US-Egypt Cooperative Research: Isolation and Overexpression of Thermostable Cellulase Genes from Egyptian Microorganisms

0116854WilsonDescription：该奖项是为了支持纽约伊萨卡康奈尔大学分子生物学和遗传学系David Wilson博士和亚历山大市穆巴拉克科学研究与技术应用城主任Ahmed El-Diwany博士之间的一个合作项目。这项研究的目的是鉴定和表征具有某些应用所需特性的新型纤维素酶。他们计划构建热稳定性高、pH最适范围宽、结晶纤维素活性高的纤维素酶混合物。他们将从埃及的各种土壤中丰富和分离出嗜热的纤维素分解微生物。将对产生的纤维素酶系统进行分析，并对产生所需特性的酶系统的分离株进行进一步鉴定，并克隆和表达编码具有有趣特性的酶的基因。范围：该项目支持两位拥有重要研究专业知识和资源的知名科学家之间的合作。这项研究将增加我们在环境生物学方面的知识，并将产生有用的信息，用于从埃及植物群中相对未开发的来源生产有趣的新酶。这项工作产生的有趣的酶在生物技术过程中可能非常有价值。威尔逊博士是纤维素酶克隆、表达和鉴定方面的专家。El-Diwany博士在这一项目的生物技术方面发表了大量文章，并拥有开展拟议工作的设施。该项目有可能通过开发新的纤维素酶系统来有效利用生物质，例如在乙醇燃料生产中，从而极大地使双方受益。它将促进埃及和美国研究生的教学、培训和学习。该项目结合了两个PI在分子生物学和生物化学方面的互补优势。该项目符合支持共同感兴趣领域的合作研究的INT目标。

0116854WilsonDescription: This award is to support a collaborative project between Dr. David Wilson, Department of Molecular Biology and Genetics, Cornell University, Ithaca, New York and Dr. Ahmed El-Diwany, Department of Molecular Biology, and Director, Mubarak City for Scientific Research & Technology Applications, Alexandria. The research is aimed at identifying and characterizing new cellulases with properties that are desirable for certain applications. They plan to construct cellulase mixtures that have high thermostability, broad pH optima, and high activity on crystalline cellulose. They will enrich and isolate thermophilic cellulolytic microbes from various Egyptian soils. The cellulase systems produced will be analyzed and those isolates producing enzyme systems with the desired properties will be further characterized and genes encoding enzymes with interesting properties will be cloned and expressed.Scope: The project supports collaboration between two well-known scientists who have the expertise and resources for important research. The research will add to our knowledge in environmental biology and will generate useful information for producing interesting new enzymes from a relatively untapped source in the Egyptian flora. Interesting enzymes resulting from this work could be extremely valuable in biotechnological processes. Dr. Wilson is an expert in cellulase cloning, expression and characterization. Dr. El-Diwany is well published on the biotechnological aspects of this project, and has the facilities to carry out the work proposed. This project has the potential to greatly benefit both sides by developing novel cellulase systems for efficient use of biomass, e.g., in ethanol fuel production. It will promote teaching, training, and learning of Egyptian and US graduate students. The project combines the complementary strengths of the two PIs in molecular biology and biochemistry. This project meets the INT objective of supporting collaborative research in areas of mutual interest.