S113: Mining genomic data for extremophilic enzymes

As of May 2010, there were 1000 complete Prokaryotic Genomes available in Entrez Genome through the National Center for Biotechnology Information (NCBI) website.  Many of these genomes have come from extreme prokaryotes.  As sequencing costs lower, increasing numbers of whole microbial genomes will become available.  These genomes represent opportunities for discovery of unique and efficient enzymes that can be used industrially.  The genome sequencing efforts of a haloalkalophilic bacterium, Haloanaerobium hydrogeniformans, isolated from Soap Lake, Washington, that thrives under 7% salinity and pH 11, provides an opportunity to identify extremophilic enzymes that can be used for bio-energy production.  H. hydrogeniformans is capable of producing a 2.3 hydrogen molar yield when provided with 15 mM cellobiose.  It can also produce a small electrical current when used in a bio-fuel cell.  The organism has a 2.6 mb genome, a 33% GC content and 2491 candidate protein-encoding gene models have been identified.  Of the 20 top COGs (Clusters of Orthologous Groups), 16 were identified as coding for ABC (ATP Binding Component)-type transport systems. H. hydrogeniformans and other similar microorganisms provide an opportunity to mine for enzymes that are functional under extreme conditions of salinity and pH values.