Finding Potential Oil-Degrading Enzymes in Haloarchaea
Author: Katie Ferrer
Faculty Supervisor: José R. de la Torre
Department: Biology
Oil spills pose a huge problem in our environment and ecosystems, so we are always looking for efficient and economical ways to clean them up. Haloarchaea are archaea that grow best in high salt concentrations like saltwater, and contain enzymes that degrade molecules found in petroleum. However, which genera of haloarchaea are more likely to have these oil-degrading enzymes? I hypothesize that the genera Haloarcula, Halobacterium, and Natrialba will have at least one of these enzymes. Using JGI IMG, the enzymes involved in aromatic hydrocarbon degradation can be found. BLASTp can also be used to compare the genomic sequences of enzyme-producing and biosurfactant-producing haloarchaea. Knowing which haloarchaea have oil-degrading properties is significant in determining how they can be used in bioremediation, specifically oil spills.