting from sea-sediments from Antarctic and Arctic regions, has been introduced to obtain new biocatalysts, functionally screened. Metagenomics, a cultivation-independent method, is regarded as one of the best approaches to access and investigate this potential without the need of culturing particular microbes.