Innovations applied to enzymes, plant polysaccharides, carbohydrate chemistry and biochemistry

• Grant number: 18/04505-3
• Support Opportunities: Research Grants - Visiting Researcher Grant - International
• Start date: September 05, 2018
• End date: September 19, 2018
• Field of knowledge: Biological Sciences - Microbiology - Applied Microbiology
• Principal Investigator: Roberto da Silva
• Grantee: Roberto da Silva
• Visiting researcher: Peter Biely
• Visiting researcher institution: Slovak Academy of Sciences (SAS), Slovakia
• Host Institution: Instituto de Biociências, Letras e Ciências Exatas (IBILCE). Universidade Estadual Paulista (UNESP). Campus de São José do Rio Preto. São José do Rio Preto , SP, Brazil
• Associated research grant: 15/26982-0 - Exploring novel strategies for depolymerization of plant cell-wall polysaccharides: from structure, function and rational design of glycosyl hydrolases to biological implications and potential biotechnological applications, AP.TEM

Abstract

The current proposal aim to support the visit of Dr. Peter Biely from Slovak Academy of Sciences to participate as a Visiting Professor at IBILCE-UNESP, SJ Rio Preto, for three weeks in September 2018. Prof. Biely is a distinguished and renowned professor in research and development of plant cell wall degrading enzymes (for food and biofuels) and carbohydrate chemistry and biochemistry, with more than 220 publications in the area. The invited professor will be enrolled in the following activities: 1) Improvement of knowledge and research strategies in the area of bioconversion of vegetal lignocellulosic biomass, helping our group to find gaps and unexplored fields open to research, aiming the structuring of projects at the frontier of knowledge of the area; 2) Studies of proposals for research and exchange of students and teachers; 3) Training of professor and students in efficient techniques for selection and characterization of enzymes important for lignocellulose bioconversion using chromogenic and fluorogenic substrates; 4) Introduction of easy techniques for preparation of covalently dyed polysaccharides; 5) Training of students in separation and characterization of xylooligosaccharides, potential prebiotics; 6) Presentation of Slovakia Academy of Sciences activities and research lines; 7) Short Course: Hemicellulases: Chemistry, Biochemistry and applications; 8) Visit and discussion of research projects in other research centers (CNPEM. Also, Professor Biely should participate in several other discussions during his stay to discuss potential projects in cooperation and visit our laboratories and research groups at UNESP. (AU)