11. Extremophiles II

Question 1

what is bioprespecting?

Answer 1

• search for useful biological material

Question 2

what is involved in bioprospecting?

Answer 2

• research
• product(s)
• income
• conservation

Question 3

how is bioprospecting performed?**

Answer 3

• environmental sample
  – DNA extraction

– (or) culture enrichment; dilution
– (or) high-throughput culturing; domestication
— pasting; isolation; DNA extraction (or) functional screening

• genomics / metagenomics
  – functional screening

Question 4

what are the industial applications of bioprospecting?

Answer 4

• biocatalysts that can cope with industrial process conditions
• novel sites may contain novel microorganisms with novel biosynthetic pathways
• extremozymes
  – pre-adapted to operate optimally under contions which found
  – exteme stability; extremozymes offer new opportunities for biocatalysis and biotransformation

Question 5

what are the bio-catalytic applications for thermophiles?

Answer 5

• amylases, glycosidases:
  – starch processing, glucose, fructose, trehalose, lactose, digestion in milk, saccharifying enzymes, oligosaccharides synthesis
• lipase:
  – waste water treatments, detergent formulations
• xylanases
  – paper bleaching
• proteases
  – food processing, detergents, amino acids production
• DNA polymerases
  – genetic engineering

Question 6

what are the bio-catalytic applications for psycrophiles?

Answer 6

• amylases, proteases, lipases
  – polymer-degrading agents in detergent
• dehydrogenase
  – biosensors

Question 7

what are the bio-catalytic applications for alkaliphiles?

Answer 7

• cellulases, proteases
  – polymer degrading agents in detergents
• amylases, lipases, cyclodextrins
  – good additives

Question 8

what are the bio-catalytic applications for halophiles?

Answer 8

• compatible solutes
  – pharmaceuticals
• membranes
  – cosmetic additives