Durante a maturação da semente, a partir da fertilização do óvulo, há alterações inerentes à formação da semente, com destaque para as variações do tamanho, do teor de água, das massas da matéria fresca e seca e da germinação das sementes. Paralelamente, para os frutos carnosos há alterações visíveis nos frutos relacionados à forma, à cor e à senescência. Não há, todavia, relatos de quais mudanças (morfológica, anatômica, fisiológica e bioquímica) ocorrem nas sementes que se desenvolvem no interior de frutos carnosos mantidos em repouso por diferentes períodos de tempo. O objetivo dessa pesquisa foi avaliar a fase final da formação das sementes de pimentão, considerando as variações da morfologia externa dos frutos e do parâmetro fisiológico, da morfologia interna, da enzima endo-?-mananase, da anatomia e do acúmulo de substâncias de reservas e do ciclo celular das sementes, visando verificar se essas mudanças explicam as alterações fisiológicas das sementes de pimentão após o repouso pós-colheita do fruto e durante o armazenamento das sementes. As sementes foram extraídas de frutos em diferentes estádios de maturação, (cores verde, verde-avermelhada e vermelha), mantidos em repouso por 3, 7 ou 14 dias ou sem repouso, e avaliadas logo após a colheita e durante o armazenamento. Os frutos foram avaliados quanto à coloração, dimensões e massa. As sementes foram avaliadas quanto ao teor de água, massa de matéria seca, massa de 1000 sementes, germinação e vigor, além da avaliação de imagens de raios X para o estudo da morfologia interna das sementes, da atividade da enzima endo-?-mananase pelo método da difusão em gel, análises histoquímicas para o estudo da anatomia e de substâncias de reserva e a avaliação do ciclo celular. A colheita das sementes de pimentão pode ser caracterizada pela coloração dos frutos. Em função do repouso há alteração da cor do fruto, do ciclo celular das sementes hidratadas, da atividade da enzima endo-?-mananase e de algumas substâncias de reserva, interferindo positivamente na qualidade das sementes de pimentão. Entretanto, o repouso de frutos, que estão em estágio avançado de desenvolvimento, causa redução da qualidade das sementes. O teor de água, a massa de matéria seca e a morfologia interna da semente, a anatomia das células do endosperma e a presença de substâncias de reservas das sementes não são alterados durante o repouso do fruto, mas estão relacionados ao estádio de formação das sementes. Na medida em que há a deterioração natural das sementes durante o armazenamento, há redução da germinação e do vigor, da atividade da endo-?-mananase, da quantidade de lipídios, proteínas e polissacarídeos das células do embrião e do endosperma. Durante o repouso do fruto por 14 dias, as sementes extraídas de frutos verdes têm tolerância à desidratação, caracterizada principalmente pelo aumento da germinação após a secagem das sementes. A maturidade fisiológica das sementes é caracterizada pela coloração verde-avermelhada dos frutos e também pela estabilização do teor de água das sementes (30%), pela quantidade de matéria seca e pelo conteúdo de DNA 4C; não há coincidência entre maturidade fisiológica e máxima germinação. / During seed maturation there are some significant alterations in seed size, moisture content, fresh and dry matter and germination. Furthermore, for fleshy fruits, visible alterations occur as the fruit shape, color and senescence. There are not reports about which morphological, anatomical, physiological and biochemical alterations occur in seeds that develop inside fleshy fruits during the rest of them, for different periods of time. The objective of this research was to evaluate the final stage of the bell pepper seed formation and it was considered the variations of the external morphology of the fruit, and the physiological parameter, internal morphology, activity of endo-?-mannanase, anatomy and the reserve substances accumulation, and cell cycle of the seeds to verify if these changes explain the physiological changes of the bell pepper seeds after the fruit resting and during the seed storage. The seeds were extracted from fruits at different maturation stages (colors green, reddish-green and red), with (3, 7 or 14 days) or without fruit resting, and during the seed storage. The fruits were evaluated by color, and the measurements and weight. The seeds were evaluated for moisture content, dry mass, mass of 1000 seeds, germination and vigor and X-ray imaging to study the internal morphology of the seeds, endo-?-mannanase activity by gel diffusion assay, histochemical analyzes to study seed anatomy and reserve substances, and flow cytometry to assess the cell cycle. The harvest of bell peppers seeds can be made by the color of the fruits. The fruit resting alters the fruit color, germination, vigor, endo-?-mannanase activity, some storage substances and cell cycle improving bell pepper seed quality. However it has a negative role when the fruits are in advanced stage of development (red fruits and resting time more than 7 days). The moisture content, dry matter and the internal morphology of the seeds do not change by the fruit resting, but because of the seed maturation stage. It was observed reduction of all the physiological parameters, including the amount of lipids in the cells and endo-?-mannanase activity. During fruit resting, the endo-?-mannanase activity and the 4C DNA content of the cells decrease and there is an increased rate of germination and vigor. The water content, dry matter, internal morphology and anatomy of the cells of the endosperm and the presence of reserves substances in the seeds are not changed due to the rest of the fruit, but are related to the seed formation stage. There is natural seed deterioration during storage and a reduction of germination and vigor, endo-?-mannanase activity, amount of lipids, proteins and polysaccharides in the embryo and endosperm cells. During the fruit resting (14 days), the seeds extracted from green fruits have desiccation tolerance, characterized by increased of the seed germination after drying. The physiological maturity is reached when the fruits are reddish-green, characterized by stabilizing the water content of the seeds (30 %), amount of dry matter and the 4C DNA content. There is not a coincidence between physiological maturity and maximum germination.

<p>Glycosidases hydrolyse the glycosidic bond in carbohydrates. Structural studies of three glycosidases with different substrate specificities are presented in this work.</p><p>Dextranase catalyzes the hydrolysis of <i>α</i>-1,6-glycosidic linkage in dextran polymers. The structure of dextranase, Dex49A, from <i>Penicillium minioluteum</i> was solved in the apo-enzyme (1.8 Å resolution) and product-bound (1.65 Å resolution) forms. The main domain of the enzyme is a right-handed β-helix, which is connected to a β-sandwich domain at the N-terminus. Using NMR spectroscopy the reaction course was shown to occur with net inversion at the anomeric carbon. A new clan is suggested that links glycoside hydrolase (GH) families 28 and 49.</p><p>Endo-<i>β</i>-1,4-D-mannanase catalyzes the depolymerization of <i>β</i>-1,4-mannan polymers. The structure of endo-1,4-<i>β</i>-mannanase Man5A from blue mussel <i>Mytilus edulis</i> has been determined at 1.6 Å resolution. Kinetic analysis of Man5A revealed that the enzyme requires at least 6 subsites for efficient hydrolysis. The architecture of the catalytic cleft differs significantly from other GH 5 enzyme structures. We therefore suggest that Man5A represents a new subfamily in GH 5. </p><p>Both the Dex49A and the Man5A structures were determined by multiple-wavelength anomalous diffraction using the selenium <i>K</i>-edge with selenomethionyl enzymes expressed in the yeast <i>Pichia pastoris</i>.</p><p>Endoglucanase Cel6A from <i>Thermobifida fusca</i> hydrolyzes the <i>β</i>-1,4 linkages in cellulose. The structure of the catalytic domain of Cel6A from <i>T. fusca</i> in complex with a non-hydrolysable substrate analogue has been determined to 1.5 Å resolution. The glycosyl unit in subsite –1 was sterically hindered by Tyr73 and forced into a distorted ²S_O conformation. In the enzyme where Tyr73 was mutated to a serine residue the hindrance was removed and the glycosyl unit in subsite –1 had a relaxed ⁴C₁ chair conformation.</p>

Glycosidases hydrolyse the glycosidic bond in carbohydrates. Structural studies of three glycosidases with different substrate specificities are presented in this work. Dextranase catalyzes the hydrolysis of α-1,6-glycosidic linkage in dextran polymers. The structure of dextranase, Dex49A, from Penicillium minioluteum was solved in the apo-enzyme (1.8 Å resolution) and product-bound (1.65 Å resolution) forms. The main domain of the enzyme is a right-handed β-helix, which is connected to a β-sandwich domain at the N-terminus. Using NMR spectroscopy the reaction course was shown to occur with net inversion at the anomeric carbon. A new clan is suggested that links glycoside hydrolase (GH) families 28 and 49. Endo-β-1,4-D-mannanase catalyzes the depolymerization of β-1,4-mannan polymers. The structure of endo-1,4-β-mannanase Man5A from blue mussel Mytilus edulis has been determined at 1.6 Å resolution. Kinetic analysis of Man5A revealed that the enzyme requires at least 6 subsites for efficient hydrolysis. The architecture of the catalytic cleft differs significantly from other GH 5 enzyme structures. We therefore suggest that Man5A represents a new subfamily in GH 5. Both the Dex49A and the Man5A structures were determined by multiple-wavelength anomalous diffraction using the selenium K-edge with selenomethionyl enzymes expressed in the yeast Pichia pastoris. Endoglucanase Cel6A from Thermobifida fusca hydrolyzes the β-1,4 linkages in cellulose. The structure of the catalytic domain of Cel6A from T. fusca in complex with a non-hydrolysable substrate analogue has been determined to 1.5 Å resolution. The glycosyl unit in subsite –1 was sterically hindered by Tyr73 and forced into a distorted 2SO conformation. In the enzyme where Tyr73 was mutated to a serine residue the hindrance was removed and the glycosyl unit in subsite –1 had a relaxed 4C1 chair conformation.

Soybean [Glycine max (L.) Merr.] is an important crop worldwide. It has been widely consumed for protein, oil and other soy products. To develop soybean cultivars with greater resistance against pests and improved meal quality, it is important to elucidate the molecular bases of these traits. This dissertation aims to investigate the biochemical and biological functions of soybean genes from four gene families, which are hypothesized to be associated with soybean defense against pests and soybean meal quality. There are three specific objectives in this dissertation. The first one is to determine the function of components in the salicylic acid (SA) signaling pathway in soybean resistance against soybean cyst nematode (Heterodera glycines, SCN). The second one is to determine whether insect herbivory induce the emission of volatiles from soybean, and if so, how these volatiles are biosynthesized. The third objective is to identify and characterize soybean mannanase genes that can be used for the improvement of soybean meal quality. The soybean genome has been fully sequenced, which provides opportunities for cross-species comparison of gene families of interest and identification of candidate genes in soybean. The cloned cDNAs of putative genes were expressed in Escherichia coli to produce recombinant enzymes. Through biochemical assays, these proteins were proved to be soybean salicylic acid methyltransferase (GmSAMT1), methyl salicylate esterase (GmSABP2-1), α[alpha]-farnesene synthase (GmTPS1) and E-β[beta]-caryophyllene synthase (GmTPS2), and endo-β[beta]-mannanase (GmMAN1). Through a transgenic hairy root system harboring overexpression of GmSAMT1 and GmSABP2-1, both of these two genes were evaluated for their biological function related to resistance against SCN. The results showed that the over-expression of GmSAMT1 and GmSABP2-1 in the susceptible soybean background lead to enhanced resistance against SCN. Among four putative soybean mannanase genes, one gene was cloned and characterized. GmMAN1 showed the endo-β[beta]-mannanase hydrolyse activity and can hydrolyze cell walls isolated from soybean seeds. In summary, using comparative and functional genomics, a number of genes involved in soybean defense and meal quality were isolated and characterized. This study provides novel knowledge and molecular tools for the genetic improvement of soybean for enhanced resistance and improved meal quality.

Durante a maturação da semente, a partir da fertilização do óvulo, há alterações inerentes à formação da semente, com destaque para as variações do tamanho, do teor de água, das massas da matéria fresca e seca e da germinação das sementes. Paralelamente, para os frutos carnosos há alterações visíveis nos frutos relacionados à forma, à cor e à senescência. Não há, todavia, relatos de quais mudanças (morfológica, anatômica, fisiológica e bioquímica) ocorrem nas sementes que se desenvolvem no interior de frutos carnosos mantidos em repouso por diferentes períodos de tempo. O objetivo dessa pesquisa foi avaliar a fase final da formação das sementes de pimentão, considerando as variações da morfologia externa dos frutos e do parâmetro fisiológico, da morfologia interna, da enzima endo-?-mananase, da anatomia e do acúmulo de substâncias de reservas e do ciclo celular das sementes, visando verificar se essas mudanças explicam as alterações fisiológicas das sementes de pimentão após o repouso pós-colheita do fruto e durante o armazenamento das sementes. As sementes foram extraídas de frutos em diferentes estádios de maturação, (cores verde, verde-avermelhada e vermelha), mantidos em repouso por 3, 7 ou 14 dias ou sem repouso, e avaliadas logo após a colheita e durante o armazenamento. Os frutos foram avaliados quanto à coloração, dimensões e massa. As sementes foram avaliadas quanto ao teor de água, massa de matéria seca, massa de 1000 sementes, germinação e vigor, além da avaliação de imagens de raios X para o estudo da morfologia interna das sementes, da atividade da enzima endo-?-mananase pelo método da difusão em gel, análises histoquímicas para o estudo da anatomia e de substâncias de reserva e a avaliação do ciclo celular. A colheita das sementes de pimentão pode ser caracterizada pela coloração dos frutos. Em função do repouso há alteração da cor do fruto, do ciclo celular das sementes hidratadas, da atividade da enzima endo-?-mananase e de algumas substâncias de reserva, interferindo positivamente na qualidade das sementes de pimentão. Entretanto, o repouso de frutos, que estão em estágio avançado de desenvolvimento, causa redução da qualidade das sementes. O teor de água, a massa de matéria seca e a morfologia interna da semente, a anatomia das células do endosperma e a presença de substâncias de reservas das sementes não são alterados durante o repouso do fruto, mas estão relacionados ao estádio de formação das sementes. Na medida em que há a deterioração natural das sementes durante o armazenamento, há redução da germinação e do vigor, da atividade da endo-?-mananase, da quantidade de lipídios, proteínas e polissacarídeos das células do embrião e do endosperma. Durante o repouso do fruto por 14 dias, as sementes extraídas de frutos verdes têm tolerância à desidratação, caracterizada principalmente pelo aumento da germinação após a secagem das sementes. A maturidade fisiológica das sementes é caracterizada pela coloração verde-avermelhada dos frutos e também pela estabilização do teor de água das sementes (30%), pela quantidade de matéria seca e pelo conteúdo de DNA 4C; não há coincidência entre maturidade fisiológica e máxima germinação. / During seed maturation there are some significant alterations in seed size, moisture content, fresh and dry matter and germination. Furthermore, for fleshy fruits, visible alterations occur as the fruit shape, color and senescence. There are not reports about which morphological, anatomical, physiological and biochemical alterations occur in seeds that develop inside fleshy fruits during the rest of them, for different periods of time. The objective of this research was to evaluate the final stage of the bell pepper seed formation and it was considered the variations of the external morphology of the fruit, and the physiological parameter, internal morphology, activity of endo-?-mannanase, anatomy and the reserve substances accumulation, and cell cycle of the seeds to verify if these changes explain the physiological changes of the bell pepper seeds after the fruit resting and during the seed storage. The seeds were extracted from fruits at different maturation stages (colors green, reddish-green and red), with (3, 7 or 14 days) or without fruit resting, and during the seed storage. The fruits were evaluated by color, and the measurements and weight. The seeds were evaluated for moisture content, dry mass, mass of 1000 seeds, germination and vigor and X-ray imaging to study the internal morphology of the seeds, endo-?-mannanase activity by gel diffusion assay, histochemical analyzes to study seed anatomy and reserve substances, and flow cytometry to assess the cell cycle. The harvest of bell peppers seeds can be made by the color of the fruits. The fruit resting alters the fruit color, germination, vigor, endo-?-mannanase activity, some storage substances and cell cycle improving bell pepper seed quality. However it has a negative role when the fruits are in advanced stage of development (red fruits and resting time more than 7 days). The moisture content, dry matter and the internal morphology of the seeds do not change by the fruit resting, but because of the seed maturation stage. It was observed reduction of all the physiological parameters, including the amount of lipids in the cells and endo-?-mannanase activity. During fruit resting, the endo-?-mannanase activity and the 4C DNA content of the cells decrease and there is an increased rate of germination and vigor. The water content, dry matter, internal morphology and anatomy of the cells of the endosperm and the presence of reserves substances in the seeds are not changed due to the rest of the fruit, but are related to the seed formation stage. There is natural seed deterioration during storage and a reduction of germination and vigor, endo-?-mannanase activity, amount of lipids, proteins and polysaccharides in the embryo and endosperm cells. During the fruit resting (14 days), the seeds extracted from green fruits have desiccation tolerance, characterized by increased of the seed germination after drying. The physiological maturity is reached when the fruits are reddish-green, characterized by stabilizing the water content of the seeds (30 %), amount of dry matter and the 4C DNA content. There is not a coincidence between physiological maturity and maximum germination.

Prebióticos são aditivos alimentares não digeríveis que afetam beneficamente a saúde do hospedeiro pela estimulação seletiva do crescimento ou da atividade de um número limitado de bactérias probióticas. Apesar do avanço científico observado nesta área, poucos estudos têm sido reportados no que diz respeito à utilização de derivados de parede celular de levedura como prebióticos. Sendo assim, o presente estudo visou avaliar diferentes condições de crescimento e produção de enzimas extracelulares pela cepa Bacillus licheniformis E-44, com o objetivo de se obter um extrato enzimático para promover a hidrólise da parede celular de Saccharomyces cerevisiae gerando derivados que apresentam propriedades prebióticas. Os cultivos foram realizados em reator de bancada e em frascos Erlenmeyer sob diferentes condições de pH, composição de meio, fonte de carbono, agitação e aeração, sendo as amostras retiradas periodicamente para determinação do crescimento celular por turbidimetria e quantificação das respectivas enzimas (protease, ? -1,3-glucanase e ? -mananase). Os resultados demostraram que Bacillus licheniformis E-44 apresentou melhor desempenho, no que se refere ao crescimento celular, na presença de caseína como fonte de carbono, pH 8,0-8,5, agitação de 200 rpm e relação volume de frasco/volume de meio de 1:10. Por outro lado, no tocante à síntese das respectivas enzimas, essa não foi detectada nas condições avaliadas. / Prebiotics are described as \"non-digestible food additives that beneficially affect the host health by selectively stimulating the growth and/or activity of some probiotic species\". In despite of the scientific developments observed in this area, few studies are found concerning the utilization of yeast cell wall compounds as prebiotics. Therefore, the present study aimed to evaluate different conditions of growth and extracellular enzyme production by Bacillus licheniformis E-44 with the goal of obtaining an enzymatic extract to promote the hydrolysis of the cell wall of Saccharomyces cerevisiae generating compounds which present some prebiotic properties. The growth was carried out in lab scale bioreactors and in Erlenmeyer flasks under different conditions of the pH, medium composition, carbon sources, agitation and aeration. The samples were withdraw periodically for determination of cellular growth by turbidimetry and quantification of protease, ? -1,3-glucanase and ? -mannanase activities. The results showed that Bacillus licheniformis E-44 presented the best performance concerning to cellular growth when this strain was cultivated in a medium containing casein as carbon source, pH 8,0-8,5, 200 rpm of agitation rate and flask/medium bulk relation of 1:10. On the other hand, regarding the synthesis of those enzymes, there was not detected any activities in the conditions evaluated.

Prebióticos são aditivos alimentares não digeríveis que afetam beneficamente a saúde do hospedeiro pela estimulação seletiva do crescimento ou da atividade de um número limitado de bactérias probióticas. Apesar do avanço científico observado nesta área, poucos estudos têm sido reportados no que diz respeito à utilização de derivados de parede celular de levedura como prebióticos. Sendo assim, o presente estudo visou avaliar diferentes condições de crescimento e produção de enzimas extracelulares pela cepa Bacillus licheniformis E-44, com o objetivo de se obter um extrato enzimático para promover a hidrólise da parede celular de Saccharomyces cerevisiae gerando derivados que apresentam propriedades prebióticas. Os cultivos foram realizados em reator de bancada e em frascos Erlenmeyer sob diferentes condições de pH, composição de meio, fonte de carbono, agitação e aeração, sendo as amostras retiradas periodicamente para determinação do crescimento celular por turbidimetria e quantificação das respectivas enzimas (protease, ? -1,3-glucanase e ? -mananase). Os resultados demostraram que Bacillus licheniformis E-44 apresentou melhor desempenho, no que se refere ao crescimento celular, na presença de caseína como fonte de carbono, pH 8,0-8,5, agitação de 200 rpm e relação volume de frasco/volume de meio de 1:10. Por outro lado, no tocante à síntese das respectivas enzimas, essa não foi detectada nas condições avaliadas. / Prebiotics are described as \"non-digestible food additives that beneficially affect the host health by selectively stimulating the growth and/or activity of some probiotic species\". In despite of the scientific developments observed in this area, few studies are found concerning the utilization of yeast cell wall compounds as prebiotics. Therefore, the present study aimed to evaluate different conditions of growth and extracellular enzyme production by Bacillus licheniformis E-44 with the goal of obtaining an enzymatic extract to promote the hydrolysis of the cell wall of Saccharomyces cerevisiae generating compounds which present some prebiotic properties. The growth was carried out in lab scale bioreactors and in Erlenmeyer flasks under different conditions of the pH, medium composition, carbon sources, agitation and aeration. The samples were withdraw periodically for determination of cellular growth by turbidimetry and quantification of protease, ? -1,3-glucanase and ? -mannanase activities. The results showed that Bacillus licheniformis E-44 presented the best performance concerning to cellular growth when this strain was cultivated in a medium containing casein as carbon source, pH 8,0-8,5, 200 rpm of agitation rate and flask/medium bulk relation of 1:10. On the other hand, regarding the synthesis of those enzymes, there was not detected any activities in the conditions evaluated.

Aspergillus fumigatus produces enzymes required for the hydrolysis of galactomannans like locust bean gum. Among these enzymes endo-beta-1,4 mannanase is also produced at high levels. However, the fungus is not safe for use in the food industry. Therefore, the gene encoding endo-beta-1,4-mannanase of A. fumigatus IMI 385708 was previously cloned in our laboratory into Aspergillus sojae ATCC11906 which is a safe microorganism for use in food applications. Altogether eight transformants were obtained. It was shown that some of these transformants overproduce the enzyme because of expression under the control of glyceraldehyde-3-phosphate dehydrogenase promoter and fusion to the glucoamylase signal and pro-peptide coding region of Aspergillus niger. In this study, mannanase production of these transformants was compared with A. fumigatus and A. sojae transformant AsT1 showed c. 12 fold increase with the maximum activity of 352 U/ml. The effects of initial medium pH and number of spores on activity were investigated and maximum activity was achieved at pH 7.0 and the number of spores was found as 3.6 &times / 106. Optimization of the growth conditions for maximum mannanase production in shake flasks by using the best mannanase producing transformant AsT1 was carried out by using Box-Behnken design under Response Surface Methodology. The highest beta-mannanase activity on the fourth day of cultivation at 30 &ordm / C was obtained as 363 U/ml in the optimized medium containing 7% sugar beet molasses, 0.43% NH4NO3, 0.1% K2HPO4, 0.05% MgSO4 as the weight/volume percentage at 207 rpm. On sixth day of cultivation under the optimized conditions, the highest mannanase activity was achieved as 482 U/ml which is 1.4 fold of 352 U/ml activity found on glucose medium previously. After 48 h of LBG hydrolysis by 40 U of mannanase, mannotriose, 61-galactosyl-beta-D-mannotriose and 63,64-di-alpha-galactosyl-beta-1,4-mannopentaose were found as the main products via HPLC analysis.

"2003". / Thesis (PhD)--Macquarie University, Division of Environmental & Life Sciences, Department of Biological Sciences, 2004. / Bibliography: leaves 136-160. / Introduction: The Antarctic environment; Antarctic inhabitants; Microfungi; Identification of microfungi; Physiological factors affecting Antactic microfungi; Flow cytometry and microfungi; Hydrolytic enzymes of industrial interest; Isolation of genes from microfungi; Aims of this study -- Materials and methods: Fungal strains and cultivation conditions; Molecular identification of fungal isolates; Fungal physiology; Hydrolase activity of secreted proteins; Gene cloning and expression -- Results and discussion: Microfungal identification; Physiological factors affecting Antarctic microfungi; Activity in microfungi when grown on solid media; Characterisation of hemicellulases from selected Antarctic microfungi; Cloning of an Antarctic Penicillium allii lipase gene and its expression in Trichoderma reesei -- Conclusions and future prospects. / The Antarctic occupies that region of the planet that falls below the 60th parallel of South latitude. Although it has been frequented by adventurers, journeyman scientists and tourists for the past 100 years, the Continent has remained virtually unoccupied. The intense cold, the absence of human occupation and the limited range of local higher animal species have combined to create the impression that the Continent is virtually devoid of life. -- Although the microbiota of the Antarctic has attracted some small level of attention in the past, the examination of filamentous microfungi has been largely overlooked and fallen to a small group of dedicated investigators. In this study it will be shown that far from being an insignificant component of the Antarctic network, microfungi represent a potentially large and so far untapped bioresource. -- From just 11 bryophyte samples collected at four sites in the Ross Sea/Dry Valleys region of Southern Antarctica, some 30 microfungal isolates were recovered. Using molecular techniques, the internal transcribed spacer (ITS) region of the nuclear ribosomal DNA (nrDNA) was sequenced to reveal no less than nine unique microfungal species. For only two of these species did the ITS sequence data produce a 100% match with records held on the public databases. This investigation also highlighted the problems inherent in the traditional morphological identification system which are now being perpetuated in the molecular database records. -- A set of seven notionally identified isolates obtained from ornithogenic soil samples gathered in the Windmill Islands in Eastern Antarctica (offshore from the Australian Antarctic Division's Casey Station) were also subjected to molecular identification based on ITS sequence data. Each of the seven isolates was identified as a unique species; six were cosmopolitan in nature and the one remaining bore very little resemblance at the molecular level to any of the recorded species although it was provided with an epithet commonly used in the identification of Antarctic microfungal species. -- To evaluate their potential as a bioresource, samples of Antarctic microfungi were examined to determine if the same physiological factors common to mesophilic species also applied to their Antarctic analogues. It is known that when placed under stress, trehalose can act as a protectant against cold (cryoprotection) and dehydration in mesophilic yeasts and fungi. The level of trehalose produced by the Antarctic isolates and their mesophilic analogues when subjected to stress was compared. A similar comparison was made for the production of glycerol which is well established as a compatible solute providing protection to mesophilic species against osmotic stress. Only in the case of trehalose production by an Antarctic Embellisia was there any indication that either of these two compounds could play a significant role in providing protection to the Antarctic fungi against the rigours of their environment, which leaves open to question what in fact does. -- In the course of investigating the means by which Antarctic microfungi guard against the damage which can ensue when subjected to oxidative stress, flow cytometry was introduced as an investigatory tool. It was established that there is a window of opportunity during which flow cytometry can be used to undertake a detailed analysis of the early stages of fungal growth from germination through hyphal development. -- Of major significance in determining the potential of Antarctic microfungi as a resource is their ability to produce new and novel enzymes and proteins. The microfungal isolates were screened for hydrolytic activity on solid media containing indicative substrates and proved to be a fruitful source of enzymes active over a range of temperatures. A detailed characterisation of two hemicellulases, β-mannanase and xylanase, secreted into a liquid medium by a subset of the Antarctic fungi and a high producing mesophilic reference strain permitted direct comparisons to be made. It was shown that the maximum hemicellulase activity of the Antarctic strains occurred at least 10°C and as much as 30°C lower than that of the reference strain and that mannanase activity for two of the Antarctic isolates exceeded 40% of their maximum at 0°C. These assay results highlight the potential of Antarctic microfungi to yield novel cold-active enzymes. -- As a final measure of the capacity of the Antarctic to yield novel enzymes from its microfungal stock, a lipase gene was selected as a target for isolation and expression in a heterologous fungal host. Using PCR techniques, the gene of interest was isolated from an Antarctic isolate of Penicillium allii, transformed into the mesophilic production host Trichoderma reesei and the active protein successfully produced in the growth medium. The recombinant lipase was assayed and found to exhibit novel characteristics consistent with a cold-adapted enzyme. / Mode of access: World Wide Web. / 186 leaves ill