微生物学技术

Annotation of prokaryotic sequences can be separated into structural and functional annotation. Structural annotation is dependent on algorithmic interrogation of experimental evidence to discover the physical characteristics of a gene. This is done in an effort to construct a ...

Most systems of interest in the natural and engineering sciences are multiscale in character. Typically available models are incomplete or uncertain. Thus, a probabilistic approach is required. We present a deductive multiscale approach to address such problems, focusing on virus a ...

The complexity of the metabolic networks in even the simplest organisms has raised new challenges in organizing metabolic information. To address this, specialized computer frameworks have been developed to capture, manage, and visualize metabolic knowledge. The leading datab ...

Genome-scale models of metabolism are valuable tools for using genomic information to predict microbial phenotypes. System-level mathematical models of metabolic networks have been developed for a number of microbes and have been used to gain new insights into the biochemical conv ...

One important aim of synthetic biology is to develop a self-replicating biological system capable of performing useful tasks. A mathematical model of a synthetic organism would greatly enhance its value by providing a platform in which proposed modifications to the system could be rapid ...

An essential idea in the area of Systems Biology is that a good understanding of interactions between components is crucial for developing deep knowledge of the functioning of the system as a whole. Network analysis is an approach uniquely suited to uncover patterns and organizing principl ...

Some aerobic photosynthetic bacteria produce a cocktail of carotenoids, some of them being of a high economic value. A good example is the photosynthetic Bradyrhizobium sp. strain ORS278, which synthesizes, in addition to the photosynthetic carotenoid spirilloxanthin, large amou ...

In order to metabolically engineer microorganisms to produce compounds of interest, it is often desirable to integrate foreign genes into the chromosome of the host. However, the consequences of these genetic alterations are not always predictable. The use of a reporter system can often as ...

Carotenoids have received considerable attention due to their interesting industrial applications and, more importantly, their potential beneficial effects on human health. Halophiles comprise a heterogeneous group of microorganisms that need salts for optimal growth. T ...

C-Isotopologue profiling is a powerful tool to determine on a quantitative basis the biosynthetic origin of carotenoids in microorganisms. To this aim, the carotenoid-producing microorganism is grown in medium containing 13C-labeled glucose. After growth, the 13C-isotopolog ...

The carotenoids, a subfamily of the isoprenoids, are among the most widespread, ancient, diverse, and rich class of all natural products and biomolecules. Microorganisms, as well as microalgae and bacteria synthesize isoprenoids from isopentenyl diphosphate (IPP) and its isomer dim ...

Lutein extracts are in increasing demand due to their alleged role in the prevention of degenerative disorders such as age-related macular degeneration (AMD). Lutein extracts are currently obtained from plant sources, but microalgae have been demonstrated to be a competitive source l ...

Cyanobacteria produce many kinds of carotenoids for light harvesting and light protection in photosynthesis. To elucidate the biosynthetic pathways of carotenoids in Anabaena sp. PCC 7120 (also known as Nostoc sp. PCC 7120), we have produced gene-disruption mutants lacking selected ...

Ketocarotenoids are obtained by the action of the β-carotene ketolase, which catalyses the addition of a keto-group at the C4 position of carotenoids β-ion-rings. Most microalgae and higher plants do not posses the carotene ketolase activity and consequently do not synthesize ketocaro ...

Numerous carotenoid-producing Gram positive bacteria have now been identified. Their carotenoid profiles are typically complex with C30 diapocarotenoid skeletons being modified by glucosidation and esterification. In the present article the protocols necessary to ide ...

Carotenoids are natural pigments that exhibit many biological functions, such as antioxidants (i.e., promote oxidative stress resistance), membrane stabilizers, and precursors for vitamin A. The link between these biological activities and many health benefits (e.g., anticar ...

Carotenoids are important pigments produced by plants and many microorganisms, including fungi, microalgae, cyanobacteria, and bacteria. Marine actinomycetes are a group of bacteria that produce a variety of metabolites with economic potential. Here, we describe a general meth ...

Commercial interest in the use of natural pigments isolated from microorganisms has increased in recent years; hence, molecules belonging to the polyisoprenoid group (i.e., β-carotene, astaxanthin, and canthaxanthin) have been the focus of much attention. The bacterium Gordonia ja ...

Escherichia coli is a non-carotenogenic bacterium that could synthesize farnesyl pyrophosphate precursor through the isoprenoid pathway. Carotenoid production in E. coli requires heterologous expression of carotenoid synthesis genes. The carotenoid synthesis opero ...

Many carotenoid pigments are present in a small quantity in nature or low yielding from their natural sources, despite these vivid colorations. Thus, the synthesis of useful carotenoids with metabolic pathway-engineered microorganisms should offer an alternative and promising a ...