QLK3-2002-01972 Multigenome access technology for industrial catalysts (MGAtech)

Contacts




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Type of Project	Shared Cost Research
Contract No	QLK3-2002-01972
Total Cost
EC Contribution	1,000,000 EUR
Start Date	01-10-002
Duration	36 Months

Abstract

This project will use novel genetic methods for accessing the genetic resource in largely unexplored Chinese extreme biotypes to which it has exclusive access. At the core of these technologies are methods for the direct cloning of both prokaryote and eukaryote genes. In an agreed collaboration with the Chinese Academy of Science and the Chinese authorities, project members have access to sample chemically-unique hyper saline and thermal sites in outlying Chinese provinces. From these it will generate prokaryote and eukaryote gene libraries reflecting the microbial biodiversity at these exceptional sites and employ these gene libraries for the identification and production of valuable new enzymes for applications in cleaning and fabric care. This special collaboration with Chinese scientists will provide substantial opportunities for the development of European and Chinese biotechnology.

Objectives

There is a well-founded belief that extreme environments harbour genetic resources that can be exploited to biotechnological advantage. The project will develop novel genetic methods for accessing gene products in hitherto largely unexplored extreme Chinese biotypes, as described above.The main aims of this project are:

• to obtain material from a range of unique Chinese hypersaline and thermal sites.
• to survey the microbial biodiversity at these sites and establish a culture collection of novel prokaryote and EUKARYOTE microbes.
• to access the microbial biodiversity at these sites in the efficient production of clone libraries containing both prokaryote and EUKARYOTE genes.
• to use the genetic resource so generated for the expression and identification of valuable enzymes.

Activities

It is known that only a small proportion (0.01-1 0%) of the microbial population from any environment is cultivable. Extreme environments are no exception to this rule and molecular analysis of a variety of such environments have revealed unexplored biodiversity as judged by the detection of a large number of novel gene sequences. To date, however, such research has been mainly directed at the prokaryote population and the eukaryote population remains largely unexplored. Accordingly, a significant gene pool remains to be accessed and this project aims to correct this significant omission. The Chinese sites afford unique, largely unexplored and unexploited genetic source material. Specifically the project will:

• use innovative methods to access genomic diversity in selected Chinese hypersaline and thermal sites.
• isolate, identify and express valuable genes for use in the cleaning and fabric care industrial sector.

These objectives will be achieved via:

• sample acquisition, the mounting of expeditions for collection of samples/nucleic acids from seldom accessed thermal and hypersaline sites.
• gene acquisition, with recovery of both prokaryote and eukaryote genes from environmental nucleic acids by generating clone libraries using innovative technologies such as integron recovery and cDNA production.
• organism acquistion, by generating and archiving culture collections of both prokaryotes and eukaryotes from these sites.
• enzyme acquisition through detection and expression of industrially-relevant enzymes from the genetic resources.

Deliverables

The project will provide:

• identification and sustainable use of metabolic and genetic biodiversity through non-destructive sampling of microbial resources in Chinese extreme environments.
• the exploitation of cellular and molecular characteristics of organisms in culture and the identification and sustainable use of metabolic and genetic diversity as a source of new valuable products.
• the molecular characterisation of microbial populations, including uncultivable types, in the identification and sustainable use of use of genes for recombinant production systems as a source of new valuable products.
• improved tools for exploiting biodiversity through the development of novel genetic methods to access and analyse both prokaryote and eukaryote genetic resources in Chinese extreme environments.
• more efficient and cleaner technologies for industry.

Contacts

Coordinator

• M GRANT / University of Leicester Department of Microbiology and Immunology / UNITED KINGDOM

Participant

• MA / Chinese Academy of Sciences Institute of Microbiology / CHINA
• B JONES / Genencorr International BV Molecular and High Throughput Screening / NETHERLANDS
• M VENTOSA / University of Seville Department of Microbiology & Parasitology / SPAIN