Discovery and mechanistic investigation of carbohydrate-active enzymes from the intestinal microbiota of aquatic herbivores

• Grant number: 24/15182-1
• Support Opportunities: Scholarships in Brazil - Post-Doctoral
• Start date: October 01, 2024
• End date: September 30, 2026
• Field of knowledge: Biological Sciences - Biochemistry - Chemistry of Macromolecules
• Principal Investigator: Mário Tyago Murakami
• Grantee: Carlos Henrique de Moura Oliveira
• Host Institution: Centro Nacional de Pesquisa em Energia e Materiais (CNPEM). Ministério da Ciência, Tecnologia e Inovação (Brasil). Campinas , SP, Brazil
• Associated research grant: 21/04891-3 - Enzymatic mechanisms from the microbiome of aquatic herbivores for depolymerization and metabolism of complex carbohydrates, AP.TEM

Abstract

The production of bioactive compounds, alternative chemicals and biofuels from lignocellulosic materials is considered one of the most promising strategies to replace current non-renewable petrochemical routes. One of the main challenges encountered is the depolymerization of its components, such as cellulose and hemicellulose, into fermentable sugars. Microorganisms present in natural environments have a great capacity to obtain energy from lignocellulosic biomass, producing an arsenal of enzymes that degrade complex carbohydrates. Several of these enzymes have been identified from omics studies of microbial communities associated with animal digestive systems, however, the microbiota present in the digestive systems of aquatic herbivores remain little explored. Brazilian aquatic environments are rich in plant polysaccharides from a wide spectrum of aquatic and semi-aquatic plants and algae. Thus, the intestinal microbiota of aquatic herbivorous animals must reflect this diversity, potentially revealing new molecular strategies for the deconstruction of complex carbohydrates. This project aims to prospect for new enzyme systems active on carbohydrates based on the rational exploration of Brazilian biodiversity. Microbiotas associated with the digestive systems of aquatic animals will be investigated, using the integration of omics approaches with in-depth experimental investigation of the activity of unknown proteins through detailed biochemical and mechanistic studies, aiming to obtain an atomic/molecular understanding of new activities and modes of action present in these still unexplored systems. The information generated in this project will be used to expand knowledge about the diversity of carbohydrate-active proteins, explore Brazilian microbial biodiversity and identify targets with potential biotechnological applications, aiming to boost the transition to a sustainable economy. (AU)