Optimized biocellulose production: application of molecular biology of microorganisms

• Grant number: 12/23725-8
• Support Opportunities: Scholarships in Brazil - Scientific Initiation
• Start date: April 01, 2013
• End date: September 30, 2014
• Field of knowledge: Health Sciences - Pharmacy
• Principal Investigator: Sidney José Lima Ribeiro
• Grantee: Carolina Véspoli de Melo
• Host Institution: Instituto de Química (IQ). Universidade Estadual Paulista (UNESP). Campus de Araraquara. Araraquara , SP, Brazil

Abstract

Bacterial Cellulose or Biocellulose is produced by bacteria in carbohydrate-rich culture mediums. Cellulose occurs at the surface of the cell as s protection and survival strategy of the producing microorganism, which presents this characteristic due to genes that codify certain enzymes like the cellulose synthase (CS) and its allosteric activator, and the enzymes responsible for the assembly, crystallization, and exportation of cellulose as well. These genes are located in the operon CS and adjacent regions. This project aims to aggregate the experience on Molecular Biology (Prof. Zanelli) and Materials Chemistry (Prof. Ribeiro) in order to use some tools of Molecular Biology in the optimization of cellulose production by Gluconacetobacter hansenii ATCC23769. For that, molecules of recombinant DNA will be constructed from cloning vectors coming from a wide range of hosts for the genes related to cellulose production. Once the clones are obtained they will be introduced in G. hansenii ATCC23769 by using the method of electroforming and post-induction of the expression of the cloned genes. Cellulose production from modified and not-modified bacteria will be then compared aiming to better understand the contribution of these genes in cellulose production and consequently enhancing the G. hansenii production efficiency.(AU)