International project to compare the genomes of 12 fungi and to identify their potential for biodegradation of contaminants

In Pamplona,

Professor of Microbiology at the Public University of Navarre, Gerardo Pisabarro De Lucas, is to coordinate one of the projects of the Joint Genome Institute (JGI), dependent upon the Office of Science of the United States Department of Energy and involved in the production of biofuels. In concrete, his research team (Genetics and Microbiology Team) will undertake a comparison of the expression of the genomes of 12 fungi with the goal of finding out the strategies used by these organisms to break down wood to lignin. Lignin is a component of trees and other woody plants the degradation of which is necessary for cellulose — the main store of organic carbon on the planet — to be able to transform itself to biofuel.