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Methods for the Isolation of Genes Encoding Novel PHB Cycle Enzymes from Complex Microbial Communities

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Metagenomics

Part of the book series: Methods in Molecular Biology ((MIMB,volume 668))

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 bioplastics. The specific phenotypes associated with mutations of the PHA synthesis pathway genes in Sinorhizobium meliloti allows for 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 finding 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, Waterloo, ON, Canada

    Ricardo F. Nordeste, Maria A. Trainer & Trevor C. Charles

Authors
  1. Ricardo F. Nordeste
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  2. Maria A. Trainer
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  3. Trevor C. Charles
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Corresponding author

Correspondence to Trevor C. Charles .

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Editors and Affiliations

  1. Biocenter Klein Flottbek, Microbiology & Biotechnology, University of Hamburg, Ohnhorststr. 18, Hamburg, 22609, Germany

    Wolfgang R. Streit

  2. Institute of Microbiology and Genetics, Dept. of Genomic & Applied Microbiology, Georg August University, Grisebachstraße 8, Göttingen, 37077, Germany

    Rolf Daniel

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© 2010 Humana Press

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Nordeste, R.F., Trainer, M.A., Charles, T.C. (2010). Methods for the Isolation of Genes Encoding Novel PHB Cycle Enzymes from Complex Microbial Communities. In: Streit, W., Daniel, R. (eds) Metagenomics. Methods in Molecular Biology, vol 668. Humana Press, Totowa, NJ. https://doi.org/10.1007/978-1-60761-823-2_16

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/978-1-60761-823-2_16

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  • Publisher Name: Humana Press, Totowa, NJ

  • Print ISBN: 978-1-60761-822-5

  • Online ISBN: 978-1-60761-823-2

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