The Biochemical and Genetic Comparisons of Novel B Galactosidases

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This project is centered on studies of soil microorganisms growing at relatively low temperatures (five degrees centigrade). The properties of the enzyme betagalactosidase are being studied in these organism in order to understand how protein structure dictates the temperature optimum of an enzyme's activity. The genes encoding these activities are being cloned from Arthrobacter strains and compared with information found for other microorganisms with higher growth temperatures. Creative selection procedures are also being developed to isolate microorganisms with other novel betagalactosidases. %%% The dominant environment of the earth and its oceans is below twenty degrees centigrade, and there is a rich source of diverse microorganisms which have evolved to grow in the cold. Enzymes active at low temperatures could be used in food processing, bioremediation, and molecular biology.