Metagenomics, the genomic analysis of a
population of microorganisms, has emerged as a powerful centrepiece, which
allows direct isolation of genomic DNA from an environment culturing the
organisms under study, and cloning of it into a cultured organism. The two approaches which govern the field of
metagenomics are: sequence-based and function- based analysis. Sequence-based analysis can involve complete
sequencing of clones containing phylogenetic anchors that indicate the
taxonomic group that is probable source of the DNA fragment. Functional-based
analysis employs the construction of metagenomic libraries from DNA of diverse
environmental samples in cloning vectors including plasmid, cosmid, fosmid and
bacterial artificial chromosome (BAC) and host strains. Enzymes isolated from
these microbes have the potential to possess quite unique physiological and
biochemical properties. This review
outlines a number of function-based metagenomic approaches which are available
to screen metagenomic libraries constructed to facilitate the exploitation of
some of these potentially novel biocatalysts.
Functional screens to isolate novel metagenome-derived esterases, amylases
and serine proteases enzymes among others, together with approaches which can
be employed to help overcome some of the typical problems encountered with
functional metagenomic- based screens are discussed.
Name of the student : Meenakshi Basu
Reg No: 1741210034
Batch: M.Tech II Year
Name of the Guide : Dr. M Ramya