Compiling Genetic Parts for Synthetic Biology

Metagenomics aims at studying the genetic material recovered directly from environmental samples, enabling the identification of taxonomic groups and gene sequences of unculturable or difficult to culture microorganisms.  New DNA sequencing methodologies mostly enabled deep metagenomics research.  The level of untapped biological diversity has been demonstrated by many metagenomics studies that pointed to millions of new open reading frames encountered in different environments investigated.  New genes sequences from previously unexplored environments can drive the production of new enzymes and gene parts that directly feed synthetic biology and significantly impact industrial production.  Our group has been studying different environments in Brazil such as rivers, soil, industrial areas and insect associated microbiomes.  Our studies revealed vast biodiversity and a large number of new genes and physiological processes, even in nutrient poor environments.  We will discuss the biological diversity observed in some of the environments explored; provide examples of genes with potential for industrial application and the physiology of bacterial communities in explored environments.  The DNA sequences obtained form a database that feeds synthetic biology with new genes that can be directly screened for a desired activity.  Protein coding regions can be also explored, with metadata related to its origin, to drive protein engineering suitable for the proposed application.   In addition, the database can be used for the identification of promoters to be explored as synthetic biology parts.