Exploring phosphonate biosynthetic capacity in anaerobic microorganisms
Molecules possessing a carbon-phosphorus bond (C-P) have traditionally been considered rare in Nature. For example, there are only ~50 phosphonate natural products known, although several have achieved commercial success (e.g. the antibiotic fosfomycin). In addition, several phosphonate cell surface modifications have been found over the last half century, but nothing is known regarding their biosynthesis or biological role. Interestingly, phosphonates possess a reduced (less oxidized) form of phosphorus relative to most biological phosphates, and it has long been suspected that phosphonates predominated in the low oxygen atmosphere of early Earth. We therefore hypothesize that modern day anaerobic environments represent a potentially rich source of phosphonates. To access this metabolic diversity, we propose to collaborate with Dr. Yihua Chen (IM-CAS Beijing), who recently developed a system to capture large fragments of DNA from anaerobic microorganisms and express their chemical output in a related anaerobic ‘host’ bacterium.
Voir la description complète du projetGeoff Horsman
University of Chinese Academy of Sciences (Institute of Microbiology)
Life Sciences
Biotechnology; Life Sciences (not health); Pharmaceuticals
Wilfrid Laurier University
Globalink Research Award