Catálogo de Investigaciones | 2011-2012

43 Catálogo de Investigaciones | Pontificia Universidad Católica de Puerto Rico Elucidation of the function of 16 newly identified genes of D. hansenii and their role in osmoadaptation Debaromyces hansenii , a halotolerant yeast, is a model system for the study of osmoadaptation, tolerating up to 4M NaCl. This osmotic stress has been monitored with microarrays, where 109 genes displayed a significant change in expression. Among them, 16 genes have not had their function annotated. The characterization of these genes or their protein products by various bioinformatics analysis tools is key for the determination of their role in the halotolerant properties and preparedness of D. hansenii as an extremophilic organism. These results will assist in the determination of the appropriate experimental conditions for the complete elucidation of these genes, and the analysis of the potential application of D. hansenii in environmental and agricultural biotechnology currently underway in our laboratory. roland e. rodríguez-santiago mentor dra. mónica m. arroyo, dra. jasime seda miró y dra. hna. nancy arroyo debaromyces hanseii n-acelye transferase oxido reductase hydrolase