IBBR – IBISBA-IT

Consiglio Nazionale delle Ricerche

Istituto di Bioscienze e BioRisorse

Identification and characterization of proteins and enzymes (Cazymes), especially those from organisms growing in extreme environments for applications in Green Chemistry, Synthetic Biology, and Sustainable Bioenergy.

Area of Research

Identification, biochemical characterization and modification of Carbohydrate Active Enzymes (CAZymes), especially from (hyper)thermophilic microorganisms, for their exploitation in lignocellulosic biomasses and waste products hydrolysis and valorisation
Isolation, identification, purification and biochemical characterization of protein molecules from different natural sources, including cold-adapted proteins from polar organisms.
Innovative biocatalysts involved the carbon cycle for CO₂ sequestration processes and the production of valuable four-carbon compounds
Functional characterization of nutrient-sensing mechanisms in marine diatoms for biomass production
Use of the recombinant DNA technology for the heterologous overexpression of enzymes
Enzymes involved in DNA replication, maintenance and repair: analysis, characterization and their possible biotechnological applications, pointing the gaze to biosensors
Characterization of bioactive molecules from natural sources in mammialian cells

Expertise and Main Technologies

Biochemistry, Enzymology, Molecular Biology, Microbiology and Biotechnology
Discovery and biochemical/biophysical characterization of proteins and enzymes from different sources, including extremophilic organisms
Protein expression and purification; protein engineering
Protein-protein interaction analysis by Surface Plasmon Resonance (SPR) and BioLayer Interferometry (BLI) techniques
Chemo-enzymatic reaction for biosensor-derived immobilization and innovative product syntheses

Key Organisms

Archea

Bacteria

Diatoms

Industrial Applications

Valorisation of different waste products, including lignocellulosic biomasses, for the synthesis of new molecules with high-added value
Use of innovative thermostable protein tags for enzymatic immobilization in biosensors and synthesis of products with high-added value