POLYPEPTIDE AND POLYSACCHARIDE PROCESSING IN HYPERTHERMOPHILIC MICROORGANISMS

[摘要] This project focused on the microbial physiology and biochemistry of heterotrophic hyperthermophiles with respect to mechanisms by which these organisms process polypeptides and polysaccharides under normal and stressed conditions. Emphasis is on two model organisms, for which completed genome sequences are available: Pyrococcus furiosus (growth Topt of 98°C), an archaeon, and Thermotoga maritima (growth Topt of 80°C), a bacterium. Both organisms are obligately anaerobic heterotrophs that reduce sulfur facultatively. Whole genome cDNA spotted microarrays were used to follow transcriptional response to a variety of environmental conditions in order to identify genes encoding proteins involved in the acquisition, synthesis, processing and utilization of polypeptides and polysaccharides. This project provided new insights into the physiological aspects of hyperthermophiles as these relate to microbial biochemistry and biological function in high temperature habitats. The capacity of these microorganisms to produce biohydrogen from renewable feedstocks makes them important for future efforts to develop biofuels.

[发布日期] 2008-12-22

[学科分类] 生物科学（综合）

[关键词] BACTERIA;BIOCHEMISTRY;BIOFUELS;BIOLOGICAL FUNCTIONS;CAPACITY;GENES;MICROORGANISMS;PHYSIOLOGY;POLYPEPTIDES;POLYSACCHARIDES;PROCESSING;PROTEINS;SULFUR;SYNTHESIS hyperthermophilic microorganisms;polysaccharides;polypeptides