Detection and cloning of 1,3-propanediol biosynthesis genes from glycerol in Klebsiella pneumoniae GLC29

• Grant number: 10/13732-1
• Support Opportunities: Scholarships in Brazil - Master
• Start date: March 01, 2011
• End date: August 31, 2012
• Field of knowledge: Biological Sciences - Microbiology - Biology and Physiology of Microorganisms
• Principal Investigator: José Gregório Cabrera Gomez
• Grantee: Amanda Billia Flora
• Host Institution: Instituto de Ciências Biomédicas (ICB). Universidade de São Paulo (USP). São Paulo , SP, Brazil

Abstract

Currently, oil is the main energy source used, but it's near depletion and the cost of getting it is been increasing, so it is necessary to develop new alternatives sources of energy such as biodiesel. With the growth of biodiesel production, many different byproducts are obtined, among which is glycerol. Glycerol has become an abundant source of carbon, being used as a basis for fermentative processes, such as the production of 1,3-propanediol. 1,3-propanediol is a molecule with high economic value, and biodegradability, it can be applied in the industry as a constituent of solvents, lubricants and production of polycondensates as PPT or PTT. Many microorganisms can degrade glycerol turning it into 1,3-propanediol. Among them may be mentioned Klebsiella, Citrobacter and Clostridium. In these organisms different enzymes control the synthesis of the diol, which are products of expression of specific genes. The study of such genes is required to increase and improve the production of the diol. The present research aims to characterize by PCR, the genes responsible for production route to 1,3-propanediol from glycerol in a strain of Klebsiella pneumoniae previously isolated. Another objective is to clone these genes and using them in the construction of recombinant bacterial strains in order to improve the production of this molecule.