Production of ligninolytic enzymes by basidiomycetes isolated from Antarctic soils

• Grant number: 19/15776-0
• Support Opportunities: Scholarships in Brazil - Scientific Initiation
• Effective date (Start): October 01, 2019
• Effective date (End): December 31, 2021
• Field of knowledge: Biological Sciences - Microbiology - Applied Microbiology
• Principal Investigator: Lara Durães Sette
• Grantee: Vanessa Lourenço de Souza
• Host Institution: Instituto de Biociências (IB). Universidade Estadual Paulista (UNESP). Campus de Rio Claro. Rio Claro , SP, Brazil

Abstract

Antarctica is considered the continent of extremes, since it has the lowest temperatures already registered, besides having a high incidence of ultraviolet light and low water availability. The microorganisms have adapted and are found living in this remote environment. To do so, it uses survival techniques, including the increase of metabolic flux and the production of cold-adapted enzymes. The main enzymes produced by these microorganisms are hydrolases and oxidoreductases. Among these enzymes we highlight those of the ligninolytic complex (laccase, manganese peroxidase and lignin peroxidase), which can be applied in the environmental and industrial sectors. In the present study, four basidiomycete fungi, isolated from Collins glacier retreat soils (Peninsula Fields, King George Island), will be evaluated in relation to the production of igninolytic enzymes mentioned above. Furthermore, the fungi will be classified in psychrophilic and psychrotolerant, according to the optimal temperature of growth. The best condition for producing the enzymes will be tested under several temperatures. In addition, it will be investigated whether the ligninolytic enzymes obtained will present optimal activity under low and moderate temperatures. Considering that the isolates to be studied are basidiomycetes from Antarctica with the conduction of the present project we hope to obtain new genetic resources producers of ligninolytic enzymes. The results of this project could support new studies related to the biotechnological explotation of cold-adapted enzymes.