Antarctic Yeasts as a Source of Enzymes for Biotechnological Applications

Psychrophilic and psychrotrophic yeasts able to live in extremely cold environments like Antarctica produce cold-active enzymes as part of their metabolic adaptation mechanisms. Some of these enzymes could be used for industrial and biotechnological applications requiring high activity at mild/cold temperatures or a fast inactivation by heat. In this chapter, the basic principles for screening of cold-active enzymes and their potential industrial applications (textiles, food and dairy products, brewing and wine industry, laundry, etc) are presented. When it comes to the search of yeasts with cold-enzymes production, Antarctica is one of the most promised environments to work in. Cold-active hydrolytic enzymes from Antarctic yeasts such as lipases, proteases, cellulases and amylases are mentioned in this chapter. Also pectinolytic, lignocellulolytic and oil-related (lipase and esterase) enzymes produced by these microorganisms are presented, focusing on yeasts isolation, enzymes producers screening, and purification and characterization of specific col-active enzymes. The near future should find us discussing the regulation about the use of Antarctic yeast as a source of cold enzymes and, once this point be clarified and approved by the international forums on Antarctic activities regulation, the development and scaling up of these biological products may be addressed.Fil: Martorell, María Martha. Ministerio de Relaciones Exteriores, Comercio Interno y Culto. Dirección Nacional del Antártico. Instituto Antártico Argentino; Argentina. Universidad de Buenos Aires. Facultad de Farmacia y Bioquímica; ArgentinaFil: Ruberto, Lucas Adolfo Mauro. Consejo Nacional de Investigaciones Científicas y Técnicas. Oficina de Coordinación Administrativa Houssay. Instituto de Nanobiotecnología. Universidad de Buenos Aires. Facultad de Farmacia y Bioquímica. Instituto de Nanobiotecnología; Argentina. Ministerio de Relaciones Exteriores, Comercio Interno y Culto. Dirección Nacional del Antártico. Instituto Antártico Argentino; Argentina. Universidad de Buenos Aires. Facultad de Farmacia y Bioquímica; ArgentinaFil: Castellanos de Figueroa, Lucia Ines. Consejo Nacional de Investigaciones Científicas y Técnicas. Centro Científico Tecnológico Conicet - Tucumán. Planta Piloto de Procesos Industriales Microbiológicos; ArgentinaFil: Mac Cormack, Walter Patricio. Universidad de Buenos Aires. Facultad de Farmacia y Bioquímica; Argentina. Ministerio de Relaciones Exteriores, Comercio Interno y Culto. Dirección Nacional del Antártico. Instituto Antártico Argentino; Argentin

Yeast Activities Involved in Carbon and Nitrogen Cycles in Antarctica

Antarctica and sub-Antarctic regions are characterized by extreme conditions for life such as low temperatures and nutrient availability, high solar irradiation, and dryness; however, microorganisms from the three domains of life have been found as common inhabitants of soils and waters from those zones. Despite bacteria being the most numerous microorganisms in those habitats, a great diversity of psychrotrophic and psychrophilic yeasts have been also isolated and described. Yeasts, as chemoheterotrophic microorganisms, are involved in the recycling and mineralization of organic matter, playing an important role in carbon cycle. The range of organic substrates that they can degrade is wide. Their ability to produce extracellular hydrolytic enzymes involved in the breakdown of natural organic polymers has been well documented. Moreover, they can also use other substrates as n-alkanes or polyphenolic compounds as a sole carbon and energy source, so they could play a role in bioremediation in human-impacted areas. Most yeast obtain their energy by aerobic respiration; however, in anaerobic conditions, some of them carry out fermentation or anaerobic respiration. The use of nitrate or nitrite as the final electron acceptor provides nitrous oxide (a greenhouse gas) as an end product. Thus, those yeasts can be considered as denitrifying microorganisms playing an important role in the nitrogen cycle.Fil: Vero, Silvana. Universidad de la República. Facultad de Química; UruguayFil: Garmendia, Gabriela. Universidad de la República. Facultad de Química; UruguayFil: Martinez, Adalgisa. Universidad de la República. Facultad de Química; UruguayFil: Cavello, Ivana Alejandra. Consejo Nacional de Investigaciones Científicas y Técnicas. Centro Científico Tecnológico Conicet - La Plata. Centro de Investigación y Desarrollo en Fermentaciones Industriales. Universidad Nacional de La Plata. Facultad de Ciencias Exactas. Centro de Investigación y Desarrollo en Fermentaciones Industriales; ArgentinaFil: Wisniewski, Michael. United States Department of Agriculture; Estados Unido