Metagenomic Technologies for Gene Discovery: Applications for bioethanol production
Event details
| Date | 18.12.2012 |
| Hour | 16:15 › 17:15 |
| Speaker | Dr Rolene Bauer, Department of Biotechnology, University of Western Cape, South Africa |
| Location | |
| Category | Conferences - Seminars |
The term ‘metagenomics’ applies to studies based on extraction of total community DNA from an environmental source in a culture independent approach. The Institute for Microbial Biotechnology and Metagenomics (IMBM) are involved in the development of new metagenomic technologies for recovery of novel genes from extreme environments. Technologies include the extraction of high-molecular weight DNA from extreme environments. Co-extraction of phenolic inhibitors causes problems during subsequent cloning steps, while removal through secondary purification steps reduces yield and quality. A ‘one-step’ approach yields stable, inhibitor-free high molecular weight DNA suitable for sensitive downstream applications such as PCR, restriction enzyme digestions, ligation and direct cloning. Cloning approaches include the preparation of large insert libraries using fosmid and BAC vectors. High-throughput library screening in conjunction with transposon mutagenesis and direct clone sequencing was highly successful in the identification of a range of novel gene products. Over 100 clones, displaying cellulase or hemicellulaseb activities were identified, showing high levels of sequence novelty. ORFs were cloned and the functional properties of heterologous enzymes determined. This study highlights the potential of new metagenomic technologies and robotic screening methods, coupled with next-generation sequencing, in the discovery of novel enzymes.
Practical information
- General public
- Free
- This event is internal
Organizer
- IIE