Institute of Chemistry
Topic
Hemicellulolytic enzymes of Schizophyllum commune
PhD. program
Biochemistry
Name of the supervisor
Mgr. Vladimír Puchart, PhD.
Contact:
Receiving school
Faculty of Natural Sciences, Commenius University Bratislava
Annotation
Hemicelluloses are the second most abundant source of organically bound carbon on Earth. Due to their complexity, a wide range of enzymes is required for their decomposition into monosaccharide building blocks. One of the most effective producers of these enzymes is the wood-destroying fungus Schizophyllum commune. Although several enzymes produced by this white wood-destroying fungus have been isolated and characterized, the recently sequenced genome of this fungus has revealed a much greater variety of putative hemicellulose catabolism enzymes. A search in the genome to identify putative new enzymes, their isolation and characterization, as well as a better understanding of the collaboration between these new and currently known enzymes will contribute to our efforts to make efficient and environmentally friendly use of this annually renewed carbon source.
Aims: 1. Mining the genome of the fungus Schizophyllum commune for the genes encoding new putative hemicellulolytic enzymes; 2. Heterologous expression of the genes, isolation and purification of the corresponding protein products; 3. To study catalytic properties of the proteins and to determine their role in plant hemicellulose decomposition
Aims: 1. Mining the genome of the fungus Schizophyllum commune for the genes encoding new putative hemicellulolytic enzymes; 2. Heterologous expression of the genes, isolation and purification of the corresponding protein products; 3. To study catalytic properties of the proteins and to determine their role in plant hemicellulose decomposition