Alexander Golubev | St Petersburg Nuclear Physics Institute/Russian Academy of Sciences - Rússia

• Grant number: 09/00435-1
• Support Opportunities: Research Grants - Visiting Researcher Grant - International
• Start date: September 01, 2009
• End date: December 15, 2009
• Field of knowledge: Biological Sciences - Biophysics - Molecular Biophysics
• Principal Investigator: Igor Polikarpov
• Grantee: Igor Polikarpov
• Visiting researcher: Alexander Golubev
• Visiting researcher institution: National Research Centre Kurchatov Institute (NRCKI), Russia
• Host Institution: Instituto de Física de São Carlos (IFSC). Universidade de São Paulo (USP). São Carlos , SP, Brazil

Abstract

The aim of this project is to produce, purify and analyze biochemically, enzymatically and structurally the main exo- and endoglucosidases from filamentous fungi T. harzianum. This work makes part of the molecular studies of glycoside hydrolases, developed by our group and makes part of the efforts to develop new enzymatic cocktails for biomass hydrolysis in general and sugar-cane bagasse, in particular. Moreover, current project is directly related to Thematic Project (submitted within the scope of the 1st FAPESP BioEn project initiative) and will be developed in the National Institute of Science and Technology of Bioetanol. Purification and biochemical, enzymatic and structural characterization of main exo- and endocellulases of this important cellulolytic fungus will allow to develop advanced enzymatic cocktails needed for hydrolysis of particular biomass type (such as sugar-cane bagasse, for example). Within the scope of the current project we aim at determination of the enzymatic activities (CMC, FP and beta-glucosidase) of both fungal supernatant and the purified enzymatic fractions. Furthermore, we plan to study the purified enzymes using biochemical (gel-filtration, native gels and SDS-PAGE), biophysical (CD, fluorescence, DLS) and structural (SAXS, X-ray crystallography) techniques. We also plan to finish refinement and structural analysis of a glycoside hydrolase, laminarinase, recently crystallized and solved in our group with participation of Dr. Alexander Golubev. (AU)