SGER: Extremely Large Insert Clone Libraries for Functional Characterization of Uncultured Archaea

University Of California-Santa Cruz, Santa Cruz CA

Investigators

Abstract

This project is intended to push technologies derived from the human genome project to their current limits, to characterize the genomes of uncultivated marine archaea. These archaea represent 15% or more of all prokaryotic cells in the worlds oceans, yet their biochemistry, physiology, and ecological significance is unknown. The approach involves isolation of extremely large (150-300 kb) genomic fragments from uncultivated planktonic archaea in Bacterial Artificial Chromosome (BAC) clone libraries. A BAC clone library with such extremely large inserts has never before been reported from a mixed natural microbial population. By pushing the current limits of genomic technologies and applying them in mixed populations, the investigators aim to improve the current knowledge of enigmatic but important uncultivated microbes, specifically marine planktonic archaea. The work will also provide improved generic methodologies for the genomic and functional characterization of uncultivated microorganisms and determination of their functional properties.