Líffræðifélag Íslands
Líffræðiráðstefnan 2015
Erindi/veggspjald / Talk/poster V92
Pia Iloranta (1), Jon Petur Joelsson(1), Sean Michael Scully(1), Johann Orlygsson(1)
1. University of Akureyri
Kynnir / Presenter: Pia Iloranta
Tengiliður / Corresponding author: Johann Orlygsson (Jorlygs@unak.is)
"Macro algae is a promising feedstock for biotechnological applications. Unlike terrestrial lignocellulosic biomass, macro algae lack lignin but contain a much broader range of polysaccharides. While commercially available solutions for the degradation of xylan and cellulose, enzymes for the degradation of polysaccharides found in macro algae such as laminarin, alginate, ulvan, and fucoidan. The aim of our work has been to bioprospect geothermally-heated intertidal pools north of Husavik for microbes producing 1,2-propanediol and/or glycohydrolases capable of degrading the polysaccharides found in macro algae species. The sampled geothermal pools ranged in temperature from 22 to 67°C; samples were collected and enriched on various polysaccharides (laminarin, ulvan, fucoidan, agar, alginate, cellulose) as well as single carbohydrates (glucose, L-rhamnose, and L-fucose). 194 isolates were obtained where then characterized using standard phenotypic methods, API 20E and API ZYM panels, and 16S rRNA. 59 of the isolates produced 1,2-PD from either glucose, rhamnose, or fucose. Confirmation of the enzymatic activities of the isolates and selected polysaccharides is ongoing."