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Methods for the Isolation of Genes Encoding Novel PHA Metabolism Enzymes from Complex Microbial Communities

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Metagenomics

Part of the book series: Methods in Molecular Biology ((MIMB,volume 1539))

Abstract

Development of different PHAs as alternatives to petrochemically derived plastics can be facilitated by mining metagenomic libraries for diverse PHA cycle genes that might be useful for synthesis of bio-plastics. The specific phenotypes associated with mutations of the PHA synthesis pathway genes in Sinorhizobium meliloti and Pseudomonas putida, allows the use of powerful selection and screening tools to identify complementing novel PHA synthesis genes. Identification of novel genes through their function rather than sequence facilitates the functional proteins that may otherwise have been excluded through sequence-only screening methodology. We present here methods that we have developed for the isolation of clones expressing novel PHA metabolism genes from metagenomic libraries.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Department of Biology, University of Waterloo, 200 University Avenue West, Waterloo, ON, Canada, N2L 3G1

    Jiujun Cheng, Ricardo Nordeste, Maria A. Trainer & Trevor C. Charles

Authors
  1. Jiujun Cheng
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  2. Ricardo Nordeste
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  3. Maria A. Trainer
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  4. Trevor C. Charles
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Corresponding author

Correspondence to Trevor C. Charles .

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Editors and Affiliations

  1. Mikrobiologie & Biotechnologie Biocenter Klein Flottbek, University of Hamburg, Hamburg, Germany

    Wolfgang R. Streit

  2. Göttingen Genomics Laboratory Department of Genomic and Applied Microbiology Institut für Mikrobiologie und Genetik, Georg-August-Universität Göttingen, Göttingen, Germany

    Rolf Daniel

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Cheng, J., Nordeste, R., Trainer, M.A., Charles, T.C. (2017). Methods for the Isolation of Genes Encoding Novel PHA Metabolism Enzymes from Complex Microbial Communities. In: Streit, W., Daniel, R. (eds) Metagenomics. Methods in Molecular Biology, vol 1539. Humana Press, New York, NY. https://doi.org/10.1007/978-1-4939-6691-2_15

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/978-1-4939-6691-2_15

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  • Publisher Name: Humana Press, New York, NY

  • Print ISBN: 978-1-4939-6689-9

  • Online ISBN: 978-1-4939-6691-2

  • eBook Packages: Springer Protocols

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