Douglas E. Eveleigh Professor Rutgers University Dept. of Biochemistry and Microbiology 333 Lipman Hall School of Env & Biol Sciences New Brunswick. NJ 08903 (732) 932-9829 FAX -8965 eveleigh@aesop.rutgers.edu

Industrial microbiology and microbial ecology

The central thrust of our research is to understand the role. mechanism and application of microbial polysaccharases. As cellulose and xylan form the world's major organic materials - both plant structural supports and potential energy resources - our focus is to characterize the multi-component cellulase and xylanase systems: from fungi (Trichoderma). thermophilic actinomycetes (Microbispora) and hyperthermophilic bacteria (Thermotoga). The polysaccharases are characterized from microbiological. biochemical and molecular biological perspectives. The cellulases of Thermotoga neapolitana are of interest for their thermal stability. acting optimally near the boiling point of water. and having extremely high specific activity - over 1000 for one carboxymethylcellulase as a substrate. In studying the transformation of xylan. we have recently uncovered a xylan utilization gene cluster from the ocean vent. hyperthermophile Thermotoga. Chitin is a further substrate of interest. We are also studying the polysaccharases from Yellowstone hyperthermophiles - Fervidobacterium. These fundamental studies of hyperthermophilic polysaccharases lead to a consideration of industrial applications. for instance the use of the stable. highly active T. neapolitana alpha-galactosidase to degrade the flatulence causing oligosaccharide present in soy products - of importance with regard to the feed of monogastric animals. Overall we consideration that the recycling of biomass as an energy resource - its conversion to sugars and subsequent fermentation to alcohol as a transportation fuel - will help stabilize the Greenhouse effect through the recycling of carbon dioxide. Our studies yield basic understanding of this concept. Ironically. cellulolytic microbes are also a nuisance in promoting the deterioration of manuscripts. maps. paintings and are of particular concern in the destruction of antique artefacts. This aspect of cellulolysis is also being explored.

Selected Publications

Allen F, Andreotti R, Eveleigh DE, Nystrom J. (2009) Mary Elizabeth Hickox Mandels, 90, bioenergy leader. Biotechnol Biofuels. 2:22.

Eveleigh DE, Mandels M, Andreotti R, Roche C. (2009) Measurement of saccharifying cellulase. Biotechnol Biofuels. 2:21.

Mandels M, Eveleigh DE. (2009) Reflections on the United States military 1941-1987.
Biotechnol Biofuels. 2(1):20.

Manitchotpisit P, Leathers TD, Peterson SW, Kurtzman CP, Li XL, Eveleigh DE, Lotrakul P, Prasongsuk S, Dunlap CA, Vermillion KE, Punnapayak H. (2009) Multilocus phylogenetic analyses, pullulan production and xylanase activity of tropical isolates of Aureobasidium pullulans. Mycol Res. 113(Pt 10):1107-20.

Lima AO, Davis DF, Swiatek G, McCarthy JK, Yernool D, Pizzirani-Kleiner AA, Eveleigh DE. (2009) Evaluation of GFP Tag as a Screening Reporter in Directed Evolution of a Hyperthermophilic beta-Glucosidase. Mol Biotechnol. 42(2):205-15.

Ritacco FV, Eveleigh DE. (2008) Molecular and phenotypic comparison of phaeochromycin-producing strains of Streptomyces phaeochromogenes and Streptomyces ederensis. J Ind Microbiol Biotechnol. 35(9):931-45.

Nimchua T, Eveleigh DE, Sangwatanaroj U, Punnapayak H. (2008) Screening of tropical fungi producing polyethylene terephthalate-hydrolyzing enzyme for fabric modification. J Ind Microbiol Biotechnol. 35(8):843-50.

Prasongsuk S, Berhow MA, Dunlap CA, Weisleder D, Leathers TD, Eveleigh DE, Punnapayak H. (2007) Pullulan production by tropical isolates of Aureobasidium pullulans. J Ind Microbiol Biotechnol. 34(1):55-61.

Benson. M.J.. Gawronski. J.D.. Eveleigh. D.E. and Benson. D.R.. (2004). Intracellular symbiots and other bacteria associated with deer ticks (Ixodes scaplaris) from Nantucket and Wellfleet. Cape Cod. Massachusetts. Appl. Environ. Microbiol. 70: 616:620.

McCarthy,J.K.. Uzelac. A.. Davis. D.F and Eveleigh. D.E.. (2004). Improved catalytic efficiency and active site modification of 1,4- -D-Glucan Glucohydrolase A from Thermotoga neapolitana by directed evolution. J. Biol. Chem. 279: 11495 - 11502.

McCarthy J. K. . O'Brien. C. E. and Eveleigh. D. (2003). Thermostable continuous coupled assay for measuring glucose using glucokinase and glucose-6-phosphate dehydrogenase from the marine hyperthermophile Thermotoga maritima. Analytical Biochem. 318:196-203.