- Email: [email protected]
Biosurfactants: Evolution and Diversity in Bacteria
Biosurfactants: Evolution and Diversity in Bacteria RAINA M. MAIER Department of Soil, Water and Environmental Science University of Arizona Tucson, Arizona 85721
I. Introduction A. Biosurfactants Defined B. Biosurfactant-Producing Microorganisms C. In Situ Biosurfactant Production II. Types of Biosurfactants A. Glycolipids B. Lipoproteins C. Phospholipids, Neutral Lipids, and Acidic Lipids D. Polymeric Biosurfactants III. Biosurfactant Function A. Natural Role of Biosurfactants B. Industrial Applications for Biosurfactants IV. The Search for New Biosurfactants A. Discovery of New Biosurfactants B. Discovery of New Biosurfactant Homologs V. Summary References
101 102 103 105 106 107 107 107 108 108 108 109 111 111 114 115 116
I. Introduction Demand for new specialty chemicals in the agriculture, cosmetic, food, pharmaceutical, and environmental industries is steadily increasing. Because these chemicals must be both effective and environmentally compatible, it is natural to turn to the microbial world to try to meet this demand. Microbes produce a largely unexplored variety of chemicals, such as biosurfactants, that have exciting potential for application in biotechnology and industry. These chemicals are often referred to as natural products. Although biosurfactants are just one class of natural products, they are a representative example of the challenges that exist in discovery, analysis, production, and use of natural products in industry. In this chapter biosurfactants and their potential industrial uses are defined briefly, followed by a discussion of the problems associated with discovery of new biosurfactants even as more DNA sequence information and high throughput processing technology become available. 101 ADVANCES IN APPLIED MICROBIOLOGY, VOLUME 52 Copyright 2003, Elsevier (USA). All rights reserved. 0065-2164/03 $35.00
I. Introduction A. Biosurfactants Defined B. Biosurfactant-Producing Microorganisms C. In Situ Biosurfactant Production II. Types of Biosurfactants A. Glycolipids B. Lipoproteins C. Phospholipids, Neutral Lipids, and Acidic Lipids D. Polymeric Biosurfactants III. Biosurfactant Function A. Natural Role of Biosurfactants B. Industrial Applications for Biosurfactants IV. The Search for New Biosurfactants A. Discovery of New Biosurfactants B. Discovery of New Biosurfactant Homologs V. Summary References
101 102 103 105 106 107 107 107 108 108 108 109 111 111 114 115 116
I. Introduction Demand for new specialty chemicals in the agriculture, cosmetic, food, pharmaceutical, and environmental industries is steadily increasing. Because these chemicals must be both effective and environmentally compatible, it is natural to turn to the microbial world to try to meet this demand. Microbes produce a largely unexplored variety of chemicals, such as biosurfactants, that have exciting potential for application in biotechnology and industry. These chemicals are often referred to as natural products. Although biosurfactants are just one class of natural products, they are a representative example of the challenges that exist in discovery, analysis, production, and use of natural products in industry. In this chapter biosurfactants and their potential industrial uses are defined briefly, followed by a discussion of the problems associated with discovery of new biosurfactants even as more DNA sequence information and high throughput processing technology become available. 101 ADVANCES IN APPLIED MICROBIOLOGY, VOLUME 52 Copyright 2003, Elsevier (USA). All rights reserved. 0065-2164/03 $35.00