THE USE OF BIOINFORMATICS AND GENOME BIOLOGY TO ADVANCE OUR UNDERSTANDING OF BIOLEACHING MICROORGANISMS

Abstract

With about 300 fully sequenced bacterial and archaeal genomes and with additional information of hundreds of thousands of DNA and protein sequences in public databases it is possible to predict genes and their putative protein products in DNA sequences derived from genome sequencing projects. In about 60% of the cases putative functions can be assigned to the predicted proteins. These assignments can range from near certainty to deep speculation, highlighting the need for subsequent experimental validation of the predictions. High-throughput sequencing, microarray screening and protein expression profiling technologies drive discovery efforts in today's genomics and proteomic laboratories. These tools allow researchers to generate massive amounts of data, at a rate orders of magnitude greater than scientists ever anticipated. In this chapter, we provide a general overview of how bioinformatics and genome biology can provide insight into the genomic organization and function of biomining microorganisms with a special reference to Acidithiobacillus ferrooxidans about which most is known. Bioinformatics and genome biology are effective tools for making preliminary inroads into how an otherwise uncharacterized organism functions. It is particularly powerful in cases where it is difficult to implement conventional genetic tools such as in the case of several bioleaching microorganisms. Bioinformatics and genome biology are effective tools for making preliminary inroads into how an otherwise uncharacterized organism functions. It is particularly powerful in cases where it is difficult to implement conventional genetic tools such as in the case of several bioleaching microorganisms and results are beginning to emerge to support this view (e.g. Selkov et al., 2000; Barreto et al., 2003; Appia-Ayme, 2005; Quatrinia et al., 2005).The Use Of Bioinformatics And Genome Biology To Advance Our Understanding Of Bioleaching Microorganisms (PDF Download Available). Available from: