|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Research Title Research Unit
- NAPOLI
2 |
|
Introduction The plant cell wall polysaccharides represent the most important renewable source of organic raw material on the planet. Polysacharide degradation in the rumen is performed by symbiontic anaerobe microorganisms that synthesize specific enzymes. These metabolisms are important for the animal nutrition welfare and production. The hydrolysis of polysaccharides is achieved by the coordinate action of many different enzymes. Rumen bacteria are a source of plant cell wall degrading enzymes that could prove particularly valuable for improving the digestibility of plant material by farm animals. Studies on the use of these enzymes as additives in the diet for ruminants are very well reported from at least thirty years. Many works are based on the hypotheses that solubilising the fiber with hydrolytic enzymes before animal feeding, there is an increase in digestibility. Objectives This project will focus on the study of enzymes implicated in the hydrolysis and modification mechanisms of plant cell wall polysaccharides. These enzymes will be studied from rumen anaerobic microorganisms but also from thermophile microorganisms source that should be used for biotechnological applications. The enzymes and their genes will be characterised for the capacity they have in degrading polysaccharide matrixes. Particularly, it will be studied pectinases, cellulases, xylanases and all the activities related to the debranching of hemicelluloses. The genes coding for these activities will be cloned in specific expression vectors and their products analysed for the structure and enzyme kinetics. Further work will be focused on the possibility they can assume in biotechnological applications. |
|
|
