Engineering Stability in Microbial Catalysts

Organisms from extreme environments possess unusual abilities to survive in harsh chemical environments. Understanding strategies for stabilizing cellular constituents is of interest from both scientific and engineering perspectives. We are evaluating the evolution of stabilizing adaptations in microbial systems. Knowledge of unique physiological function may enable the engineering of stability in industrial and environmental biocatalysts. Current research involves the discovery of unique enzymes for biotransformation as well as the evaluation of molecular interactions which govern protein stability under extreme conditions. 
 
Microbial Physiology in Extreme Environments

The characterization of archaeal genomes is revealing gene sequences which have not been identified biochemically in extremophilic cultures. Characterizing the selective pressures which govern the expression of this genetic capacity warrants the design and application of novel bioreactor systems which can withstand extremes of temperature, pressure, pH and salinity. Our laboratory focuses on providing environments which reproduce extreme environmental conditions of archaeal habitats. These cultivation strategies will enable the culture of extremophiles to high cell densities and the identification metabolic characteristics which may not be expressed in conventional bioreactors. 
 
Metabolic Engineering of Organisms for Environmental Remediation

An understanding of microbial physiology may enable the design of novel biocatalysts for directed biotransformations. We are pursuing metabolic engineering through cloning and expressing foreign genes in methylotrophs. Along these line we are characterizing the impact of reactive intermediates on the metabolism of the genetically engineered microbes. This work contributes to the interdisciplinary training of engineers and scientists to address the remediation of environmental pollutants.