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Volume 8
Journal of Biotechnology & Biomaterials
ISSN: 2155-952X
Biotech Congress 2018 & Enzymology 2018
March 05-07, 2018
JOINT EVENT
20
th
Global Congress on
Biotechnology
3
rd
International Conference on
Enzymology and Molecular Biology
&
March 05-07, 2018 London, UK
Engineering cyanobacterial nitrogen bio-fertilizer for rice cultivation in stressful environment
Shree Kumar Apte
Bhabha Atomic Research Centre, India
A
s a naturally abundant, photosynthetic, nitrogen-fixing microbe, the cyanobacterium
Anabaena
contributes significantly to
the nitrogen and carbon economy of tropical soils, especially in cultivation of rice paddy. However, its nitrogen bio-fertilizer
potential is adversely affected by common abiotic stresses. Engineering enhanced nitrogen fixation and stress tolerance capabilities
in this microbe through genetic manipulation is seriously limited due to the unavailability of appropriate tools and techniques
and knowledge of suitable candidate genes. In recent years, our laboratory has devised an electroporation protocol for genetic
transformation that achieves high frequency gene transfer and overcomes problems associated with the current practice of tri-
parental conjugation between
E. coli
strains and
Anabaena
. We have also constructed (a) a suitable vector for new gene discoveries,
and (b) a novel integrative expression vector pFPN, placing desired genes at a defined locus in
Anabaena
genome and facilitates their
high level expression from an eco-friendly light-inducible promoter. Using these tools we have identified several genes responsible
for enhanced heterocyst formation and nitrogen fixaton (hetR), chaperones (groESL, cpn60) for protein folding and homeostasis, and
several oxidative stress tolerance genes (superoxide dismutases, catalases and peroxiredoxins) which confer superior stress tolerance
to
Anabaena
. The approach has proved very useful for constructing recombinant
Anabaena
strains capable of nitrogen fixation in
stressful environments.
Biography
Shree Kumar Apte obtained his Master’s in Botany from Jiwaji University, Gwalior, India with a Gold Medal in Science Faculty in 1972. He researched at the Bhabha
Atomic Research Centre (BARC), Mumbai, India for 42 year, before retiring in 2014 as a distinguished Scientist and Director of the Bioscience Group, BARC. He is
an elected fellow of all three National Science Academies and the National Agriculture Science Academy in India. Currently he serves as Emeritus Professor, Homi
Bhabha National Institute, J C Bose National Fellow (DST) and Raja Ramanna Fellow (DAE) at BARC, Mumbai.
aptesk@barc.gov.inShree Kumar Apte, J Biotechnol Biomater 2018, Volume 8
DOI: 10.4172/2155-952X-C2-091