Isolation and in silico characterization of novel esterase gene with β-lactamase fold isolated from metagenome of north western Himalayas.

An esterase-producing clone Aph2 was isolated from the Apharwat soil metagenomic library, a mountain peak in NW Himalayas. ORF 2 (Est Ac) of clone Aph2 corresponds to 271 aa protein and showed 26 % sequence similarity to carboxylesterase gene of Synechococcus sp. JA-2-3B.

Isolation of a thioesterase gene from the metagenome of a mountain peak, Apharwat, in the northwestern Himalayas.

The soil metagenome of Apharwat (latitude 34.209° and longitude 74.368°) was explored for the presence of esterase encoding genes using a cultivation-independent approach, metagenomics.

Metagenomics: Future of microbial gene mining.

Modern biotechnology has a steadily increasing demand for novel genes for application in various industrial processes and development of genetically modified organisms. Identification, isolation and cloning for novel genes at a reasonable pace is the main driving force behind the development of unprecedented experimental approaches. Metagenomics is one such novel approach for engendering novel genes.