PBDNH

Learning from the locals: A metagenomic investigation into the plant biomass degrading capacity in Norwegian native herbivores

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 Obiettivo del progetto (Objective)

'Understanding the enzymology of plant biomass conversion is a key issue in the world’s desire to establish a sustainable bio-based economy. Currently available enzyme technology is insufficiently effective, and several fundamental key questions as to how enzymes and plant cell walls interact remain. The present project will address these issues by studying a natural biomass-converting ecosystem adapted to the local biomass, namely the microbial community (microbiome) resident in the digestive tract of Svalbard reindeer. The project aims to generate a metagenomic reconstruction of microbial community structure and its metabolism using a combination of deep 454 sequencing technology as well as functional and sequence-based screens. It will specifically target recovering genetic determinants encoding genes underpinning the deconstruction of plant structural polysaccharides. Relevant genes identified from the metagenome using bioinformatic and functional screens, will be cloned, over-expressed, and their gene products characterised in detail. In addition to creating fundamental insight into the microbial ecology and enzymology of plant biomass conversion, insight into the reindeer microbiome may also contribute to a better understanding of the health and well-being of this important Norwegian animal. This project will link the most prominent Norwegian research group on biomass enzymology (Prof. Vincent Eijsink, UMB) to one of the most prominent research groups in gut metagenomics (Prof. Morrison, CSIRO, Australia) and to a truly international network of (highly relevant) contacts and collaborations. The project complements existing activities in the host laboratory on polysaccharide converting enzymes and complements ongoing international efforts in herbivore microbiome metagenomics by focusing on a Norwegian “niche” species. The project will also contribute to strengthening research in microbial functional genomics at the host institution.'

Introduzione (Teaser)

An EU-funded research project has identified new enzymes from bacteria found in the digestive tract of reindeer. These could be used for biomass processing.

Descrizione progetto (Article)

Lignocellulosic or woody biomass does not easily break down into useful end-products, making agricultural wastes a major untapped source of energy and other products. Ruminants such as the Svalbard reindeer (Rangifer tarandus platyrhynchus) easily digest lignocellulose, thanks to unique communities of bacteria in their digestive tracts.

The PBDNH project used genetic analyses to study these microorganisms. Researchers looked to identify the bacteria, and their enzymes, that showed promise for use in the industrial conversion of lignocellulosic biomass.

Project members sequenced all of the bacteria present in the reindeer gut environment. A dominant member of this bacterial community, called SRM-1, was identified as part of this process.

In-depth genetic sequencing of SRM-1 revealed a cluster of 13 genes involved in digesting lignocellulose. These genes coded for enzymes that could digest glucans, xylan, xyloglucan, galactomannan and cellulose, all important lignocellulose molecules.

Finally, researchers expressed these enzymes in the laboratory for further study. These may prove be useful as enzymes for industrial biomass conversion processes.