The overall aim of the project is to evolve modules of thermostable glycosyl hydrolases in order to understand and perfect their target specificity and thermostability properties and to employ these modules in biotechnology and bioanalysis. Our initial studies have been focused to a carbohydrate binding module of the xylanase 10A derived from Rhodothermus marinus.
We target genes encoding protein domains with genetic variability, clone the genetic libraries in vectors suitable for subsequent selection of domain variants with superior properties using phage display or array technology. This has allowed us to understand the basic properties of the modules and to eventually evolve reagents with improved properties. Such modules have a great potential for applications concerning the use of plant material as food and feed as well as for the utilisation and basic analysis of fibres out of these materials.

Contact: Mats Ohlin (Dept. Immunotechnology at Lund University)
             Eva Nordberg Karlsson
             Olle Holst