Minos as a novel Tc1/mariner-type transposable element for functional genomic analysis in Aspergillus nidulans.

Transposons constitute powerful genetic tools for gene inactivation, exon or promoter trapping and genome analyses. The Minos element from Drosophila hydei, a Tc1/mariner-like transposon, has proved as a very efficient tool for heterologous transposition in several metazoa. In filamentous fungi, only a handful of fungal-specific transposable elements have been exploited as genetic tools, with the impala Tc1/mariner element from Fusarium oxysporum being the most successful.

Unraveling the lipolytic activity of thermophilic bacteria isolated from a volcanic environment.

In a bioprospecting effort towards novel thermostable lipases, we assessed the lipolytic profile of 101 bacterial strains isolated from the volcanic area of Santorini, Aegean Sea, Greece. Screening of lipase activity was performed both in agar plates and liquid cultures using olive oil as carbon source. Significant differences were observed between the two screening methods with no clear correlation between them.

Assessment of the biomass hydrolysis potential in bacterial isolates from a volcanic environment: biosynthesis of the corresponding activities.

The biomass degrading enzymatic potential of 101 thermophilic bacterial strains isolated from a volcanic environment (Santorini, Aegean Sea, Greece) was assessed. 80 % of the strains showed xylanolytic activity in Congo Red plates, while only eight could simultaneously hydrolyze cellulose. Fifteen isolates were selected on the basis of their increased enzyme production, the majority of which was identified as Geobacilli through 16S rDNA analysis.

Homologous overexpression of xylanase in Fusarium oxysporum increases ethanol productivity during consolidated bioprocessing (CBP) of lignocellulosics.

In an effort to increase ethanol productivity during the consolidated bioprocessing (CBP) of lignocellulosics by Fusarium oxysporum, we attempted the constitutive homologous overexpression of one of the key process enzymes, namely an endo-xylanase. The endo-β-1,4-xylanase 2 gene was incorporated into the F. oxysporum genome under the regulation of the gpdA promoter of Aspergillus nidulans.