Extremophiles find work in factories
Micro-organisms existing in extreme environments can produce compounds of industrial interest and biocatalysts that bridge the gap between chemical and biological processes. Background The exploitation of micro-organisms and the molecules they synthesise is becoming increasingly important in industry. Processes using biological catalysts (enzymes) require more moderate conditions and are more environmentally friendly than chemical processes. For instance, enzymatic bleaching of paper avoids the use of chlorine compounds and the presence of dioxins in the waste. Yet enzymes are less stable than chemical catalysts and are inactivated by organic solvents and extremes of temperature or pH values. Hence the interest in extremophiles, which are organisms that colonise harsh environments, such as abyssal hot-vent systems, polar soils, salterns, soda lakes and sulphurous hot springs. In order to survive, extremophiles have evolved original metabolic pathways and highly stable enzymes with unusual activity ranges. The A project funded under the European Commission's Union's Biotech 2 research programmeject, "Extremophiles as cell factories", aims to develop novel industrial uses for these remarkable organisms. Description, impact and results The project partners have identified new, stable enzymes with applications notably in the food, chemical, pharmaceutical, paper, detergent, and textile industries. In paper-making, they found biocatalysts that work at pH 10 and 110°C. For producing sweeteners and other starch products, heat-stable amylases and de-branching enzymes have emerged, whose use would save energy by avoiding repeated heating (to dissolve the starch) and cooling (to allow enzymatic processing). Other identified `extremozymes' make it possible to produce cyclodextrins - new starch derivatives used as stabilisers and drug carriers - more simply and more efficiently. For genetic engineers using the polymerase chain reaction, extremophiles offer new, less error-prone DNA polymerases. The project has enlightened protein engineers on the structural features that stabilise enzymes - this will help them to design heat-stable enzymes for specific applications. Extremophiles are also important for the small molecules they produce, notably stabilisers and surfactants of interest to the pharmaceutical industry. Working partnerships The project is a large one, with 48 academic and nine industrial partners, and it includes most European teams working in the field. With good management and co-ordination, it has been a rewarding venture, yielding over 100 publications and several patents. In its wake, four small companies have been set up, creating about 40 jobs. And this is just the beginning, as the young people trained within the project are snatched up by companies eager to exploit the potential of these fascinating organisms.