Genomic Approach to Identify Fungal Enzymes for Industrial Processes and Environmental Remediation

This project focuses on species of fungi which are known for their ability to grow at environmental extremes and which have a proven capacity to perform a number of processes useful to industry. The researchers expect to identify over 70,000 new genes and to discover which ones are activated when exposed to various chemical substances. They will also analyze the enzymes produced by these genes and test their effectiveness in industrial processes. The application of these genomic approaches to industries, such as the pulp and paper industry, should decrease the environmental impact of the processes used. This will help position Canadian industries to be more competitive at a time when the demand for environmentally friendly products is increasing. This project brings together experts from several disciplines, including researchers from Concordia University, the Biotechnology Research Institute of the National Research Council, the Pulp and Paper Research Institute of Canada (Paprican) and the INRS-Institut Armand-Frappier.

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