Biodiversity of marine and terrestrial yeasts from Antarctic ecossystems and prospection of lipases

Abstract

The Antarctic continent is characterized by restrictive environmental conditions of climate, habitats and biogeography. The main organisms adapted to the conditions of this environment are the micro-organisms, in particular highlighted the yeasts, with potential application in several biotechnological processes. Among the enzymatic arsenal of fungi stand out lipases (EC. 3.1.1.3), hydrolases that have wide industrial applicability because of the versatility in its molecular structure and their catalytic properties. Moreover, the microbial biodiversity in this environment is only in early stages of knowledge. Thus, in order to expand knowledge of the role of these micro-organisms in different Antarctic environments and the production and application of lipases in processes that require low and moderate temperatures and / or high salt concentrations, this project has as main objectives: 1) Evaluate the diversity yeast from different samples (marine and terrestrial) from the Antarctica by isolation and culture, 2) Prospection of lipase produced at low and moderate temperatures and / or saline conditions by the yeast-derived Antarctica 3) Optimize lipase production (by means of statistical, software STATISTICA 7.0), 4) Purify and characterize biochemically active lipases in low and moderate temperatures, 5) Identify the functional genes with lipolytic activity by classical PCR, 6) Evaluate the activity of lipolytic genes by real time PCR; in addition, the yeasts that are experiencing biotechnological potential or that are representatives of biodiversity Antarctica, after the taxonomic characterization will be deposited at the collection thematic Micro-organisms of Antarctica structured within the Collection Brasileira of Micro-organisms Environment and Industry (CBMAI).