The STALWART project: Study of Algal Proteolytic Ability for Waste Revalorization from leaf protein extraction.
Proteases are a powerful evolutionary multi-tool that allow algae to maintain intracellular protein quality, perform necessary post-transcriptional modifications and resist viral and bacterial infections. However, the role of proteases during nitrogen starvation has remained relative unexplored. Currently, the cytoplasmic pool of amino acids is believed to be the exclusive source of biological nitrogen during nutrient paucity and salvage pathways are thought to only involve the reallocation of intracellular proteins and down-regulation of protein expression. There is limited information on the role of proteases as a scavenging tool for extracellular sources of nitrogen.
The STALWART project attempts to systematically assess existing literature on the known species of extracellular protease producers, subject them to N2 starvation, and assess their extracellular protease production capabilities. Transcriptomics and proteomic profiles of the investigated species are also studied to get a better understand of the survival mechanisms activated during nutrient starvation.
As a final component, species capable of extracellular protease production will be used to sustainably valorize agricultural liquid waste streams known to contain residual proteins.
Investigator: Dr. Ajay Iyer
