| Grant number: | 16/20385-2 |
| Support type: | Regular Research Grants |
| Duration: | April 01, 2017 - September 30, 2019 |
| Field of knowledge: | Biological Sciences - Biochemistry - Biochemistry of Microorganisms |
| Principal researcher: | Hamilton Cabral |
| Grantee: | Hamilton Cabral |
| Home Institution: | Faculdade de Ciências Farmacêuticas de Ribeirão Preto (FCFRP). Universidade de São Paulo (USP). Ribeirão Preto , SP, Brazil |
Abstract
Microorganisms are known as sources of industrial enzymes due to easy availability, and rapid growth rate. Genetic modifications using recombinant DNA technology can be easily held in microbial cells to increase production of the enzyme, and scientific development. The industrial production of enzymes is an area of Biotechnology in expansion that moves billions of dollars annually and there is a growing number of patents and scientific papers published. Filamentous fungi have been used in the food processing industry for many decades. The industrial potential of these microorganisms biodiversity stimulate their research to develop fermentation processes in large scale purification of enzymes and methods for improving strains, contributing to increase the use of fungi in the industry. Peptidases have a confusion classification, this is due to its great structural diversity and action. The selection of fungi and enzymes of this project is justified by the possibility for structural and functional studies comparing the different subclasses of peptidases besides the relevant biochemical properties exhibited by these enzymes, completed with wild strains, because of the importance of these enzymes in physiological process. Little is known about the structure of peptidases of microorganisms, especially filamentous fungi, some of which are involved in potential pathogenic to humans and commercially important plants, and peptidases enzymes involved in these disease processes. The aims of this project is to perform cloning of genes encoding peptidases of filamentous fungi in the expression system in Pichia pastoris due to the need for greater knowledge of this subclass of hydrolases, because little is known about three-dimensional structure of these fungal enzymes, as well as the potential application biotechnological. Since this is a project involving the cloning and expression of novel enzymes that have broad applications in many areas, this project has great potential for new patent applications, in addition to scientific papers that will be produced with the results obtained. (AU)