Title : Prediction and Annotation of Lipase Encoding Genes and Phylogenetic Diversity of Lipase Producing Bacteria from Metagenomes of Different Glaciers of Pakistan
Abstract:
Microbes dwelling successfully in glaciers naturally produce various enzymes as a result of an adaptation to combat extreme cold conditions. Researchers are trying to exploit natural potential of microbial enzymes production for various industrial and biotechnological applications. Different cold environments have been investigated to find out microbial diversity, cold enzymes and their relevant enzyme encoding genes through different methods. However, glaciers in the northern regions of Gilgit, Baltistan, and Chitral (Pakistan), are yet untapped especially with respect to bioprospecting for microbial enzymes. These glaciers are condensed in one of the world’s greatest mountain ranges of Hindu Kush, Karakoram and Himalayan (HKKH) region. Here, we report our first attempt to investigate sediments and surface ice samples collected from HKKH glaciers for bacterial lipases by applying metagenomics approach. Metagenomic DNA from HKKH samples was extracted and sequenced through Illumina technology. Metagenomic assemblies were generated using CLC assembler and lipase genes were predicted by using online prediction tool (GeneMark.hmm). Total 323 cold lipase genes were annotated through both Swiss and TrEMBL (UniProt) databases. Phylogenetic similarities were analyzed through BLASTp. These cold lipase genes were present in following bacterial genera Moraxella and Psychrobacter and in Janthinobacterium. Lipase gene's conserved motifs (GXSXG) and (HGG) were visualized through multiple sequence alignment using Clustal Omega program. Current study would be considered a good effort in exploration of new habitats to exploit their natural potential for novel microbial communities and genes for microbial enzymes. This will also enhance the understanding of ecological and industrial importance of HKKH glaciers.
What will audience learn from your presentation?
- Bioprospecting for new cold microbial enzymes genes from unexplored cold habitat
- Environmental microbiology and role of microbial communities in cold environment and advanced methods to explore un-culturable microbes..
